Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

World War One Military Bands


A.A.Savery

Recommended Posts

Hello again all.

I’m just back from holiday and trying to catch up.

Thanks to Logan and Myrtle for their contributions.

I can’t say that I know the band Myrtle, but anything about the Midlands I find interesting as I was brought up in Coventry. The photos of Birmingham are fascinating!

Cheers,

Tony

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My Grandad, Joseph Simpson, was a bandsman in the South Lancashire Regiment (he would have enlisted in Warrington, Lancashire). I'm hoping that someone has information on thier military band as I wonder if he was actually part of that as well.

He was a wonderful musician (so I'm told) and played euphonium, cornet and trombone.

here is a picture of him from (I think) 1915

I cant find record of his medals in the medal card index (not as a bandsman).

Heres hoping.

Just out of interest - music has run in the family with both my father and myself.

regards Ian :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Ian,

I hope that you do find what you are looking for.

That seems to be the first band photo with a canine member.

He's probably very good at banging the bass drum with his his tail. :rolleyes:

Cheers,

Tony

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Being a musician I am always very pleased to see any photos of Military Bands.

I’ve played in Brass Bands, Big Bands, Orchestras, Small combos and taught quite a few kids to play wind instruments.

One of the biggest delights I find, is hearing and watching a military band playing.

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a wonderful spectacle, seeing the all the various bands of different regiments and I include here the Pipe Bands. To learn to play the bagpipes is still on my list.

Therefore when a magnificent photo of a Great War Military Band appeared in one of the threads the other day I drooled over it for ages. I can’t even find it now!

Could we start a thread for all the photos that surely must be around?

Any nice photos possibly from postcards, with either bands or instruments from that time, will shut me up for a while.

Here is a very good website with an enormous amount of brass players and bands from way back.

http://www.harrogate.co.uk/HARROGATE-BAND/indexlk6.htm

Thanks,

Tony

here is another east lancashire military band photo from 1904

East Lancashire Regiment Band 1904 ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow! that's an old one.

I love those uniforms.

Thanks Ian,

Tony

Link to comment
Share on other sites

40th Battalion AIF Band, in June 1916 Claremont Tasmania, one month prior to embarkation

post-10363-1185028019.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi mctaz,

It's nice to have one from 'Downunder'.

They look like they mean business too.

Many thanks,

Tony

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi All, what a brilliant thread, i have always had a soft spot for military bandsmen, and items related to the bands of the Britsh army feature heavily in my collection, i,ve often wondered how many talented (and not so talented) bandsmen lost their lives in the war and have heard one or two great stories about their involvement. My great uncle was a Bugler in the K.O.Y.L.I IN THE 30s and ww2. I,m looking for info on two sergeant drummers and am posting here in case someone can help me.

1/ drum majors of the 4th bn Middlesex Regiment 1901-1920 any info ?

2/ drum majors of the 7th bn Northumberlan Fusiliers 1901-1920 or beyond any info ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I will post some pics as soon as i get some of items related to bandsmen if anyone is interested. Cheers Ian.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Territorial Musicians: The Band of the 1/6 Royal Scots

post-13002-1186254396.jpg

Tom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Tony

have recently acquired this postcard... it's not the clearest of pictures but it's a band...I can't date it precisely but it is definately between 14-18.

Regards

Ian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Ian (Regtcollector),

Thanks for your contribution.

I’m sure that many members will only be too happy to help with information on bandsmen of the Great War.

Also Great War military band/musician photos are extremely welcome.

Please feel free to post any interesting stories relating to Great War musicians.

Cheers,

Tony

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Ian (Filbert70),

Thanks for that one; The darkness of the photo seems to capture a feeling of mysterious presence - I like it!

Cheers,

Tony

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Tom,

Thanks for that great photo of the famous Royal Scots.

Cheers,

Tony

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Hi all,

I’ve just found this photo on a Dutch site.

It’s of the First Royal Naval Brigade at an Internment Camp in Holland.

In 1914 there were two camps – one in Leeuwarden and the other in Groningen.

The whole Brigade was transferred in January 1915 to the English camp in the Hereweg, Groningen.

Tony

post-14730-1196579238.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here, the whole camp marching to a burial in the Hereweg - lead by the orchestra.

Tony

post-14730-1196579470.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Attached is one of my favourite photos.The kings Liverpool musicians are wearing the unofficial cap badge which suggests 1900-1914 ( See the Kingsman Vol2 No2 June 1930 ) and look at the age of the boys on the front row.

P.B.

post-63-1196585007.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k116/ras...g/lastscana.jpg

Here is the 15th Convalescent Depot Band, Trouville-Ser-Mer, France. Taken on August 4th 1918.

Hi

The pic seems to have disappeared but if anyoe has any info on this band I'd be interested. My father's cousin was in this camp in 1918 andhe wrote in his diary about marching down to the beach accompanied by the band.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi

I have been through my collection and have the following

1/7th Cheshire prior to embarkation

1/Cheshire Fifes & Drums 1910

post-27843-1204651620.jpg

post-27843-1204651630.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another two

8th or 9th York and Lancaster Regt in "Kitchener Blue"

Highland light Infantry just after the war - medal ribbons are worn

post-27843-1204651765.jpg

post-27843-1204651796.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tyneside Irish

Pipes & Drums 24th Bn NF (1st TI) note they use Irish War Pipes with only two drones

Band 26th NF (3rd TI)

post-27843-1204652046.jpg

post-27843-1204652059.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

another coupe this time scottish

Pipers 8th Bn Black Watch

Pipes & Drums 2/4th King's Own Scottish Borderers

post-27843-1204652356.jpg

post-27843-1204652381.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...