Bandsman Musicians (Bandmaster) Military Band Cap Badge

Guaranteed original. Complete & intact.

This is an original Bandsman Musicians (Bandmaster) Military Band Cap Badge for sale. In good condition. Please see our other items for more original WW1, WW2 & post war British military cap badges for sale including other Bandsman Musicians (Bandmaster) Military Band cap badges.

For more original cap badges for sale, click here.

The oldest of all British military bands, is the Royal Artillery Band, which also has the distinction that its musicians are double-handers, performing on both stringed instruments and wind instruments (see also Royal Artillery Mounted Band). The orchestra is the oldest symphony orchestra in Britain. The Band can trace its origins back to 1557 at the Battle of St. Quentin, although it was not made ‘official’ until 1762. The Royal Artillery Band is the senior State band of the British Army, and the only non-Household band to carry that title. An unusual detail to the ceremonial uniform worn by its musicians, is that each musician wears a sword. The Band’s swords were presented to the band, by the Duke of Kent, father to Queen Victoria. The ‘sister’ bands of the Royal Artillery are, in order of seniority, the Band of the Royal Engineers, and the Band of The Royal Signals. When performing with massed bands of the British Army, the Royal Artillery Band is placed right of the line, and before those of the Household Cavalry, and the Guards Division.

The bands of the Royal Marines Bands Service take precedence over all bands because the Royal Marines (once belonging to the Army) now belong to the Royal Navy, and in the absence of navy bands, represent music in the Senior Service. In the United Kingdom, massed military bands perform at Trooping the Colour, an annual ceremony held every June on Horse Guards Parade to mark the official Queen’s Birthday celebrations. The Massed Bands and Massed Mounted Bands play a central role in this ceremony. The term “Massed Bands” denotes the formation of more than one separate band performing together, whether belonging to one or more regiments, or indeed countries.

During World War II, The Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra, better known as The Squadronaires, served to entertain troops and support morale. A series of army reviews starting in 1994 reduced the number of British military bands from 69 to 23. Except for the Guards Division modern army bands are linked with corps or divisions rather than forming part of individual regiments.

Please see our other items for more original WW1, WW2 & post war British military cap badges for sale including other Bandsman Musicians (Bandmaster) Military Band cap badges.