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42 Commando Royal Marines Pipe Bandby ‘Marcher’Although never part of the Royal Marines Band Service the pipes of 42 Cdo RM feature in Corps history and buglers from the RMBS were very much its driving force. These were not the first, nor the last pipes that appear in the musical history of the Band Service, the Corps or the Royal Navy. In 1899 HMS Caledonia, the Boys Training Ship at Queensferry in the Firth of Forth had its own Pipe Band of five pipers, a bass drummer and a side drummer. A brief account in a 1917 copy of ‘The Globe & Laurel’ refers to a bagPipe Band in one of the Royal Naval Division Battalions who were referred to as the ‘Bagpipe Marines’. During a Torchlight Tattoo by the Plymouth Division Band and Bugles, ‘Scotch’ Marines marched from end to end of the square with skirling of the pipes. When a band from the Royal Naval School of Music went on board HMS Renown for the 1927 Royal Tour they were joined by three sailors who were especially embarked as pipers. A Scottish Royal Marine from the Detachment became the fourth member and the drummers were then trained to accompany the pipers. Plymouth Division had pipes and drums since it is recorded that, in 1941 during the blitz on Plymouth, the unit’s pipes were destroyed. In 1944, not only were they replaced but the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders conferred upon them the honour of wearing their tartan on the replacement pipes, marking the close association between the two regiments, particularly during the Second World War. By 1948 these pipes were certainly in use since we have an image of Drum Major R Woodruffe with the Pipes and Drums of the Plymouth Division at the RMA Ball at Bristol. The three pipers appear to be Musicians, despite wearing Royal Bugle Cords , and they are supported by five Buglers and a bass drummer. It should not be forgotten that the RMBS had its own piper during the late 1990s when Eddie Bean was featured on a great many occasions, but principally the 1997 decommissioning of HMY Britannia, when the final piece of music prior to ‘Sunset’ was ‘Highland Cathedral’. 42 Commando, Royal Marines, maintained a Pipe Band that featured heavily in unit life. It appears to have begun when the Commando was on board HM Troopship Ranchi in 1943 en route from England to India. Mr Len Headley, a Corporal with the Pipe Band recalls “When originally formed it was a Drum and Fife Band and continued so until our arrival in India, late 1943. I think it was due to a shortage of fife players that prompted the change to pipes. Our Scots MO, himself a piper, had suggested the change and promised to obtain the pipes”. The Medical Officer, Captain ‘Doc’ Rodgers RAMC felt that he could teach and proceeded to locate chanters and, after finding volunteers, instruction began. Six sets of pipes were ordered and forwarded to Poona for seasoning. By the time they acquired their pipes the volunteer band was about fifteen strong and were capable of marching the men to the station to travel to Cocanada Combined Training Centre where the temperatures reached as high as 45°C. Mr L Headley again, “On Christmas Day 1944 the officers served the meals in the open air dining area whilst the Pipe Band played a selection of marches and reels, ending with the march of the US Marine Corps. My association with the Band came to an abrupt end at the Battle of Kangaw” Mr Headley was wounded at Kangaw, Burma. Hill 70 was taken by 42 after two days of hand-to-hand fighting. They were subjected to heavy artillery fire and beat off repeated Japanese counter-attacks to hold the position. The keenest members of the Band brought a further six sets of pipes from the Highland Bagpipe Company in Sialkot City. By now the Band was allowed two afternoons a week in which to practise. The unit moved to Teknaf via Trincomalee, Calcutta and Chittagong. Whilst in Calcutta the Pipe Band led the Unit to the station and, at Teknaf, they played on three separate occasions whilst the Band was inspected and addressed by Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten and others. Three pipers played in the stern of a landing craft as the unit sailed into the island of Akyab – which, probably to the relief of the pipers, turned out to be an unopposed landing; the Japanese having already left. For the next operation the pipes were left at Akyab and the pipers joined their own troops. When the Unit returned to Myebon two Memorial Services took place requiring the Pipe Band to be split into two parts. Captain Rodgers, the Pipe Band’s founder and mainstay, was drafted at this time. When the Brigade got to Madras the Band was provided with its first full dress uniform complete with leopard skins, dress cords and badges for pipers and drummers. The Seaforth Highlanders invited them for a two week period of training and this resulted in great improvements to performance and playing. Eventually the unit embarked for Malaya, but the planned landing was cancelled and the Pipe Band played the ship into Trincomalee Harbour instead. Following this the Band went on board the various ships in the harbour, including HMS Phoebe, HMS Cumberland and the hospital ship Vita and entertained their crew. The Pipe Band also played the ship into Hong Kong and then played the Brigade through the streets – the first band to do so since the fall of Hong Kong. After four weeks the Band instituted the practice of Beating Retreat twice a week, every week. One took place at the Cenotaph, Hong Kong, and the other outside the Peninsular Hotel, Kowloon. The first loss, through draft, to the Band was their Pipe Major, Sgt Stevenson. The band went to the docks to play his ship away and, just before she sailed, Sgt Stevenson presented the Band with his own set of pipes. Cpl Wright and Cpl Dalley continued to lead the Band and drums respectively. Beat Retreats were continued as were many other engagements. Further drafts and demobilisation resulted in 42 Cdo RM Pipe Band being disbanded after playing on St Patrick’s Night in the Officers' Club at the Peninsular Hotel. However, two pipers and a side drummer were still practising in the New Territories in January 1947. On leaving Hong Kong a lone piper played the unit onto the train at Fanling Station and then from Kowloon Station to the docks where they boarded Strathnaver for Malta. During 1949 it would appear that only solo pipers played in the unit. In 1951, 42 Cdo was at Ipoh, Perak, Malaya, and an attempt was made to revive the Pipe Band. An appeal was made for equipment and volunteers and the local Planters Association responded by donating the pipes and the drums. The ‘Globe & Laurel’ reported, “The recruits for our band have been kept playing scales on the chanter so far, but soon they will be able to blossom forth on a proper bag. This venture to revive what was a flourishing Pipe Band in the Commando deserves every help from within and without the unit. If anyone can donate or lend equipment we will be most grateful, but our main problem will always be pipers. So anyone with experience, please say so and join 42 Commando, which has always had the tradition of the Pipe Band”. Two National Service Pipers were drafted to the Band in 1952. The Commando left for Malta where, later that year, the Times of Malta reported that the Pipe Band of 42 Cdo were on parade for the first time, participating in the Changing of the Main Guard at the Palace Square, Valetta. The Pipe Band comprised six pipers, a bass drummer and five side drummers.
At the Presentation of Colours to the three Commandos of 3rd Commando Brigade, Malta 1952, 42 Commando, led by their own Pipe Band wearing green berets with their blue uniform, marched on to the pipe tune ‘Dovecote Park’”, as described in ‘The Story of Colours in the Royal Marines’ by Major A J Donald, RM. Operational requirements prevented any further action until 1959 when, in June, the Pipe Band was formed and Sgt Bugler Reginald Flook became its instructor. Flook asked to be permitted to accompany 42 Cdo when they joined HMS Bulwark for an overseas posting in 1960. The Adjutant of Royal Marines, Plymouth recommended this on the basis that the shortage of one Sergeant Bugler could be borne by Plymouth for eighteen months whilst Flook carried out the duties of a 42 Cdo Bugler and Pipe Band instructor. During the period 1960 to 1962 the Band had a normal strength of seven or eight pipers and four drummers. The side-drummers were Regimental whilst the remainder were from Rifle, Heavy Weapons, Assault Engineers and Headquarters Companies. SgtBug Flook was the Pipe Major and the Drum Major was an ex-Bugler called ‘Sticks’ Priddy. Two years after his appointment, Flook, by now promoted to CSgtBug, was due for repatriation but volunteered to stay with 42 Cdo for a further three months so that a replacement instructor could be found. The alternatives were for a number of NCO Buglers to be trained as pipe instructors to arrange for an Army NCO Instructor to be attached or to disband. It was decided to retain Flook for as long as possible whilst CGRM tried to arrange for an Army Instructor to be attached. CGRM wrote to the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s) explaining the situation and the importance of the Pipe Band to the unit. He asked if it would be possible to send a volunteer NCO Bugler for training by the Pipe Major or an instructor. This did not bear fruit and the CGRM had to concede that, whilst he wanted the Pipe Band to be retained, it was completely unofficial and that the only option was for Flook to train someone from within the Band complement. Negotiations continued and Captain JJ Moore of 42 Cdo interviewed Flook and reported that, provided that it did not affect any possible promotion to Bugle Major, Flook was ready to remain with the unit until December 1962. A month later the Drafting Office confirmed that CSgtBug Flook would be appointed Bugle Major at the Royal Marines School of Music from December 1962 and he would have a relief, CplBug Dobbin.
During 1964 and 1965 Major J I H Owen, CO 42 Cdo, again cast a wide net in an effort to secure funding for the upkeep of the Pipe Band and its equipment. A letter to CGRM made the point that the Band was currently flourishing with 42 Cdo and HQ 3 Cdo Bde in Singapore and was proving a valuable asset in the Borneo Territories. He made the point that the Band was now recognised by the RMSM and the Drafting Office to the extent that known pipers were drafted to the Unit. The unit was able to provide the most necessary and immediate resources; however, the problems of rapid deterioration of bags, and reeds, in the humid environment was one that required additional financial assistance. As a result CGRM again supported the case for the Pipe Band being recognised as a Volunteer Band so that it would qualify for financial assistance. On the 6th December 1965, the Brigade received the news that the 42 Cdo Pipe Band was to be recognised as an official Volunteer Band. After a spell of duty in Malaya the Cdo returned to Singapore where there was greater opportunity for practice and expansion. Since early 1966 CSgt Bugler Bassett, who became the Pipe Major after training in the United Kingdom, had been responsible for training the Band. The Band wore their own berets and white shirts with kilts reputedly converted from blankets. The mid and latter years of the 1960’s were difficult years for not only the Royal Marines Band Service but for all military bands due to Government demands for cuts and reductions. Bugler Alan Piner was drafted to the Pipe Band as the lead drummer in 1967. He spent time, with other 42 Pipe Band drummers, playing in the RAF Seletar Pipe Band. On his return to the United Kingdom he joined the Royal Navy Piping Society and won the competition for best solo drummer. At that time there were enough Volunteer Pipe Bands in the Royal Navy to run competitions on this scale, which begs the question of whether the 42 Cdo Pipe Band ever asked to become affiliated?
In 1968, during his visit to 42 Commando RM, the Commandant General approved the title of the ‘Commandant General’s Piper’ for the leading piper in 42 Commando’s Pipe Band. This appointment conferred the entitlement, when in Pipe Band uniform, to wear a Skian Dhu presented by General Sir Norman Tailyour KCB DSO. The first person to hold this appointment was LCpl I Anderson”.
In 1968 42 Cdo was presented at Singapore, with new Colours by the Captain General. The Commando was led onto the Parade by the Massed Bands of the 3rd Cdo Bde, the Commander Far East Fleet and the 42 Cdo Pipe Band. The Pipe Band played part of the Inspection Music and also played the Old Colours off from the Parade. In 1969 the cuts that were affecting the Band Service began to impact upon the Pipe Band. The unit was warned that the RMBS could only appoint Buglers until 1972 but after that date reductions to the Buglers Branch would probably prevent any further support. On the 16th September 1971 the new Bickleigh Barracks, the home for 42 Cdo RM, was officially opened and the Pipe Band was paraded.
The last references to 42 Cdo Pipe Band, or a Piper, that the author has found are a small photograph (above) illustrating the unit leaving for Ulster in late 1971 – two pipers and a drummer can be seen on a station platform; and a photograph of the 1977 Kangaw Parade which clearly shows a Piper, wearing Lovats and green beret, standing alongside four Buglers carrying Herald Trumpets. Added to site 15 April 2010 from Winter 2009 Blue Band Magazine |
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