COMMENT
Lieutenant Colonel NJ Grace
BMus(Hons) FLCM LRSM RM
Commandant RMSM
and
Principal Director of Music Royal Marines
“Perhaps the greatest strength of music is its capacity to communicate beyond the spoken or written word: it can cross barriers of language, of culture and of age”
It is reputed that this statement was made by none other than the eminent musician Yehudi Menuhin. Whether it is or not, I think it encapsulates the value and strength of military music, especially with the music and roles of the Royal Marines Band Service today and throughout our proud history.
At the time of writing this article, we are at the mid-point of the current deployment of Band Service personnel to Afghanistan. This is a very important role for the Royal Marines Band Service, providing ambulance drivers, motor transport sections and radio operators for the Joint Force Medical Group, as well as providing musical support. They continue to do a sterling job and the Corps Bandmaster and I were able to greet those returning after their three month tour at RAF Brize Norton last week. They were very positive about their experience and felt that they had made a real contribution to the main effort. Their work is very much appreciated and they can now enjoy a well-earned rest with their families. Our thoughts turn to the others from the Lymsptone Band who have now taken over their roles for the next few months and I look forward to meeting them on their safe return later in the year.
The current operational duties continue the great traditions and work of the Royal Marines Band Service of the past. It is important that our history is recorded and I am extremely grateful to the work of the historian and author John Ambler on his second book about the Royal Marines Band Service, ‘Per Mare, Per Terram’, which follows on from the first book he wrote back in 2003. This second volume contains much more information on the buglers and drummers, as well as the Divisional Bands. The book provides a great insight into the training of musicians and buglers at the Royal Marines School of Music and the important operational roles members of the Band Service have undertaken throughout our proud history. One thing that stands out in both of John’s books is the people of the Royal Marines Band Service. There are many great characters and stories told of selflessness, commitment, dedication, natural musical ability and empathy for others, which epitomises musicians and buglers of the Royal Marines. John has put an enormous amount of time and effort into compiling the book, and that was recognised by the Duke of Edinburgh in his foreword. In the final paragraph of his foreword the Duke writes:
"Completing the book has involved a great deal of research and it would seem just in time. Records, which appear to be of little interest at the time, are only too frequently lost or destroyed. The author has dug out what remains and turned it into a most valuable, and evocative, history of one of the great band services anywhere in the world."
Mr John Ambler Sue Waterer and the PDM at the launch of The Royal Marines Band Service 'Per Mare Per Terram' Book.
I could not have put it better myself. The book is dedicated to the memory of Lt Col Richard Waterer OBE who was a great inspiration to us all. A true gentleman who gained the respect of everyone who met him, and in turn he respected them, whether they were the newest recruit or a Major General. I was very pleased to present Sue Waterer with a copy of the book at the Royal Marines Museum recently.
Congratulations must go to Captain Pete Curtis who was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. This is thoroughly deserved for his work as the Royal Marines Corps Casualty Officer and for setting up the new rehabilitation centre for the Royal Navy, Hasler Company, at HMS Drake. Pete had obviously put in an awful lot of time and effort into this role and I know that he is extremely pleased with the honour. Also recognised with the Meritorious Service Medal, after thirty-one years' service, is Band Colour Sergeant Gary Halsey. Gary is the only remaining serving member of the Band Service who served in the Falklands War back in 1982. He has performed countless trombone solos, particularly at our Mountbatten Festival of Music, and he is an inspiration to others for his exceptional musical abilities, his commitment to the operational role and to his selfless dedication to the maintenance of the morale of his peers and subordinates. He has given outstanding service to the Royal Marines throughout his thirty-one years' service and is wholly deserving of this official recognition. A tremendous achievement.
The Mountbatten Festival of Music was another success for the Band Service this year and again I would like to thank everyone involved with the concert for all their efforts. One of the highlights for me was Band Colour Sergeant Gordon Carter fulfilling his life-long dream of performing the saxophone solo Pink Panther on the Royal Albert Hall stage; he was like a child in a sweet shop. We now start working towards next year’s festival which will be the 40th Anniversary of these great concerts. Our other major concerts this summer, the South Coast Proms and the Deal Bandstand concert, have proved very popular and the support the RM Bands get from our audiences up and down the country is very much appreciated.
We are now making final preparations for the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines to perform at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Taking August 2011 as a snapshot of the capability of the Royal Marines Band Service is enlightening. Not only will we see the Royal Marines Bands marching up and down the esplanade at the foot of Edinburgh Castle, but simultaneously RM musicians and buglers will be driving ambulances in their operational role as well as musicians providing musical support to the deployed troops at various bases, large and small, in Afghanistan. Music performed by Royal Marines, whether in Scotland or Sangin, is communicating the best of British and is able to cross those language and cultural barriers, influencing without the use of force. Military music is a defence asset that is effective, efficient and highly successful. Interestingly enough, I received an email from Mark Bentinck the Royal Marines Historian, who found some very interesting documents concerning the Tanganyika Army Mutiny of 1964. These documents are the Captain of HMS Centaur’s Report of Proceedings about the operations in East Africa, and they reveal the power and effect of military music. After some brisk military activity which included casualties among the mutineers, the Captain’s report continues:
“…I asked Mr Miles (Acting High Commissioner) whether he considered that it would help the situation if the Royal Marine Band was landed to play to the local populace and if an air display was given. He agreed and arrangements were made accordingly”.
“…during the afternoon the Royal Marine Band landed, marched through the main streets (Dar es Salaam we think) and later played military music in front of the War Memorial. Their reception was tremendous and a crowd of some 3000 of all races showed their obvious enjoyment of the music and spectacle. I am sure that this typical Royal Marines Band performance helped relieve tension ashore and I was pleased to notice that a leading article in the Daily Telegraph of the 30th endorsed this view. The Band also landed the following day to play both military and dance music and also to make a recording for the Tanganyikan Broadcasting Corporation.”
Nearly fifty years on from this incident I find it extremely interesting and yet another fine example of the power and effect of military music crossing those language and cultural barriers, influencing in a positive manner. (I wonder if any of our readers played in the band and could throw some more light on this event?)
Finally, watch out for the Royal Marines Bands featuring on TV and radio over the next few months. We have recorded a new CD album under the DECCA label which will be called ‘Summon the Heroes’ and released later in the year. It is hoped that the success that the RAF and Guards Bands have had recently with their albums, especially with raising their profile, will be equalled, if not bettered, by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines.
Last updated 13 December 2011
