RAOC Gazette - page 5
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1980 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1980 |
| Late date | 1980 |
| Transcription |
During Hie Great War of 1914/IB two RAOC bands were formed in France, one at l.c Havre and one at Calais, entirely from volunteer soldiers. Unfortunately, these bands were dis- banded in about 1919 and (heir instruments were eventually transferred to Hilsea Barracks Portsmouth. .Shortly after this n volunteer band was formed from Depot personnel nt Hilscii, from those able to play musical instruments, numbering about fourteen players. Their chief job was to supply music for parades held on the barrack square. The standard wns not a high one, but nevertheless, they filled a want. No bandmaster, or trained musician, took charge of them but they were headed by the NCO in charge of Boys. Some of the bandsmen possessed their own instruments and the rest were equipped from the instruments that had been used by the two war time bands. In 1922, when a visit from the Duke of York (later King George VI) and recently appointed Coloncl-in-Chicf, was im- pending, means were sought to improve the standard of the part-time band. Mr R. T. Stevens, retired bandmaster of the 3rd Battalion.) The Rifle Brigade, happened to be resident in Portsmouth and; heard of the need for an instructor and proffered his services. His olfcr was accepted and the standard of the band began to improve. He was given an annual retaining fee and a more or less free hand to develop the band as far as possible. IXetortr AWARDS FOR DISTINGUISHED S E R V I C E IN N O R T H E R N IRELAND QWKKN'S AIRDAI. I'Oll f;AIJ,ANTHY W02 I. T. Grey M15NTIONKI) IN DKSPATCIIKS Major E. B. C. Aitkcn WO I P. Green GOC'S COMMENDATION §&?&$> WO I G. J. Lawrence I-OUD.S U E C T K N A N T CKHTIKICATK W02 J. D. Burrows (RAOC TA) THE STAFF BAND IN writing recently on the Staff Band appeal it occurred to me that a short resume of its history and background might be of interest to readers. Incidentally, to clear up any confusion that there may be in the reader's mind as to the difference between Regimental and Staff Bands—and between Bandmasters and Directors of Music, the following simple explanation may help. Regimental Bands arc those belonging to regiments of the line (Infantry, Cavalry etc); these bands arc in the hands of WOl (Bandmasters). Staff Bands are those serving Corps e.g. RAOC, REME, the Guards Divisions, the Royal Artillery and the Royal Tank Regiment. The person responsible for their training and their discipline, in these cases, is a Director of Music who having served as a Bandmaster and after taking a further Advanced Certificate of Music (psm) at the Royal Mili- tary School of Music Kneller Hall, is granted the Queens Com- mission on his appointment. Though our RAOC Staff Band had its real beginnings in 1922, music had in fact been played by men in Corps uniform in various forms, for some years before. The first- Corps Band—France The Corps Band on the square in the days of the Depot at Hilsca Barracks Portsmouth. A nostalgic memory for quite a few. The photograph was taken from the long verandah which linked the first floor Headquarters offices. About this time the 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade was it the course of disbandment and the band was given the optiot of transferring to any Unit that was open and would taki them. Mr Stevens managed to persuade sixteen of his olj musicians to transfer to the Corps and thus was formed thi nucleus of our present Corps Band. Mark you, these men had to transfer to RAOC as Store men and qualify for trade pay and promotion in the usua way, so that, in effect, they were again merely volunteer bands men. | The band achieved Corps as opposed to Depot status, ii 1924 and the Corps march was also officially recognised in tha year. It was Mr Stevens who first arranged the adaptation d the original melody for use by military bands—but that, J, itself, is another story. January 1938 saw a major change when the band was officially recognised as a Staff Band of the British Army to bo based at the RAOC Regimental Depot, Hilsea, Portsmouth. A new Director of Music was appointed and he served with the band until it moved to Blackdown when he. Major Jarman, handed over the baton to Major Goddard. In 1962 Captain Mitchell was appointed Director of Music and served in the post until his retirement when the band passed to the com- mand of Captain Beat who, in turn, handed over to Major Tom Griffiths, our present Director of Music. 1915. — 2 |
| Book number | R0404 |