Drum Major P Gordon RM

Drum Major Phil “Flash” Gordon was born and raised in Plaistow, East London. He joined the Royal Marines Band Service at Royal Marines Deal on the 7 September 1987 at the tender age of 16 years and 13 days.
On completion of 18 months training he was initially drafted to RM Band, Dartmouth. This was to be one of the shorter drafts of his career and six weeks later, and a Grey Funnel deployment to Poland; he was drafted to Commander in Chief Fleet Band at RAF Northolt, London.

During his time at Fleet Band he had the opportunity to reaffirm his acquaintance with the Grey Funnel Fleet and travelled the globe extensively.

In April 1994 Fleet Band was disbanded and Flash was drafted to Portsmouth. During his time at Portsmouth he served on-board HMY Britannia, attended both the Junior Command Course at the  Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines (CTCRM) and the Drum Majors Course at HMS Raleigh. In January 1998 he was drafted to RM Band Dartmouth, where he assumed the role of Assistant Drum Major. Whilst serving at Dartmouth he was promoted to substantive Corporal Bugler and volunteered for a six month deployment to Kosovo, (serving with Medical Squadron, Royal Marines). Whilst in Kosovo he carried out the duties of a driver, vehicle commander and section commander. On his return from Kosovo he was drafted to RM Band Plymouth, where he once again assumed the duties of the Assistant Drum Major. Whilst at Plymouth he attended the Senior Command Course at CTCRM, gaining a grade “A” pass and coming top of the course. 

In February 2002 Flash was appointed as the Drum Major of RM Band Scotland. In December 2004 he was drafted to the Royal Marines School of Music as Drum Major Training, where he stayed for almost three years.  He returned to Dartmouth in July 2007 to take up the position of Drum Major RM Band Dartmouth, located in Britannia Royal Naval College. This was to be a short lived appointment. Due to operational commitments (Op Herrick) BRNC Band were temporarily disbanded and Flash was now a Drum Major without portfolio.  He was left in Dartmouth where he was tasked with providing welfare support to the Band Service Ranks deployed on Op Herrick and implementing the new SJAR reporting system for the Band Service. During this period Flash also took part in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and assisted the Military Training Team on the Band Service Junior and Senior Command Course. On completion of Op Herrick 9 the decision was taken to permanently close Dartmouth Band so in the May of 2009 Flash was drafted to Plymouth Band, where his first engagement was Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade, London.

Flash is a keen sportsman and enjoys running, squash, rugby and football. He is a qualified canoeing instructor, pool lifeguard, powerboat handler and diver.

Flash currently lives in Dartmouth.

Last updated: 13 October 2011