|
| |
|
1st Battalion Duke of Edinburgh's Royal
Regiment |
| (Berkshire
and Wiltshire) |
|
Drummers Call |
| What price
glory ? Heaven knows ? We're just a bunch of chums
Who're marching on to who knows where
Until we hear the drums.
|
A drummer boy 66th of Foot 1881 |
| We're just
the Sergeant's shower. Who cares ? We take life as
it comes.
And oh, the deep despondency !
Until we hear the drums
|
| Browned off
? I'll say. A clumsy lot With all our fingers
thumbs.
But God ! we pull together when
We hear the fifes and drums.
|
| It's all a
joke Can this be IT ? The sergeant haws and hums
But none of us are doubting when
We hear the fifes and drums.
|
| Thoughts are
scattered, minds confused, We dream of homes and
mums,
But oh, the concentration when
We hear the bleeding drums !
|
This Page is dedicated to the Corps
of Drums of the
1st Battalion Duke of Edinburgh's
Royal Regiment |
| Death or
glory ? Heroes ? Us ? The truth is dawning. Crumbs !
What goads us on ? What winds us up ?
The blooming Corps of Drums. |
(Berkshire and
Wiltshire) 1959 -1994
|
|
The Drum Major
1st Battalion Duke of Edinburghs Royal
Regiment (Berkshire
and Wiltshire) |
|
 |
The drum Major was and still is the visible presence of a
Battalion on Parade. Up until the late 1960s 1 DERR did not have the
ceremonial dress you see today. Depending on the Battalions role the
Drummers were always operational soldiers within the Battalion. In the main
they deployed as members of a Machine gun Platoon. The Drum Major is
responsible for the day to day running and deployment of the Corps of Drums.
In days of yore Drum Majors were responsible for administering and
supervising any 'Floggings' required, although it must be said that flogging
during the existence of 1 DERR was never used (Although I believe some
Commanding Officers wish they could have used it) On the short parade stick
and ceremonial mace used by Drum Majors today leather strips, cord or silver
chain is entwined about the staff and is thought to be a reminder of his
earlier duties as keeper of the cat-o-nine tails. The Mace itself is simply
his symbol of office and originated from that which town Beadles (The
forerunners of the Police) carried to deal with unruly mobs and, at the head
of town processions, to clear the route.
What follows is a list of the 1st Battalion Duke of
Edinburgh's Royal Regiments Drum Majors in order of appointment. I must make
it clear this list is not definitive as the records are less than complete.
If any Ex member of the drums can assist in completing the picture, that
help would be welcomed. |
| "Artwork by
Mike CHAPPELL from the book Elite series 14 The British Army in the 1980s © Osprey Publishing Ltd" |
|
|
'Drummy' |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Drum Major Choules, the last Drum Major of
the Royal Berkshire Regiment, and the first of 1 DERR |
Drum Major FORD |
Drum Major ?? (Minden) |
|
 |
 |
Image will be inserted later |
|
Drum Major Coveny |
Drum Major Hobbs |
Charlie Choules |
|
 |
Image will be inserted later |
Image will be inserted later (See below) |
|
Drum Major Harrill |
Drum Major Tadhunter |
Drum Major 'Taff' Davis |
|
Image will be inserted later
|
|
|
|
Drum Major Harrill (2nd time) |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Drummers
Scrapbook This section contains a selection of photographs of DERR
Drummers through the years. If any Ex drummer can put faces to names, please
contact Mac
(Click each photo to enlarge) |
|
 |
 |
 |
| Drummer 'Taff' DAVIS |
The Duke of Edinburgh chats to
drummer Davis during a visit to the Battalion in Canterbury |
Led by 'Drummy' FORD the Band
and Drums in White Drill order lead a parade in Malta 1963 |
|
 |
 |
 |
| The drums practice on the
parade square at Clifton Barracks, Minden, late 1960s. Cpl VEAL acting Drum
Major |
Lt Col S SAUNDERS the
Commanding Officer presents L/Cpl (bugler) Shane Rowell with his prize in Hong Kong |
Cpl GILL, Military Medal |
|
 |
 |
 |
| The Band and Drums 'Beating
the Credit' in Minden prior to the Battalions departure for pastures new.
This practice is designed to alert the local shopkeepers and Bar owners that
they have a limited amount of time to recover debts. (It did not work) |
The Corps of Drums carrying
out a drums display for young children in a Berlin School |
Drummers supervised by a Drum
Major in Waiting 'Tad' prepare for Northern Ireland. |
 |
 |
 |
| The Drums Platoon in Hong Kong |
The Drums in Hawaii |
The Drums in Osnabruck |
|
These eight photographs are taken from the
regiments last parade at Abingdon |
|
 |
 |
|
The Drum Major leads the drums ahead of the guard of honour through Abingdon |
The drummers carry out a display (Names please) |
|
 |
 |
|
The Drummers prepare |
'Look at me mum' |
|
 |
 |
|
The drums head the parade (Drum Major WHO ?) |
The parade heads towards the town centre |
|
 |
 |
|
The March past |
The Posthorn gallop |
| |
|
| Acknowledgments |
| The web team would like to thank Ex Cpl
Drummer Addy Adcock who served until 1988 for his assistance in putting some
names to faces....Many thanks Addy |
|
