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Jim Mason · Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 11:45 pm Post subject: The way we were!

Recent attendance at Michael Hurds funeral reminds me of the formidable task that faced Michael when he came to Deal as the Theory Professor in 1954, and the conditions prevailing at that time in the Band service.

The manning and promotions systems in the Band Service were just recovering from the chaotic state that they had been in for some years.
At the end of World War 2, with the loss of 22.5% of all ranks who had served at sea, coupled with the discharge of some 300 conscript (Hostilities Only) musicians and the discharge of all the ranks who had been retained for war service and pensioners who had been recalled, maintaining the 40 bands still in commission was a huge problem, even with a Band Service numbering 1200. The aim of the Training Wing was to turn out players for sea service as soon as they were reasonably competent. Many within a few months of joining.

The promotion system was archaic, the highest rank that an instrumentalist could achieve was Band Corporal. To proceed beyond this it was necessary to pass the Bandmasters Course, for promotion to Bandmaster 2nd Class (equivalent of todays Band Sergeant) and on promotion the NCO would be required to train a band (provided by the Drafting Office) and take it to sea for two and a half years. Length of service and recommends could lead to promotion to Bandmaster 1st Class (todays Colour Sergeant) and invariably back to sea again. There were 8 Staff Bandmasters (equivalent of todays WO2) for a Band Service of 1200 and they invariably held administrative posts. In 1947 the rank of Band Sergeant was introduced and all Bandmasters 2nd Class reverted to Band Sergeant. The next higher rank then became Bandmaster.

Because of the foreign service comitments, and the moves from Scarborough and the IOM to Burford and then to Deal it had been very difficult to plan promotion courses and lots of "Conditional" promotions were made on seniority, without qualification, in each rank, on condition that the appropriate course was passed when possible. I was promoted Corporal (at 18) and did not get back to England for another two years to qualify. Even this did not solve the problem and it became necessary to confirm promotions to some unqualified ranks at the top of each seniority list, this became known as "Admiralty Made" promotion.

Michael joined towards the end of the 1954 Bandmasters Class, his predecessor having resigned in frustration. and I was in his first full class year in 1955. There were 12 in the course, 9 "Conditional" Bandmasters and three Sergeants. Two of the Bandmasters had already trained bands and taken them on two and a half year foreign comissions, and two had come through the system without ever having done any form of academic training at all, being "Admiralty Made" in their previous ranks. I was the only member of the class younger than Michael and some were considerably older and I venture to say some without any academiic interest or ambition, and not a lot af respect for Michael who told me later that it was a tremendous cultural shock to him!

Two of us, Geoff Langdale and myself were also required to augment the Staff Band on most outside engagements - broadcasts, concerts etc. - and also to attend morning parade with the band every day except Saturday, and although instruction started at 0800 daily, Saturday was the only day that we got into the classroom before 0900. Only 4 of us passed, 2 Sergeants and 2 Bandmasters, the others reverted to Band Sergeant (I was sent back to sea as a Bandmaster.)

Those were the days!!

General Melchett · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 7:17 am Post subject:

And his little red book "An Outline history of European Music" is still required reading Col. Jim, so his legacy lives on.
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Co-admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 1811

Fourty bands! 1200 strong... imagine the size of a three line whip Band on Horse Guards Parade? It wouldn't fit!

Once again, many thanks for your input Col. Jim; as always a superb and informative read.
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sticky blue · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:24 pm Post subject:

Corrr! the Massed Bands must have been some sight - How many D/M's would there have been?
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bootybandy · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:01 pm Post subject: