The Royal Marines Band Service

The development of music in the Royal Marines is inextricably linked with the evolution of British military bands. Lively airs and the beat of the drum enabled columns of marching men to keep a regular step. The drum was the normal method of giving signals on the battlefield or in camp. As long ago as the days of Drake and Hawkins the drummer's rhythm would advertise the changing watches or beat the men to quarters.

Without doubt, groups of musicians existed in the Service before this, but in 1767 Royal Marines Divisional Bands were formed at Chatham, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Deal.

The original Royal Marines Band Service, together with its headquarters, the Royal Naval School of Music, was founded in 1903 to provide Bands for the Royal Navy. The task of forming the school was assigned to the Royal Marines and from then on the Band Service became an integral part of the Corps. Its original home was Eastney Barracks Portsmouth; where it remained until 1930 when it was transferred to the Royal Marines Depot, Deal. After the outbreak of World War II, it moved to Malvern, then it divided with the Junior Wing moving to the Isle of Man and the Senior Wing to Scarborough before reuniting at Burford in 1946 and finally returning to Deal in 1950. The amalgamation of the Divisional Bands with the Royal Naval School of Music to form today's Royal Marines Band Service also took place in 1950 when the headquarters and training establishment were re-named the Royal Marines School of Music.

Today all Royal Marines Bands are required to provide every imaginable musical ensemble including orchestras and dance bands. To achieve this, most musicians, except solo specialists, are required to attain an acceptable standard on both a string and a wind instrument. As a result of this special amalgam of expertise, Royal Marines musicians are regarded as one of the most versatile in the military musical world. The Corps of Drums receive an equally thorough training and pride themselves on maintaining the highest standards of drill, bugling and drumming. Their glittering presence at the front of all Royal Marines Bands on the march gives the bands a visual impact that is second to none.

Now firmly established at HMS Nelson in Portsmouth, the Royal Marines School of Music is where the exacting process of producing military musicians and buglers worthy of the Royal Marines begins. Through a very productive link with Portsmouth University, Royal Marines Musicians can now attain civilian qualifications linked to each stage of their training and professional promotion courses. Male and female students, aged between 18 and 28, are trained in all aspects of military music. They are taught by professors of the highest calibre that include musicians from the top London and provincial orchestras. The students are also drilled in all aspects of military ceremonial in order to ensure that the worldwide reputation enjoyed by the Royal Marines Band Service for both its music and precision marching is maintained. At the School of Music the future of the Band Service, based upon the experience of the past and the professionalism of the present, is forged; here the young instrumentalist is tempered and honed to the sharpest edge before taking his or her place in one of the five Royal Marines Bands.

As their careers progress Musicians and Buglers return to the Royal Marines School of Music to undergo further musical training to qualify them for higher rank. This culminates in a place on the Student Bandmasters' Course that is widely recognised as one of the most demanding courses of its type. Students study all the main music disciplines; the orchestral and contemporary wind band repertoire and they work with renowned figures from the world of music.

In addition to music making, Royal Marines Musicians and Buglers are trained in their military operational roles. Royal Marines Bands were involved in both the Falklands conflict and Op GRANBY (Gulf War 1) as casualty handlers on various hospital ships. More recently in 2000, RM Band Service ranks deployed to Kosovo for six months during Op AGRICOLA supporting 3 Commando Brigade RM. During the Fireman's strike (Op FRESCO) in 2002, Band Service ranks were deployed with 'Green Goddesses' to various Temporary Service Fire Stations around the UK. In the early part of 2003, 39 Band Service ranks deployed with the Primary Casualty Receiving Facility on RFA ARGUS providing casualty handlers and a further 26 ranks deployed with 3 Commando Brigade RM as Decontamination teams during Op TELIC (Gulf War 2). Royal Marines Bands continue to fly the flag abroad with many prestigious engagements undertaken including 60th Anniversary of D-Day, Gibraltar, the USA, Europe and Australia.