RBL North Wilts Corps of Drums © All rights reserved.

Sponsored by Plugware Solutions.com

The Corps of Drums consists of two sections, the woodwind (flutes) and the percussion (drums). The basic flute is the Bb marching flute, which superceded the fife, with F’s, Bass and piccolos to increase the depth. The drum section composes of side drums, tenor drums, bass drum and cymbals. The music comprises of both military marches and contemporary tunes with Stuart Sutton arranging the scores for the band.

The drummer of past years was a very important person being valued not only as the sender of signals by beat of drum but also as an interpreter on the battlefield. Because of their importance drummers were protected by convention from harm.

Whilst they carried a short sword with a 24 inch blade for protection, it became traditional for the blade to be broken off  in its scabbard to show their non combatant status.

The Drums

Most Regiments in the British Army had a Corps of Drums on its establishment in recent years and it is traditional to display the Regimental Device and Battle Honours on them, this is called an Emblazon. This made the drums second in importance only to the Regiments Colours . The  Royal British Legion does not have battle honours but it does have its own drum emblazon. The  emblazon is on all the drums, side, tenor and bass.                                                                                                   Drummers also have to be proficient on a Bugle.

This instrument superceded  the side drum as the

method of  transmitting messages because of its

more strident tone.  

Premier 97s Side Drum

Pooley Swords

The modern Pooley Drummers Sword

The Drummers Handbook

This is the ultimate handbook for all military drummers. It has been reduced to two parts because of its size, Part 1 is 36 Mb and Part 2 is 38 Mb. Click on pictures to open.

Bb Flute