Military Musicians - Bands, Buglers, Drummers - Post them here

[world war I nerd]

Army or National Guard bandsman, i.e. saxophonist and trumpeter, circa 1910.

[world war I nerd]

Snapshot of some of the boys clowning around outside the barracks circa 1917 - 1918. Two of whom are brandishing musical instruments.

[world war I nerd]

Close up of the bugler and the ukuleleist.

[world war I nerd]

Company bugler doing his thing circa 1914 - 1917.

[Salvage Sailor]

1st US Field Artillery on parade, Schofield Barracks, T.H. Hawaiian Department, 1914

 

Mounted Band led by the Kettle Drummer

[Salvage Sailor]

1st US Field Artillery on parade, Schofield Barracks, T.H. Hawaiian Department, 1914

....and the horns

[Salvage Sailor]

1st US Field Artillery on parade, Schofield Barracks, T.H. Hawaiian Department, 1914

Let there be Clarinets & Bugles

[Salvage Sailor]

1st US Field Artillery on parade, Schofield Barracks, T.H. Hawaiian Department, 1914

Mounted Band leading the Regiment

[world war I nerd]

Iowa National Guard bandsmen on the Mexican border, 1916.

[world war I nerd]

Close up of the 2nd Infantry, Iowa National Guard drum-head, which appears to have hailed from Mason City, Iowa.

[world war I nerd]

Early military band circa 1908.

[world war I nerd]

Close up of several of the musicians.

[world war I nerd]

WW I PA system for the camp bugler.

[world war I nerd]

Army trumpeter and clarinetist, both with a 1904 Musicians Pouch slung from their shoulders.

[Salvage Sailor]

64th (AA) Coast Artillery Regimental Band on Parade, Palm Circle, Fort Shafter, T.H. 1940 - Muffled Drummers

[Salvage Sailor]

64th (AA) Coast Artillery Regimental Band on Parade, Palm Circle, Fort Shafter, T.H. 1940 - Horn Section & Bass Drum

[Salvage Sailor]

64th (AA) Coast Artillery Regimental Band on Parade, Palm Circle, Fort Shafter, T.H. 1940 - Bugles

[Salvage Sailor]

64th (AA) Coast Artillery Regimental Band on Parade, Palm Circle, Fort Shafter, T.H. 1940

 

[Salvage Sailor]

5th US Cavalry mounted band, Schofield Barracks, T.H. 1912

[Salvage Sailor]

5th US Cavalry mounted band, Schofield Barracks, T.H. 1912

 

[Salvage Sailor]

The Kings Post - Marching Song of the 15th Coast Artillery at Fort Kamehameha, T.H.

 

Written by Warrant Officer Frank Frank, Bandmaster, 10th Band Coast Artillery Corps in 1936

[Salvage Sailor]

Some notes on US Army Band Leaders. They were not commissioned officers but were relegated by law to being Warrant Officers. During the Great War General Pershing expanded the army bands and allowed for the commissioning of leaders as 2nd and 1st Lieutenants. Upon the conclusion of the war they were again relegated to Warrant Officer status and the two army band schools were closed. In 1930 the War Department sought an appropriation to establish an Army band corps patterned after the Army Nurses Corps which had commissioned officers. They proposed having a Major as Band Master, elevating band leaders with 10 years service to Captain, and making 1st and 2nd Lieutenants of those with 5 and 2 years service respectively. (Army band school was approximately two years duration).

 

Unfortunately, this was three months into the Great Depression and although it passed with a positive recommendation in committee, it was not passed at the end of the session due to military budget cuts. At that time, Warrant Officer Frank Frank, a highly respected musician, composer and band leader, would have gained his Captaincy. From 1928 to 1941, bandsmen had no school. When he wrote The Kings Post March for the 15th CAC at Fort Kamehameha, he already had over 16 years of service and he would eventually retire as a career Warrant Officer after World War II.

 

Congressional Hearings 1930 - Commissions for Army Band Leaders

 

 

A History of Army Bands - Excellent Overview by the Army School of Music 2005

[world war I nerd]

Unidentified AEF band boarding an unnamed troop ship sailing from France to the United States, as a French military band plays on the dock. Probably taken in 1919.

[world war I nerd]

Close up of some of the musicians. Sadly, there is no visible shoulder patches to identify the AEF organization to which this band belonged.

[Kansas Raider]

here is a photo postcard of the band of the 110th Engineers