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JohnT · On audition Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 2

Hi,
I am trying to find out more about James Albert Taylor, a relative of mine who was listed as a Bdmr 1st on the HMS Queen Mary when she was destroyed at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. He died when the ship blew up and I have his death registration details (1916 RN 3849). I presume that Bdmr stands for Bandmaster but know very little about this position or the man himself.
I would be very grateful if someone could tell me a little more about what being a Bdmr 1st involved and also point me in the direction of finding out more about the man himself.
Thanks in anticipation for your help.
John

Co-admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 1811

John,
Bandmasters of the Royal Naval School of Music and who were on the ships were the Conductors of the band. They were the senior musical rank on the ship most of the time (apart from when an officer was on board for certain trips).
I've not got time to do any research but you could contact the Royal Marines Museum and speak to their researchers or The Fleet Air Arm Museum who hold the documents from that period of time. An excellent source of information is

The Royal Marines Band Service by John Ambler which covers the development of the RM Band Service.
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JohnT · On audition Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 2

Many thanks.
I will try your suggestions. The Fleet Air Arm Museum is not too far from where I live. I also see from another posting that I can get info from the National Archives at Kew.
One other question, I believe I have a picture of my relative in uniform. Would details such as cap badges etc be in the John Ambler book which you recommend?
Many thanks again,
John

Co-admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 1811

http://www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/history/historyIndex.htm
and look at:
Distinctive Cap Badges of the Royal Marines Band Service Part 1 and Part 2
they are down the bottom of the page, left hand side.
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admin · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:45 pm Post subject:

I've just looked at the roll of honour in HQ and

HMS Queen Mary 31 May 1916
Bandmaster 1 JA Taylor
There it is. You need to try the museum...
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admin · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:52 pm Post subject:

Extracted from the Book The Royal Marines Band Service:

Hornblower · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:05 pm Post subject:

Very sad, I remember reading somewhere that, in ratio to the amount of sailors to bootneck bandies there were - more bandsmen lost their lives than RN personnel.

God Bless their Souls. How brave were they to keep the ammunition coming? Knowing that if the ship went down, so did they.

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bootybandy · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:05 pm Post subject:

I think you're right there Stu. Percentage wise, the Band Service suffered the greatest amount of casualties of all the forces during WWII.
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