Military Music is a community curated exhibition produced by the volunteers of The Fusilier Museum London. Volunteer researchers help the museum explore subjects which have not previously received much attention. The projects culminate in an exhibition, displayed in a local library or community venue, and a celebration event which brings together interested members of the public and the Regiment.This is the latest exhibition...

1. Military Music
With thanks to our hosts:Funded by:
Organised by:
Whether for intimidation, to boost morale or to
celebrate the traditions of its long and varied
history, music provides a unique viewpoint of the
history of the Armed Forces.
The volunteers of The Fusilier Museum London
have been looking at the evolution of military
music, its traditions and what it means in the
context of today’s army. They have uncovered
some fascinating Fusiliers stories along the way.
www.fusiliermuseumlondon.org
Please have a look around, we hope you
enjoy the exhibition
With thanks to...
David Jones
Bill Fahey
Stewart Hardman
Alastair Lamb-Crawley
Jim Morrison
Yulia Naumova
Bruce Gibson (work experience)
If you would like to be involved in the
next community curated exhibition
organised by The Fusilier Museum
London please contact:
Stephanie Killingbeck, Museum Officer
stephanie@fusiliermuseumlondon.org
0203 166 6912
Associated Event
Talk – The Importance of Military
Music in the Modern Army
Date – Monday 16th September 2013
Arrival 6.30-7.00pm, talk starts at
7.00pm
At The Fusilier Museum London, Tower
of London, EC3N 4AB.
Major Bruce Miller from the Military
School of Music will be discussing the
role, training and importance of
military music in the modern armed
forces.
FREE but booking essential
Book on 02031666912 or
stephanie@fusiliermuseumlondon.org
Find out more about the
Fusiliers on our website.
Or use your smart phone
to scan here.

2. Let’s face the Music...
Bright, colourful and eye catching many of us have seen military bands marching through the
streets marking ceremonial occasions. We may even have been there, cheering by the
roadside. The beat of the drums mirroring the step of many well trained feet, the uniforms
vibrant and the music energising…but what is the story behind this music and these
traditions?
For the early soldier life was signalled by the
beating of the drum and the sounding of the
trumpet and the bugle.
But it was the Romans who took military music to a new level.
They used trumpets, horns and drums not only for intimidation but to
send signals.
Complex battlefield manoeuvres would
be signalled to the troops using
trumpets known as buccina.
Over the centuries there have been many foreign influences on British
military music.
The Crusaders returned from the Holy Land with side drums and
kettledrums, taken from the Saracens.
Whilst the Ottoman Turks, the first modern European country to have
military bands, were considered so good that their musicians were to be
found throughout the European bands of the eighteenth century.
The first official British “military band” was formed under the reign of
King Charles II in the 17th century (1660-1685).
Whether in camp or on the battlefield, instruments shaped daily
life.
Though we cannot pinpoint the exact date music was introduced
to the battlefield its origins of intimidation and morale boosting
reach far back into the depths of history.
Early man knew the power of noise to strike fear into the enemy
and as a rallying cry for their own warriors.
Music allowed them to enter “into an altered state of
consciousness…where they would not feel fear and pain, and
would be religiously dedicated to group interests”.
We first find ‘instruments’ mentioned around 30,000 years BC.
The log or slit drum, is perhaps the oldest known drum.
Its origin a hollow log.
There are records of percussion instruments in China and India
around 3,000BC.
From the Americas, evidence exists of drums being used by the
Mayan’s and other early civilisations.
The ancient Egyptians were the first to use military
drums in an organised way.
Did You Know?
Even the great William Shakespeare
gave a nod to military music. In
perhaps his most famous play
Macbeth, the hero Macduff
proclaims:
“Make all our trumpets speak; give
them all breath, those clamorous
harbingers of blood and death.”
The Battle of Bunker Hill, 1775

3. Ceremonial and Parade Music
The Ceremony of the Keys
Origins of this Ceremony date back to the 14th century. The 700 year old tradition is still carried out every night when the
Tower of London is locked and secured at 10.00pm. Although there is no longer a monarch in residence at the Tower there
are many other valuables – including the crown jewels. The duty regiment (which has included the Royal Regiment of
Fusiliers) escorts the Chief Yeoman Warder and the Queen’s key throughout the ceremony before the Duty Drummer
sounds the Last Post at the end of the ceremony.
Beating Retreat
Origins of this Ceremony, originally known as Watch
Setting, signalled a cease fire in the fighting when men
could return to the barracks and rest before battle
began again the following day. A drum call and later
bugles, ordered troops to return to barracks at sunset.
Today this Ceremony is re-enacted on Horse Guards
Parade by the massed bands (Drummers from the Royal
Fusiliers have taken part in this ceremony) and has
evolved into a colourful spectacle of Military Music and
precision drill.
Trooping the Colour
This ceremony dates back to the early 18th century, when Regimental Colours were
trooped in front of the ranks, so that the soldiers could recognise their
Regimental Flag in battle. After marching across the parade ground a lone
drummer breaks away from the band to play the Drummers Call. This signals the
moment when the colour is to be trooped through the ranks. Since 1748 the ceremony
has also marked the Sovereign’s official birthday.
© courtesy of Harald Joergens, 16.6.2012
Today the musical instructions, once signalled by
the Corps of Drums to the everyday soldier, are
mainly heard at ceremonial occasions.
Occasions such as Beating Retreat and Trooping
the Colour.
As the use of ceremony grew, so did the number
of instruments being used.
Across the years new instruments joined the
drums and fifes, until around the 17th century the
military band as we know it today was born.
During these ceremonial occasions the Corps of
Drums and Military bands often come together
to lend size and spectacle to the events.
Top: On parade, the 1st
battalion Royal Fusiliers
band taking salute at the
Presentation of New
Colours, 1956
Left: The Royal Regiment
of Fusiliers marching
through the Tower of
London during the
Freedom of the City
parade, 2008
Above: Musketry Instructor and Band Boy, 1st
battalion, Albany Barracks, Isle of Wight 1905
Did You Know?
The term ‘Drummed Out’ is derived from a
ceremony still in use until the mid 1800’s.
When a disgraced soldier was discharged
from his regiment he would have his cap and
collar badges removed, the shoulder straps
and buttons cut off his tunic and he would be
marched towards the gates. As he marched
the ‘Rogues March’ was played by the fifes
and drums. When he reached the gates and
was thrown out, the smallest Drummer
Boy administered a kick to his behind
as the gates closed behind him!

4. Marching Music
© Courtesy of Henry Phythian-Adams
One of the most dramatic Fusilier songs was written and composed by Wal Pink and George
Le Brunn for the Music Hall singer Charles Godfrey.
During his Inkerman scene staged in 1892, Godfrey appeared as an old Chelsea pensioner,
sitting in a chair and singing a story of the Battle of Inkerman to his three grandchildren.
The old warrior sings a ballad and tells of how the Russians dammed a stream near the British
camp. How they planned to force the troops to surrender out of thirst but how after three
days, 'my dearest brother Fred' volunteered to breach the dam. This he does but at the cost of
his own life, adding his name 'to the scroll of British glory'.
The martial chorus ran:
Oh! Fighting with the Seventh Royal Fusiliers
Famous Fusiliers. Gallant Fusiliers.
Through deadly Russian shot and Cossack spears
We carv'd our way to glory! Oh Glory!
At length the veteran is overcome by his feelings and bursts into tears. Quickly recovering and
ashamed at having broken down, he gives the word of command, the children fall into the line
and march out.
The song was such a great success that General Sir Ian Hamilton recalled in 1908 that the song
'produced such an overwhelming rush of recruits that the authorities could easily, had they
chosen to, have raised several additional battalions’.
The 7th Royal Fusiliers – A Story of Inkerman
By the end of the 19th century musicians were no longer
accompanying soldiers into battle.
Instead troops kept their spirits up by singing on the march.
Songs were usually music hall favourites or hymns.
On a march up to the Front Line singing or even whistling a
tune was a way of calming the nerves and of bonding the
men for what lay ahead.
Marching songs were often accompanied by a flute or
harmonica as well as by the beat of the men’s boots on the
ground.
Battalions often personalised songs, putting their own
words to the tunes:
Above: Sheet music to the Seventh Royal
Fusiliers (a story of Inkerman)
Did You Know?
After landing at Le Havre, France in WW1,
a Fusilier Regiment responded to the
French welcome by trying to whistle the
‘Marseillaise’, but soon broke into the
popular Music Hall song ‘ Hold Your Hand
Out You Naughty Boy’. Sung with great
gusto, it was received with bared heads by
the French troops, who thought it must be
the British National Anthem
Words by an unknown author of
the 22nd (Kensington) battalion
Royal Fusiliers
Keep your Head down, you Fusilier,
Keep your Head down, you Fusilier,
There’s a Blooming Great Hun,
With a Blooming Great Gun,
Who’ll Shoot you,
Who’ll Shoot you,
There’s a Sniper up a Tree,
He’s waiting for you and me,
If you really want to see ole’ Blighty
once more
Keep your Head down you Fusilier.

5. Soldier’s Songs
Bawdy, rude and not to be published…or a realistic look at
life of an everyday soldier?
Soldiers Songs were written by the soldier, for the soldier
and reflected the everyday experiences of the men.
Their words were often set to the popular tunes of the
day. They were not intended for publication.
These were the songs of the lower ranks with lyrics that
grew out of the situations they endured. They came from
men who were facing death on a daily basis. Men writing
about their hopes and their fears.
These songs were songs of the bar and of the barrack
room, not the music of the officially provided
entertainment.
Songs of support for comrades at arms and a celebration
of friendship. An outlet for complaints and a chance to
poke fun at the bravery of dying exalted in many other art
forms.
© Courtesy of www.ww1photos.com
Private Frank Gee and the Fusiloils
Pte. Frank Gee, a variety artist and entertainer, kept his Battalion, the 22nd
(Kensington) Royal Fusiliers, amused during their training at Horsham in Sussex.
He organised concert parties with his musicians who were later known as the
Fusiloils.
He became a contributor and later editor of the
battalions fortnightly newspaper – The Gazette.
Deciding that the Battalion needed
their own Marching song, Gee put
his own words to the tune, The Battle
Hymn of the Republic. This song
continued to be sung at reunion
dinners right up until the final
battalion reunion in 1977.
After he was demobilised Frank Gee returned to his
professional career and to the stage. Sadly this larger
than life character was to die in destitution, refusing any
help from the Battalion’s Old Comrades Association.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic (John Brown’s Body)
Words by Pte. Frank Gee 22nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers - The
Kensington Battalion
We are the Kensington Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers,
We said goodbye to all the Girls and kissed away their tears,
We get a bob a day and if we saves it up for years,
We’ll all be Millionaires –
So to hell with the Kaiser and his Bosches,
We’ll make set for Belgian losses,
And to him where to stick his Iron Crosses,
When we get to Berlin.
Diary of Bandsmen W. Yeoman of the 3rd Royal
Fusiliers. Marching through Kandahar, India, 1880
© courtesy of Geoff Inglis
© courtesy of Geoff Inglis

6. Entertainment
Rock, pop and jazz. Wind, strings and brass. Big band music…
Playing both at home and abroad, military
musicians perform music from a wide variety
of styles and genres, entertaining the troops and
performing at numerous events.
You might find a small ensemble playing for State
Visits, Regimental Balls or Public Concerts or the
full band performing at large scale events such as
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Military bands have performed alongside celebrities such as Robbie Williams and Jools
Holland, on concert tours and even at last years 2012 Olympic Games.
The main job of the military musician is to support the
army and to promote the UK.
The first class music they play helps to raise the
profile of the army and its associated charities
throughout the world.
Educated at Eton and Oxford, Christopher Stone initially joined the Public Schools Battalion as
a Private but soon applied for a commission with the 22nd (Kensington) Battalion Royal
Fusiliers.
In 1915 he became a 2nd Lieutenant and stayed with the battalion throughout WW1.
An author before and after the War, in 1927 Stone began hosting his own radio programme
for the BBC.
He played gramophone records over the air, a completely new concept at the time. His
programme was hugely popular with the public and Christopher Stone became known as the
UK’s first disc jockey.
Later Radio Luxemburg paid Stone an astonishing fee of £5000 a year to play records on the
air.
He was described by Roy Plumley, host of Desert Island Discs, as ‘The First Gentleman of the
Gramophone’.© Courtesy of Geoff Inglis
Major Christopher Stone D.S.O. M.C. (1882 – 1965). Soldier, Author and Radio Broadcaster
Did You Know?
It is thought that the expression
‘Tattoo’ is derived from the Dutch, Doe
Den Tap Toe meaning ‘Turn Off The
Taps’. When Soldiers were billeted
in towns and villages, the local
innkeepers had to turn off the beer
taps at 10.00pm. The sound of the
Drummer walking through the streets
beating the call, notified the men to
return to their billets.
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Drum Platoon with
the Olympic Torch Bearer, 2012

7. Making Music…and other jobs
The Drummer Boy
Robert Mason of 23rd Welsh Fusiliers
Robert Mason was born into the Fusiliers and at just 9 years old he joined the
regiment as a drummer boy.
In 1777 he was transferred to the 23rd Light Company who were in desperate
need of reinforcements.
The regiment set sail for New York. The aim - to draw the French away from
Rhode Island. When they met the French warships a fierce battle ensued but
the British fleet were victorious.
Yet it was not all glory for Robert Mason. Shortly after reaching New York, he
deserted from the army, was captured and escaping hanging was imprisoned.
Talented and charming Mason won over the officers. The army, always
in need of a gifted musician reinstated him – even promoting him to Corporal.
He eventually rose to the rank of Drum Major having surviving the
war in America and a court martial.
Around 11,250 men served with the 23rd regiment – 247 returned home.
Robert Mason was one of them.
Both are soldiers and both play music but their roles are
very different…
A Drummer or Infantry Musician is first and foremost a
fighting soldier.
He must complete basic training and at least a year’s
service before he is able to learn an instrument.
A bandsmen on the other hand is a musician first and a
soldier second.
He too must complete basic training however once
completed his main task is to represent the army at
ceremonial and other events.
However the military musician also has an operational
role, traditionally in a medical capacity.
Today their position is much the same, musicians support
the Army Medical Services and perform general duties -
guarding key installations and prisoners of war, driving,
protection, equipment care…
Above: Drummer
boys Casey and
Sawyer were the first
to enlist with the 1st
battalion after its
return from India in
1870
Left: A letter to the
editor from the
Fusilier Chronicle
2nd Battalion Royal Fusilier Band, WWII
Did You Know?
In days gone by the musicians
were also charged with dealing out
punishments such as floggings -
this made them very unpopular
with their fellow soldiers.

8. The Military Band
Military Band Formation
Drum Major
Trombone Trombone Trombone Trombone
Tuba Euphonium Euphonium Tuba
Cornet Cornet Cornet Cornet
Cornet French Horn French Horn Cornet
Snare Drum Cymbal Bass Drum Snare Drum
Saxophone Clarinet Clarinet Saxophone
Clarinet Clarinet Clarinet Piccolo
In 1831 the bandsmen’s uniform was
regulated for the first time.
Bandsmen were to be dressed as the rank
and file but with double-breasted white
coatees and facings of the regimental colour.
Bandsmen's tunics stayed white until 1873
when they were changed to scarlet, in
conformity with the rank and file.
The new tunic had wings, white piping on
the back and sleeve seams, and a badge of a
lyre and crossed trumpets on the upper right
arm.
The Bandsmen's Uniform
Right: Lt. Steele and band,
2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers,
Jubbulpore, India, 1910
Below: Group photograph of
the 2nd battalion Royal
Fusilier Band, 1910
3rd battalion Royal Fusilier band, Lucknow 1914
In 1968, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was formed
when the four English Fusilier Regiments and their
associated bands amalgamated:
Did You Know?
During Regimental Sports Day a race was
organised in which Bandsmen had to play
their Instruments while running to the
finishing line. The two Drummers would
occupy the first two places followed by the
Buglers with the poor Base Drum coming in
last despite being given a head start!
1968 - Northumberland, Warwickshire, Lancashire and the Royal
Fusiliers merge.
1969 - Four bands become three.
1984 - The St. George and Duke of Kent’s bands replace the three
remaining bands.
2006 - The two remaining bands join the Minden Band of The Queen’s
Division.
2012 - The band becomes a ‘reduced capability band’
(1 Wind Quintet, 1 Brass Quintet).

9. See Drummers with
Fifers come,
And the Beater with the
massive Drum,
The Grand Drum Major
first doth stalk,
With Gold Knobbed
stick and pompous
walk,
And as he marches o’er
the ground,
He thinks he turns the
world around.
Quotation from 1748
The Drum Major
Apron – regiments serving in Africa
tended to wear Leopard skin
aprons and those in India, tiger
skin.
Aprons protect both the uniform
and the instruments:
Cymbals are muffled against the
chest and could leave marks on the
uniform.
Whilst the Bass Drum may be
scratched by the tunic buttons.
Today’s aprons are made from
synthetic materials.
Traditionally the elaborate uniform of a Drum Major was used both
for show and for assistance.
At ceremonial occasions it displayed a regiment’s wealth and
prestige. On the battlefield, it provided a visible aid in the confusion.
As well as leading on parade the Drum Major
commands the Corps of Drums and takes
responsibility for its musical standard.
Drum Major's mace – the mace can be traced
back to the 17th century.
Also known as a 'leading staff’ it was used to
clear the way ahead of a carriage or a procession
in crowded streets.
The Drum Major's mace was officially introduced
into the British army to be used to define drill
movements and signal commands to the corps of
drums and to the band.
The Drum Major of a Fusilier Regiment wears a bearskin
and a scarlet tunic.
The collar, cuffs and shoulder straps are white and the
wings are of gold lace. A four bar gold chevron and drum
are embroidered in gold on the right sleeve of the tunic.
In some regiments the Drum Majors wear gold dress cords.
Their white buff sword belt with sword and knot
suspended on white straps from their left hand side.
The most distinctive features of the Drum Major’s uniform
are the Sash and Mace.
The Drum Major’s Uniform
When the Band and Corps
of Drums parade together
it is the Drum Major who
leads and takes command,
irrespective of the rank
held by members of the
band.
© Harald Joergens,
15.6.2013
Did You Know?
A red sash is worn from the right
shoulder and from the left, the
Drum Major's shoulder belt. The
sash may originally have been
worn because it could be used as a
stretcher with which to drag the
wounded from the battlefield
Lancashire Fusilier Corps of Drums
Marching through Warwick Castle, 2005

10. The Corps of Drums
The Drummer’s Uniform
Traditionally drummer’s have worn a very distinctive
uniform so as to stand out on the battlefield.
Until the introduction of the bugle, all signals in
Regiments of Foot were by drum – in an age when close
formation manoeuvre could win or lose a battle the
drummer was a particularly important person.
Hackle – red over white is worn by the
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (the London,
Lancashire, Warwickshire and
Northumberland Fusilier regiments)
Scarlet Coatee – the drummer's tunic
is of scarlet cloth with the collar,
shoulder straps and cuffs in blue. From
1855 the drummer’s white double-
breasted tunic was replaced with the
coatee.
Wings – drummer's have worn 'wings'
on the shoulders of their tunics since the
1600’s. These wings made the uniforms
easily identifiable on the battlefield.
During the Crimean war they
disappeared from all uniforms apart
from drummers and bandsmen.
Crown lace – one of the most
distinctive marks of drummer's
uniform is the lace. It is white with
scarlet imperial crowns woven into the
fabric. Today the crown lace is applied to
the drummer's coatee along the top
edge of the rounded collar, along the
front and back seams of the sleeves, and
along all of the back seams above the
waist.
Left: 1st battalion Royal Fusilier drummers,
1885
Over the years the drummer’s role has changed but their uniform has remained one of the
most elaborate in the British Army.
Sealskin – drummers have worn this
traditional fur cap since 1768. Today the
head-dress for Fusilier Regiment's
drummers is of black sealskin.
Royal cords – scarlet, blue and yellow
cords are worn by royal regiments. The
wearing of dress cords by drummers
came into general use between 1900-
1914, and this custom was later
followed by bandsmen. Dress cords are
an adaptation of plaited bugle cords
and can be worn in variety of styles.
Drum sling – players begun to sling the
side drum diagonally across the body
around the mid 16th century, controlling
it with the leg. This freed both hands to
beat the drum. Some regiments permit
a regimental badge to be worn on drum
slings.
Leg apron – for a side drum. It is
traditionally made of white buckskin
and is worn to prevent wear and tear of
the tunic and trousers.

11. Modern Military Music
Major Bruce Miller – Chief Instructor at Kneller Hall
Major Miller is the Chief
Instructor at the Corps of
Army Music at Kneller
Hall in West London
Major Miller helps to train the army’s
new recruits who go on to play with one
of the 22 bands of the modern British Army.
Each new student is auditioned and their ability
as a musician is rated. However each must must complete
28 weeks of basic training before concentrating fully on their life as an army musician.
Once training is complete the students are sent to bands across the country where they
are soon engaged in playing at musical events worldwide.
The opportunity to travel is something Major Miller has greatly enjoyed. He has played at
Royal events in the UK and at exotic overseas assignments. He even played at the Sultan of
Brunei’s 60th birthday tattoo and has met most of the current Royal family.
As Major Miller said, “music is fun” and he’s “living the dream”. Lucky man.
Kneller Hall
After only thirty years the school had become so successful that, during Queen Victoria's
Jubilee celebrations, it was granted the right to use Royal in its title.
The school has gone on to earn an international reputation as a centre of excellence and all
musicians in the Corps of Army Music are trained at Kneller Hall.
The 22 full time bands can be seen at events around the world, are tasked with supplying
musical support to the troops in operational areas and has itself an operational capability
supporting the Army Medical Services.
The Royal Military School of Music was
established, with 85 pupils from 48 different
regiments, at Kneller Hall near Twickenham, in
1857.
Originally known as Whitton Hall, after the nearby
village, the building is thought to have been
designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
© courtesy of The Royal Military School of
Music
“Donald, where’s me troosers”
The traditional Scottish song, made popular by Andy Stewart, has a special significance for Major Miller. At one event, in Manchester
Cathedral, Bruce was front and centre on the stage – but realised he had no trousers! They had been left at Kneller Hall. A brave Lance
Corporal saved the day by lending his trousers to Bruce. In the finest traditions of music, “the show must go on”
Did You Know?
In 1854 during the Crimean War, the
Duke of Cambridge held a grand
military revue to celebrate the
birthday of his cousin, Queen
Victoria. Twenty bands gathered to
play the National Anthem – but all
had different arrangements! The
resulting, racket led to the Duke
setting up a school of military music
at Knellar Hall