Royal Marines
The Royal Marines Band Service is the musical wing of the Royal Navy and independent element of the Royal Marines. It currently consists of five bands plus a training wing - the Royal Marines School of Music at HMS Nelson - and its headquarters is at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth.
See also [ Corps of Royal Marines ]
History
The development of music in the Royal Marines is inextricably linked with the evolution of British military bands. Lively airs and the beat of the drum enabled columns of marching men to keep a regular step. The drum was the normal method of giving signals on the battlefield or in camp. As long ago as the days of Drake and Hawkins the drummer's rhythm would advertise the changing watches or beat the men to quarters. Royal Marine Drummers were first mentioned in the 1664 Convening Order, at the formation of Corps and so pride themselves as being the oldest Branch in the Corps.
Deal bombing
At approximately 8.20 am on 22 September 1989, the Royal Marines School of Music at the Royal Marine Depot, Deal was bombed by the IRA; this resulted in the death of eleven Royal Marines Musicians plus the injury of 22 other Royal Marine Band Service members. A memorial garden is now situated in the grounds of the old barracks where the bomb went off. This was built in remembrance of the eleven who died and was restored after an arson attack some years later. Every year the families and friends of those that died join together at the garden to pay their respects and lay flowers in a memorial service. The Bandstand near the Walmer Lifeboat station is also dedicated to those who lost their lives in the bombing, with the names of those killed engraved on each face. Each July a Royal Marines Band returns to perform an outdoor concert in it.
External links
See also [ Military role play ]
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Royal_Marines ]
Chat rooms • What links here • Copyright info • Contact information • Category:Root