The Buglers of the Sea Soldiers of Portsmouth
(The Buglers of the Royal Marine Artillery)
By
Marcher

In the Winter 2008 issue of Blue Band the story of the Band of the Royal Marine Artillery at Fort Cumberland, and later Eastney Barracks, was told. Whilst occasional reference was made to Drummers, Buglers and the Corps of Drums, theirs is a story that requires a separate narrative.

Whilst the first RMA Band was formed in 1861 at Fort Cumberland, the Buglers or the Corps of Drums can, like the Division itself, trace their RMA inheritance back to 1804 when an RMA Company was formed at each of the Divisions. Prior to this the Drums had existed since 1664. Being on the Company strength, and under the command of the Field Adjutant, Drummers found themselves used for various tasks including flogging, up to 1868 when the practice ceased, and recruiting ‘by beat of drum’.

The RMA became a separate Division at Fort Cumberland in 1858 having, prior to that date, led a nomadic existence moving from Chatham, through Fort Monkton, Old Gun-Wharf (close to Portsmouth Dockyard), back to Chatham, then returning to various barracks in Portsmouth. During this developmental period the Division was influenced, through training and tradition, by the Royal Artillery, as was noted in the previous article.
In the descriptions of the 1868 and the 1884 images of the Band (previous article) the Bugle Major was identified. In both instances they, unlike the Musicians, wore the Bugler’s plain tunic. However, given that the Bugle Major’s role was, with the Drum Major, to teach and train the Buglers, why are they carrying musical instruments? Once again the answer can be found by looking at the history of the Royal Artillery Band. In that band the Fife-Major, the Trumpet-Major and the Drum-Major played in the concert band and also, when appropriate, in the marching band. Very often the men who held these appointments were also featured soloists. We have already seen how the Bugle Major and Drum Major inherited certain parts of their uniform and their duties from the Royal Artillery. This also applied to the Trumpet Major, an appointment well known in the Royal Artillery but not so well known in the Royal Marine Artillery, the only Royal Marine Division to have such an appointment. This only lasted until 1850 when it changed to Bugle Major. The RMA was also unique amongst the RM Divisions in having both a Divisional bugle-call and a Divisional trumpet-call.

RMA detatchment to HMS Albion

One particular change adopted by the Royal Artillery was not copied by the Royal Marine Artillery. In 1856 the RA Commandant abolished the fifes and drums and replaced them with a bugle band. James Lawson, the principal cornet in the military band at the time, having been appointed Fife Major, was subsequently Trumpet Major and then Drum Major. One of his first innovations was to introduce a chromatic attachment to the bugles. He then gradually introduced various other brass instruments until, by 1863, it effectively became a brass band. In 1869 the Band officially became the Royal Artillery Brass Band then, in 1878, became the new Royal Artillery Mounted Band led by the same James Lawson. Thankfully the Royal Marine Artillery did not follow this path. Instead, they had a Divisional Corps of Drums capable of not only their primary task of signalling by beat of drum or by bugle call but also performing in whatever combination of bugle, drum and fife instrumentation might be required. They also had, as has been referred to, a military role which meant that they served alongside the men of the Division at sea and on land.

A mixture of RMA Divisional Band Drummers and RMA Buglers form the Corps of drums in this band. Note that they are using music holders clipped to their buff belts. At least one rank of buglers, without drums, is at the back of the band. The buglers and band drummers appear to be carrying short swords. The parade also appears to be led by the Bugle Major, since he is using a parade cane he is not wearing aband tunic

At both Fort Cumberland and Eastney Barracks the large group of men and boys, collectively known as either the Corps of Drums or Drums and Bugles Company (but individually known as Buglers), made their presence felt. Trained in drum, bugle and fife they could either remain a Bugler or, after the age of eighteen, could ‘change over to the ranks’ and become a General Duties Marine. The Buglers were responsible for timekeeping, for signalling and for marching troops. They also took part in ceremonial and entertainment. The Buglers were, by comparison to today, a larger proportion of the Division. Generally speaking the RMA Detachments on battleships would have at least two although photographic evidence indicates that mixed RMA and RMLI Buglers served together on board ships. Buglers would accompany Marines on exercise, training and on overseas service.

The RMA Band with Buglers forming the front at Eastney c1910

In 1992, with Eastney Barracks closed and the Royal Marines departed, the site was auctioned off with St Andrew’s Church included. Ironically the last Royal Marine use of this Church was as a recording studio for a compact disc called ‘Sound the Alert’ a project that successfully recorded all of the bugle calls that had once been heard around the Barracks as well as on board ship and in battle. The sounds, the musical clock and the very heart-beat of the Royal Marine Artillery Barracks had been preserved. Where practicable the Memorials were removed from the walls and floors of the Church. Amongst them were a few that were dedicated to Royal Marine Artillery Buglers including one that read ‘In Memory of the Officers, the NC Officers and Men of the Royal Marine Artillery killed in action, died of wounds or from the effects of climate during the Egyptian Campaign 1882,3,4’. Twenty-nine names are listed by rank and sandwiched between the Sergeants and the Gunners is the name of Bugler Freeland Lovett. He was born near Bishops Waltham in 1862. Having joined the Hants Militia in 1874 he obtained his release and joined the RMA in April 1876 as a Bugler in No 1 Company. Serving with the RMA Battalion in Egypt he fought at Kassassin where, on the 28th August he received a gunshot wound to the stomach and died two days later.

The Drums of the Royal Marines Artillery c1919. The Adjutant and Brigadier General are sat in the centre. To the left of the officers is the Bugle Major and Drum Major sits to the right. The Drum Major wears the cap badge presented to the RMA Band in 1911 by King George V since he is part of the band. He is holding the short staff as the full staff is laying over the drums

A strangely shaped shield carries the heading 'Remember. The Buglers Royal Marine Artillery' The shield carries the names of Buglers killed in the 'Great War 1914-18'. Before the Memorials were carefully wrapped, crated and secured, a photographic record was taken. Unfortunately the photograph of this particular Memorial, because of reflection, polishing and shallow engraving has not reproduced the names themselves. Mention of these two wars is enough to indicate how closely the Buglers were involved. Other names come to mind such as Jutland and Zeebrugge, the Boer War and the China Wars. Buglers of the RMA fought in them all and died in quite a few.

A number of references to Drum Major and Bugle Major have been made during this article. The 1893 edition of the General Standing Orders for Royal Marine Forces states that they must exact implicit obedience from the buglers, reporting all neglect of duty etc to the Field Adjutant. Drum Majors must carefully instruct all buglers in all beatings of drum, take charge of them at the sounding for morning parade and at tattoo, and further see that all under 18 years of age who are attending school, do so regularly. They must narrowly watch the conduct of the buglers in all particulars, and firmly check irregularities. Bugle Majors will instruct buglers in fife and bugle, and assist the Drum Majors. By the time of the 1922 edition, shortly before the amalgamation of the RMA and the RMLI, the Drum Major had the additional duties of Company Sergeant-Major and Company Quartermaster-Sergeant for the Band and the Buglers. The knock-on effect of this was that the Bugle Major was given an instruction to assist the Drum Major through a much wider role.

Left: Drum Major RMA c 1915. He wears the 1911 Cap Badge and the Blue Sash and carries a 1899 RMA Pattern Staff
Right: The heavy ornate head of the pre-1899 RMA Staff

As far as uniform is concerned the modern Drum Major is probably the only remaining link to the Royal Marine Artillery since they still wear the tunic worn by their predecessors until 1923. After that date the blue RMA Drum Majorís sash was replaced by the gold sash of the RMLI. The RMLI red sash was also adopted. The unique RMA Drum Major’s staff was withdrawn and a simpler design introduced in 1899 and then in 1929,a standard design was introduced.

This has not been an easy article to research or to write, since there are still gaps in our knowledge. The situation at Fort Cumberland and Eastney Barracks was complex, particularly after 1903 when the Royal Naval School of Music was opened. With RMA Buglers attached to the RMA Band, Buglers in the Drum and Fife Band, duty Buglers and Buglers continuously coming and going on draft or for training, the Barracks must have been a hive of activity. In addition all Buglers had to be tested before being drafted and again on return to see if any remedial teaching or practice was required. All Buglers also received gunnery training and just to complicate the situation even further, some Buglers would transfer to General Duties requiring replacements to be found. Unfortunately, little solid evidence exists for the day-to-day running of this part of the RMA Division.

Article © John Ambler.
All images © Trustees of the Royal Marines Museum.

Added September 2009 from the Spring 2009 Edition of the Blue Band Magazine