The Buglers' History

In 1664 the drum was used in the enlistment of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot, the forerunner of the Royal Marines, with drummers marching around with the recruiting party attracting attention. This makes the Corps of Drums the oldest branch within the Corps a point they are very proud of. On the battlefield the Drum was the most effective means of giving orders, provided a rallying point for the troops and as such was used extensively in time of conflict. Additionally it also played a major part in a soldiers day to day life as a means of communicating routines. The early drummers were little more than boys, some being as young as ten when taking the 'Kings Shilling', the term given to enlistment. They were taught the fife as well as the drum but unlike today were completely separate from the band being first and foremost soldiers. As such the unfortunate drummers found themselves at the beck and call of almost everybody and were often called upon to perform some of the most onerous tasks. One of the worst duties to befall a drummer was the task of flogging a prisoner. This was performed under the watchful eye of the Drum Major who would also time the lashes at 30 second intervals. Each drummer would give 12 strokes and received and extra 3 farthings for carrying out this duty. This action was still being practised in barrack rooms up until 1868. Another practise was 'Drumming Out' which was performed on individuals whose services were no longer required. This task was the privilege of the smallest drummer and involved accompanying the prisoner to the barrack gates where the drummer unceremonialy discharged the prisoner by pushing or kicking him out of the gate and into hands of civilian police. In 1797 a drummer's pay (which incidentally was the same as a Cpl) was one shilling a day on shore and 8 old pennies a day whilst at sea. The drummer himself however only received a fraction of this as a percentage went graciously to the Drum Major for insruction and administration charges. Around 1820 the Royal Marines split into the Royal Marines Artillery and Royal Marines Light Infantry and the Bugle gradually superseded the drum as a means of signalling and giving orders. However the use of the drum for drilling still continued. It was at this time that their title changed from 'drummers' to 'drummers and buglers'. These buglers were now all recruited and trained at the 3 divisions that made up the Royal Marines; Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham, which would later become the Depot call Deal, both now sadly disbanded. As previously with the drum the bugle now delivered the orders by which a soldier would live his daily life. From reveille first thing in the morning to lights out last thing at night his life was strictly governed by the bugle. Some of the more popular calls used were 'Liberty Men' used for giving permission to go ashore, and 'Standeasy' a much loved call signaling a mid morning break. Other calls used were 'Defaulters', calling those to be charged to the Commanding Officers Office and 'Clean Guns' a loathed task of the gunners. In 1902 an incident occurred that led to the layout of the Royal Marines Band that is so familiar today. Lt George Miller (RMLI and senior Bandmaster) was given the task of directing the massed bands at a Coronation review in Aldershot. He instructed his fellow Bandmasters to gather as many Drummers (Buglers) as possible. The following day at a church parade he placed 30 Buglers at the front of the Massed Bands and they all marched to his own arrangement of Onward Christian Soldiers. The spectacle of the Drummers fronting the massed bands was so impressive that it became the pattern for the modern day Band Service. In 1950 the Royal Marines School of Music was formed and in 1978 the buglers section became fully integrated into the Band Service. Over the years many Buglers have lost their lives in action around the globe, the display of war damaged bugles in the Royal Marines Museum Portsmouth testify to this. The numbers in the Buglers branch have now sadly dwindled to a mere 66 all ranks,but with their precision stick work, exemplary bearing and immaculate turnout the Corps of Drums of today are still truly a sight to behold.