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THE

24^th REGIMENT BAND

The Welch Regiment/ The Royal Regiment of Wales

by John Marsh

The earliest reference to a 24th regimental band appears in 'Records of the 24th Regiment' and reads: "Dublin, 16th May 1771 - the regiment has a band of music", but how effective this was may be open to doubt when one sees in a Return of Musicians for 1801 (Appendix A) by Mr. Hugh McBride, Master of the Band, that the Band consisted of 11 bandsmen, 2 fifers and a drummer, the youngest being 11 years old with four years' service and the oldest 50 with 36 years' service!   In another List of Bandsmen dated 1812 (Appendix C) there are interesting features in the remarks column alongside the musicians' names one reads, "Very lame and not likely to be much better" and another "not likely to play"!  Perhaps one should say "from little acorns big oak trees grow".

In 1840 the band is described as being dressed in white double breasted coatees, collar cuffs and turn backs of green, large epaulettes of green worsted, white stripes on trousers and shako ornamented with a red ball. In about 1873 white clothing for the band was discontinued.

Prior to 1881 when the Regiment first became associated with Wales, the Regimental march was The Warwickahire Lads after its connection with that county in earlier years.  This march was composed by Charles Dibdin about the year 1768.  From 1881, the quickstep of the Regiment was The March of the Men of Harlech, an old tune which appeared as a Welsh Harp Air in the 1794 edition of Edward Jones's 'Relics of the Welsh Bards

On 16th March, 1878, the band of the 1/24th was left at King William's Town to be drilled in artillery and left that station with two seven-pounder muzzle loading guns for Itelezi and Mount Kempt where they did good service with the newly arrived 2nd Battalion of the Regiment.  An extract from a letter from Horse Guards dated 5/6/78 and signed by R.C.H. Taylour, O.A.G., reads:

"H. R. H. has specially noted that two guns were manned by the band of the 1^st /24^th Regiment during the action on April 30^th  and he considers that the cheerful spirit thus evinced for the general good and benefit of the public service is must creditable".

In the Zulu War of 1879 the band of the 1st Battalion was in the camp at Isandhlwana which was annihilated, one of the six soldiers of the 24th who survived the battle being Bandsman E. Wilson (a copy of his personal account of the action and subsequent escape from the field of battle is held in the Regimental Museum).  Prior to the Zulu attack the bandsmen had been detailed as ammunition carriers, cooks and stretcher bearers, and Wilson was one of the latter.  The 2^nd Battalion also lost members of their bend on that fatal day including their Bandmaster, Harry T. Bullard.

A rather interesting point is brought to light concerning the Bandmaster of the 1^st Battalion, who, as a result of his status, and unlike his counterpart Bandmaster Bullard of the 2^nd Battalion, was not present at the battle of Isandhlwana. This man, C. G. Burck, became Bandmaster in 1871 and served with the 1^st /24^th in various stations prior to accompanying the Battalion to South Africa. The reason why Burck failed to accompany his Battalion on active service remained obscure until research indicated that he may well have been a civilian and not a member of the Regiment.   It had long been the practice of certain regiments to engage civilian Bandmasters, usually German or French nationals as they were often considered to be better musicians, the payment for these men being borne by the Officers' Mess funds.   An Army Order of 1814 prohibited foreigners employed as Bandmasters from taking part in military operations, and in the case of Burck this may have been a lifesaver.   Following the Army Reform Act of 1881 and the possible rescinding of the order of 1814, or perhaps as the result of being granted British nationality, C. G. Burck was appointed to the rank of Warrant Officer on 5^th September, 1882, and continued to serve as such until 4^th September, 1889.

An old Sergeant-Bandmaster of the 1st Battalion from 1869 to 1878, Harry Rattray, became the oldest Chelsea Pensioner of the Regiment.   He was killed through enemy action on 16^th April, 1941, when Chelsea Hospital was damaged in the London Blitz.  He was in his 102^nd year.  At the age of ninety he composed a march entitled The March of the Clansmen of the Braemar Gathering which was inspired from a photograph of three veteran members of the Braemar Gathering in 1929.

In 1914 the 1^st Battalion Band want to France with the Regiment and during the retreat from Mons came under heavy shell fire which caused many casualties in the Band.  A unique distinction to the Regiment is that the Bandmaster of the 2^nd Battalion, Mr. P. O'Donnell (1882) had three sons who all joined the Regiment and went on to become Directors of Music.   At one time the three brothers, P.S.G. O'Donnell, R. P. O'Donnell and B. Walton O'Donnell were simultaneously Directors of Music Royal Marines; one at Chatham, one at Portsmouth and one at Plymouth and all three brothers received the M.V.O.

Kneller Hall has on two occasions been commanded by officers of the Regiment.  Colonel Farquhar Glennie in 1893 and Colonel Campbell-Miles 1951-1955.  Four of the most outstanding of the Regiment's Bandmasters over the years have been Charles Ancliffe (1^st Bn. 1900-18) whose Nights of Gladness waltz is world famous; D. J. Plater (2^nd Bn. 1923-26) who was renowned for his march compositions.   He became Director of Music Royal Tank Regiment in 1926 where he stayed until 1947 when he became the first Director of Music R.E.M.E;  Major W.G. (Polly) Willcocks (2^nd Bn. 1926-37) who became Director of Music Irish Guards. During Polly Willcocks period with the 2^nd Battalion this band was without doubt one of the most outstanding bands in the whole of the British Army.   In successive years 1932, 1934 and 1935 they had a Kneller Hall Inspection Report of Outstanding, a feat believed to be unsurpassed; and Lieutenant Colonel S.V. Hays who went on to become Director of Music Honorable Artillery Company in 1978.

On the outbreak of the war in 1939 Bandmaster Hays and the Band Boys of the 2nd Battalion, stationed at Londonderry at the time, were sent to Brecon and immediately set about forming a new bend known as the Infantry Training Centre Band, which became a first-class band and toured extensively in Wales and England and visited the 2nd Battalion in the front line in Holland. In 1947 the 2^nd Battalion went into suspended animation and the War Office directed that this band should join the 1st Battalion; their Band having become defunct over the war years.   In November 1947 Bandmaster Hicknan, a few bandsmen and a number of hand boys set sail for Cyprus to form the 1st Battalion Band.   In 1955 Mr. Hicknan was succeeded by Bandmaster Ollie Whiting who was to be the last Bandmaster of the 24^th Foot for in June 1969 the 24^th amalgamated with the 41^st Foot to form The Royal Regiment of Wales.

Bandsmen have always been known as the "Gentlemen of the Regiment". The following appears in the 1905 edition of 2^nd Battalion Standing Orders: "Bandsmen being better educated, and in a position superior to the rank and file, must remember that more is expected of them.  Their conduct should be beyond reproach and in their dress and bearing they should be the smartest men in the Battalion.  A bandsman who was awarded a Regimental entry will be struck off the establishment of the Band for at least three months."

Mr J NoBride 1793-1802 Mr P Waters 1865-1878

Mr J Clarke 1863-1869 Mr H Bullard 1878-1879

Mr H A Rattray 1869-1878 Mr R Goodings 1879-1884

Mr G Tamplini 1878-1882 Mr A Preece 1884

Mr G C Burck 1882-1889 Mr P O'Donnell 1884-1905

Mr J A Caborn 1889-1890 Mr F Ripp 1905-1906

Mr C W Ancliffe 1900-1918 Mr J C Roberts 1906-1915

Mr T Taylor 1918-1922 Mr H Fenner 1915-1923

Mr J L Gecks 1922-1934 Mr D J Plater 1923-1926

Mr C Eldicott 1934-1941 Mr G H Willcocks 1926-1937

Mr W J Hickman 1946-1955 Mr S V Hays 1937-1946

Mr 0 R Whiting 1955-1969

Sir

Yesterday I was honoured with a letter from you and am sorry to find, your former letter by some misfortune has never reached me. If it had I assure you Sir your orders should have been immediately obeyed.

Return of musicians of the 24th Regiment with their age and length of service.

Plymouth, 9th October 1801

Sergt NoBride 45 34 yrs 7 mnths 1s 6d

Wm Harrison 29 20 yrs 6 mnths 1s 2d

John Houghton 50 36 yrs 6 mnths 1s 2d

Noses Thomas 26 13 yrs 6 mnths 1s 2d

Wm Lavender 34 24 yrs 6 mnths 1s 2d

John Brett 24 15 yrs 6 mnths 1s 2d

Peter NcGuire 16 7 yrs 6 mnths 1s 2d

Wm Rourke 14 6 yrs 6 mnths 1s 2d

Edward Worrall 16 6 yrs 6 mnths 1s 2d

Mich Bailey 13 3 yrs 6 mnths 1s 2d

Alex Crofswell 17 4 yrs 6 mnths 1s 2d

Corp McKenney 29 16 yrs 6 mnths 1s 2d

N.B. There are also two fifers under my care

Jms Crofswell 11 4 yrs

Wm Perkins 11 3 yrs

Dennis McGary the only one with the regiment.

A letter dated 9^th October 1801 from the Master of the band, Mr. Hugh McBride.

Sir

I have taken the greatest pleasure in the profession of a Soldier, and am sorry to say, after such a length of Servitude, in a Variety of Climates, and blowing wind instruments such a number of years, has impaired my health and constitution much as to render it painful for me to do my duty as I could wish; and as promises have often been made that something would be done for me; I humbly request, Sir that you will be good enough to use your interest that I may be provided for, as far as you think deserving. General England, whom I had the honour of serving under for near twenty years; is of course the best able to inform you Sir, how far I am worthy your notice and protection. I have reason to think from the very great indulgence shown me by General England, had the General remained in the Regiment till now, he would have done what I hope Sir you will do, since I have in some measure lost my greatest friend.

Plymouth 9th Oct 1801

I am Sir Your Obedient

& very humble servt

Hugh McBride

Sgt 24th Regt

Sgt Crofswell 1st Clarinitt & Bassoon occasionally

Jms Brett 1st Clarinitt & Flute occasionally

Jms McGuire 1st Clarinitt

Henry Herold 1st Clarinitt

Edward Worrall 2nd Clarinitt

Jms Smith 2nd Clarinitt (very lame and not likely to be much better)

James Butler 1st Bassoon (on leave at present)

Michael McGuire 2nd Bassoon (likely to be a good hand)

Jms Love learning the Bassoon

Thos Hinton Bass Horn (likely to be a good one)

W Routh 1^st Flute

W Patten learning the Flute

Jms Herold 1^st Horn

W Harrison 2^nd Horn

Samuel Miller learning the 2^nd Horn - not likely to play

Wm Collins Trumpet & Bugle (failing)

Jms Johnson Tambourine

Paul Maurice Bass Drum

Danl Frederick Cymbals

signed

A Crofswell

Sgt 24th Regt

We thank Major Bob Smith, Curator Tahnks to Major Bob Smith, Curator of the South Wales Borderers and Mormouthshire Regimental Museum for supplying the article and appendix's, also our thanks to Mr. Brian Shorthouse who brought the documents to our attention.

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