The Royal Marines Band Service On-line Community

Wee Mac · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 7:42 pm Post subject:

Sorry for the intrusion but as this this is an Oz theme,.........

A few decades ago, were there RM bands in the Oz navy, or something similar ?

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euphless · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:48 pm Post subject:

I think it was South Africa & New Zealand Mac.

I'm sure Eric will tell us for sure
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Jim R mason · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:06 pm Post subject: RM Bands in the Australian Navy

RM Bands never actually served in the Australian Navy (although at times a RM Band Service Director of Music was there on loan )The Australian Navy Band Service was at one time dressed as Royal Marines - except for badges - the cap badge was star shaped. I remember an Australian Navy Bandmaster - one George Hooker - doing the RM Bandmasters Course at Burford in 1946/47 - he was dressed as a Royal Marine and eventually became a Commmander RAN (Director of Music) when the change to Navy uniform came at some time much later.

Jim Mason
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Jim Mason

Wee Mac · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 3:33 pm Post subject:

Thanks fellas !
I think Col Jim's post, is more in line, of what I remember to have seen or read somewhere.
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Once a Bugler, always a Turtle !!

Eric Hayward · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:20 pm Post subject:

The Royal Australian Navy Band changed from RM uniform in 1956/7 after they arrived back in Oz on the 'new' aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. This came about in part because of an event earlier when the ship had called into Colombo in what was then Ceylon. We in the East Indies Band (S/BM Graham Shipway) were also in Colombo at that time and the RAN Band were ashore when they were recalled to the ship for the funeral of a Chief Stoker. Confusion when the ships shore patrol started to round up anybody who looked like their band because of course we were all in uniform. (Not so much security in those days.) I was one of the unfortunate RM Band who was left to try and tell these'intelegent' bods that I was not one of 'theirs'.

Eric Hayward · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:35 pm Post subject:

Re the Scotland Band at the Sydney Tattoo. Had intended to go have a "Captain Cook." Thats Ozzie slang for 'have a look'. But distance as Col Jim will testify seems a lot longer than in the UK. Now from where I live it will take me all day by train after paying lots of dollars for the fare. Then we would need to be accommodated in Sydney for at least two days. Again costing lots of dollars. Then after enquiring re, the costs of tickets to said 'Tattoo" it would probably be cheaper to book the Queen Mary 2 for a week. So our funds are set aside for the coming REUNION OF EX RMBs in Adelaide on the last weekend of March 2010. Or did I mention that some where else