The Drums of the Royal Marines

On the 28th of October 1664 the Admiral's Regiment (Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot), later to become the Royal Marines, was formed. The Order-in-Council raising the Regiment included the following:

'twelve hundred men are to be put into one Regiment under one Colonel,
one Lieutenant Colonel and one Sergeant Major and to be divided into six
Companies, each Company to consist of two hundred soldiers; and to have
one Captain, one Lieutenant, one Ensign, one Drummer, four Sergeants
and four Corporals........'

The Bugler's Branch of the Royal Marines Band Service can trace its history from these six Drummers. Originally the Drummers were needed to transmit signals through beatings but, as cannon and musketry increased on the battlefield, the drum became less and less efficient. By 1855 the bugle had replaced the drum as a means of battlefield signalling and, from 1867, the rank of 'Bugler' replaced the cumbersome title of 'Drummers and Buglers'. The Bugler had to maintain his proficiency playing drum and bugle as well as fife and, later, the herald trumpet. The fife is no longer used, but very high standards on the other three instruments are still expected.

During the latter part of the nineteenth century Buglers were 'massed' into several of Corps' of Drums. However they were still expected to be able to work as individuals either on board ship or in shore establishments, another requirement of the modern Bugler. Unlike most other modern military bands, the Royal Marines Drums are always positioned at the front of the band when on parade. This practice began in 1902 when Lt George Miller placed thirty Buglers in front of the massed bands at the Coronation Review at Aldershot. This has now become synonymous with all Royal Marines Band ceremonial presentations, as has the precision stick drill.

The modern Royal Marines Band Service has five bands all formed from Buglers and Musicians who have passed through the world famous Royal Marines School of Music. All drum beatings, as well as bugle and herald trumpet fanfares, have been written by Buglers except for those whose source is unknown and are labelled as 'traditional'. Buglers have also written, or co-written, many bugle-marches. Whilst the Corps of Drums often perform on their own at private displays or dinners, they are most often seen by the public at large ceremonial events and concerts with the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines. Examples are 'Beating Retreat' on Horse Guards Parade - a ceremony that reflects part of the duties of the six original drummers; at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday when their bugles are heard all over the world as they play 'Last Post' to end Music; at internationally famous military events such as the Royal Tournament, the Edinburgh Tattoo and the Nova Scotia Tattoo, as well as high profile and highly publicised events such as the handing over of Hong Kong and the final tours of HM Royal Yacht Britannia.

The modern Royal Marines Bugler is highly skilled and well trained and is capable of performing to a very high musical and visual standard on drum, bugle and herald trumpet, either as an individual, in small groups, as a Corps of Drums, or in front of a band. Further skills are learned as Buglers progress to Warrant Officer rank as Bugle Majors or Drum Majors.