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MrJpig · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:10 am Post subject: Old Bands

I remember Wally Walters BEM French Horn/ Librarian CinC Fleet, telling me that when he joined in 1955 The Royal Marines Band Service had 33 bands in operation.

I appreciate that a good number of these would have been half a dozen bandies and a bulger on board, but for the record can anyone name them?...the bands that is..... not the bandies!!

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townsergeant · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:39 pm Post subject: Re: Old Bands

bootybandy · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:55 pm Post subject:

I suppose you could start with all the major warships at that time. Cruisers, Carriers etc....
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Jim Mason · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:18 pm Post subject:

Always happy to oblige! As far as I can remember, the bands would be;

Aircraft carriers[
Indomitable, Implacable,Eagle, Victorious,Glory, Ocean, Theseus.
All 18 strong, no buglers.

Cruisers;
Devonshire, Superb, Belfast,Ceylon, Liverpool, Bermuda,Kenya, Sheffield, Glasgow, Birmingham.
Either 18 or 24 strong.

Submarine depot Ships;
Tyne, Forth. SS Ranpura.
18 strong.

New Zealand;
HMNZS Bellona.
24 strong.

Singapore[
HMS Terror.
18 strong.

3rd Commando Brigade
24 strong.

Shore based in UK;
RNB Chatham, RNB Portsmouth, RNB Devonport, RNAS Lee on Solent,
RNAS Bramcote,HMS Raleigh, HMS Excellent. HMS Ganges, HMS St. Vincent, Portsmouth Group, Plymouth Group, RMSM.

This was the period when the bands were being reduced and withdrawn, and most had disappeared by 1957 Interestingly, there were 4/5 Band Service officers serving at sea at this time! The rest of the seagoing bands were commanded by Bandmasters ( in the equivalent rank today of Colour Sergeant) There were no complemented Corps of Drums, most ships had a RM Detachment which included 2 Buglers and if the OCRM was friendly, they could be used by the Bandmaster!

Most of these bands were in operation during this period.

RAB · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:23 pm Post subject:

Can I assume that HMS Condor didn't have a band at that time then Boss..??

Was the Forth Sub Band based on The Forth at Rosyth..??
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MrJpig · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:03 am Post subject:

Well remembered Boss. What a line up. Wish we had that resource today.

Thanks for your reply

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admin · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:48 pm Post subject:

Forth would have been the Med Fleet Forth I think Rab... was my dads Depot ship for a while (Not that HE was a submarine!).
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bootybandy · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 6:44 pm Post subject:

I know that HMS Maidstone was used in Belfast for holding undesirables at one time or another, but did that not also have a band on board. I thought I remembered Pinto saying something about serving on her. Any help Rab with that one?
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RAB · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:14 pm Post subject:

Jim Mason · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:58 pm Post subject:

bootybandy · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject:

It was possible then that Pinto Robinson was a part of the Band on the Maidstone for a short period of time?
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Hornblower · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:18 am Post subject:

Far be it for me to doubt anyone who had the knowledge that you have Col Jim - but I was told be a few old sweats when visiting HMS Drake in the early '70's (first of many visits) that there was also a band there not too long before then - was it a short-lived affair? I remember some march cards with the 'RMB HMS Drake' stamp on them - likewise HMS Thunderer (RNEC Manadon).

And what about a band in Malta - was there ever one stationed there at St Angelo?

I even thought there'd been one in South Africa - but maybe my old grey matter is making it up.
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Mr Bass Trombone · Corporal Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 405 Location: Spain

HMS Forth was moored at Siliema creek for many a good year, I can remember her then in 1960, it rumoured that she was resting on empty beer cans(well you wouldnt expect them to be full would you??) I can recall people mentioning a band in South Africa which if my memory serves me right it served the West Indies station. Iam not sure whether Col Jim mentioned the bands in Malta, I know there was a band at St Angelo, also I think also there was a Band at HMS Phonicia. Also in the UK there was a band at HMS Gamecock which I think was in Leicestershire, and did Col Jim mention HMS Ganges which was at Shotley Gate just outside Ipswich.If I think of any more I will let you know.
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Mr Bass Trombone · Corporal Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 405 Location: Spain

Now here is some info on the subject of Old Bands.
In 1952 the following Bands were serving at sea and shore establishments.
HMS Indomitable Cd BM SC Cooper

HMS Implacable BM JH Reyonlds
HMS Eagle BM JJ Martin
HMS Devonshire BM J Wilke Wilks
HMS Superb BM WH Newcombe
HMS Belfast BM DR Woods
HMS Glory BM W Spencer
HMS Ceylon BM PL Taylor
HMS Ocean BM OR Williams
HMS Liverpool BM DC Hartley
HMS Theseus BM WJH Machon
HMS Bermuda BM WC Greasley
HMS Kenya BM D Guthrie
HMS Sheffield BM HE Atfield
HMS Glasgow Cd BM ES Ough
HMS Tyne BM LR Lorensten
HMS Terror Cd BM RG Long
HMNZS Bellona Cd BM CDR Duncan
RNB Chatham Cd BM AEJ Stagg
RNB Portsmouth Cd BM AO White
RNB Devonport Cd BM W Fitzgerald
RNB leee on Solent BM PC Thorn
RNAS Bramcote BM W Saunders
HMS Raliegh BM FG Harwod
HMS Exellent BM RA Hobbs
HMS Ganges BM AK Butler
HMS St Vincent BM RG Fairall
3 Cdo Bde BM FP Rees

Apart from these Bands there was of course the Three Major Bands being Portsmouth and Plymouth Group Bands and the School of Music at Deal.
Making a grand total of 31 Bands, by 1955 this mumber had been considerably reduced apart from Ships Bands on the Carriers and Cruisers we down to 12 in number not going to list these.
I hope this gives you some idea of just how big the RMB used to be, and I was lucky enough to be around just after this time when you could join and see the world.
Sorry if I have bored you but Old Bands you wanted and that is what you got, if required more info available.
Adios Mi Amigos. Hasta Octubre.
MBT
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Errol · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:02 pm Post subject:

The 'geordie' memory amazing. Hi from me Col Jim.