peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Share Posted 18 May , 2010 I take the liberty of adding a few photos to the site from my collection of Territorial Bands. As a former Army Bandsman my hobby is in collecting these old postcards/photograhs of Territorial/Volunteer Bands during the period 1908-1920 and I am always pleased to hear from others with a similar interest (or indeed of any postcards that are available to add to my collection). Peter4447 The 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion. The Highland Light Infantry. Taken c.1917 and is believed to have been taken in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 An unidentified Battalion Band c.1917. The photograph appears to have been taken in Italy and the only clue to the Band's identity is that it appears to belong to a Light Infantry Battlion. The Bandmaster holds the rank of Corporal! What surprises me in the photograph is how 'delicate' instruments such as a Bassoon are in use and have, apparently, survived on active service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 An unidentified Welsh Regiment Battalion c.1917. The Bandmaster is a Captain in the Royal Army Chaplains' Department! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 Surprisingly a number of Battalion orchestras as opposed to marching bands existed in the Territorial Battalions. The photo shows an unidentified orchestra from The King's Regiment c.1917. The photo was taken at Llangollen, Wales. One violinist appears to be on attachment from the East Yorkshire Regiment and one of the trombonists wear a wound stripe on his left arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 Another orchestra which this time shows a well-groomed group from the 2/5th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (LRB). The photo was taken in Suffolk in 1915 and the Battalion went to France in January 1917. It disbanded in 1918 at Moreuil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 This photo was taken on the 16th April 1917 and shows the orchestra formed by RAMC personnel based at the St David's British Military Hospital, Malta. The Hospital was used for the treatment of casualties from both Galliopli and Salonika campaigns and amongst the Band is a Violinist from The Royal Scots and another from The King's (Liverpool) Regiment. Also present is a clarinet player from The South Lancashire Regiment and a cornet player whose unit has not been identified and it is possible that these were recovering patients. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 Although it never boasted a Regular Band with the vast expansion of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps during the War it certainly acquired at least one volunteer Band as shown below. This Band was apparently formed in 1914 and served in France before being disbanded in 1919. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 10th (Service) Battalion The Devonshire Regiment. The Band was formed between February and April 1915 and the photo was taken prior to moving to France. The Battalion landed at Boulogne in 1915 and moved later that year to Salonika. On the 30th Sept 1919 at Constantinople the considerably under-strength Battalion was disbanded with the remaining personnel being absorbed into the 10th Hampshires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 9th (Territorial) Battalion. The Durham Light Infantry. The 'Gateshead Ghurkas' landed in France on the 17th April 1915 and the Band clearly took their instruments with them as this photo was taken at St Amand in 1917. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 1st East Lancashire Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Based in Blackburn and taken shortly before the start of the War. From the look of the instruments it would appear that this Band may have been formed by an 'en bloc' enlistment of a local Brass Band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 3rd South Midland Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Based in Birmingham and was originally the Band of the 1st Warwickshire Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers) which is still visible on the Bass drum. Taken shortly before the start of the War. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 The wording on the Bass drum reads: 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Prince Albert's Somerset Light Infantry H Company, which ceased to exist on the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908. It appears that the drum found a new home with the 3/5th (Territorial) Battalion as the photograph was taken in 1916 or 1917. The 3/5th Battalion remained in the UK during the War. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 18 May , 2010 Share Posted 18 May , 2010 thank you: very nice and interesting! can you see any band-specific badges on arms on the originals, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 Hi Grumpy Thank you for that. The wearing of Band badges by the Territorials appears to have been a bit of a 'hit and miss' affair. In the photos we have: 1st East Lancs RFA - No Band badges worn by members only the Bandmaster. 3rd South Midland RFA - Large sewn on cloth lyre badge worn on both arms by all members. 2/5th London; RAMC; Welsh; Somerset LI - No Band insignia worn. 9th DLI - A 'standard' Brass lyre worn on both arms by all members. 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) - one member wearing a sewn on cloth lyre badge on right arm the rest of the Band - none. RAVC - some members wearing a brass 'standard' lyre badge on right arm only. 10th Devons - A brass 'standard' lyre badge worn by all members on right arm only. King's - No Band badges worn (although the attached East Yorks has a brass standard lyre on his right arm). Unidentified Light Inf Bn - a few members are wearing a brass 'standard' lyre on the right arm. Regards Peter4447 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themonsstar Posted 18 May , 2010 Share Posted 18 May , 2010 Peter, a very nice set of PC. Thank you for posting them, I will have a look to see if I have any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 Taken shortly before the start of the war at Abergavenny Camp an unidentified Royal Engineers Band. This looks very much like a mass Territorial enlistment by a local Brass Band and I would really have liked to have heard this Band in action - I think they would have produced a very powerful sound indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 A rather small Territorial Band of the Northamptonshire Regiment just prior to the start of the war. The smallest I have ever seen was a Territorial Band of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment that mustered just 5 players - sadly I do not have the card in my collection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 An unidentified Royal Army Medical Corps Band 1914-1918. The location is unknown it is inscribed on the Bass drum but is just not clear enough to read. In the background there is a soldier of the Artillery or Cavalry passing by in a wheelchair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 The 3/5th (Territorial) Battalion. The Manchester Regiment. Probably formed at Wigan in 1915. The Battalion remained in the UK throughout the War moving to Witney in Surrey, Southport, Ripon and finally Scarborough where this photograph was taken. Disbanded in 1918 or 1919. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 4th (Territorial) Bn The Dorsetshire Regiment. Taken just before the start of the War, the Dorset Regiment only had the one Territorial Battalion so I am reasonably certain that this is the 4th Battalion Band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 18 May , 2010 Share Posted 18 May , 2010 thanks for looking for band badges ....... as you say [and as I suspected] a bit hit or miss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eltoro1960 Posted 18 May , 2010 Share Posted 18 May , 2010 10th Royal Scots Band more to follow 4th RS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eltoro1960 Posted 18 May , 2010 Share Posted 18 May , 2010 8th at Stobs camp July 1914 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eltoro1960 Posted 18 May , 2010 Share Posted 18 May , 2010 And the 6th RS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter4447 Posted 18 May , 2010 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2010 The 4th (Special Reserve) Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment. I believe the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Band is also in this photograph as both formed part of the Harwich Garrison a few days after war was declared. The 4th was converted for war service and landed at Le Harve on the 25th July 1916 when it was attached to the 190th Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The Bn was disbanded in 1919. The inscription on one of the Bass drums and some of the side drums reads 'Hertfordshire Militia' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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