The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Some of you will know that I have close family connections with the world of military music, and in particular the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines.

The first commercial recordings of the Royal Marines were made for UK Columbia in 1936, but earlier non-commercial recordings for use on board ship survive in their museum archives, including three for Pathé in 1910 and two for Acme in 1925.

There are also reports of recordings being made in the very early days. An 1893 issue of the in house publication "Globe and Laurel" contains the following tantalising report :

"About ten of the most accomplished performers of the Band of the Royal Marines Chatham Division are carrying out a novel engagement. They are attending the establishment of Mr Edison in London at stated times and give forth a number of martial airs, the tunes of which are received in phonographs. These instruments, thus charged, are sent to various parts of the world. The other day two of them were transmitted to the Pope whilst others have been transmitted to the reigning Princes of India and to the different crowned heads of Europe, who thus have the opportunity of listening to lively marches etc originally played by instrumentalists hundreds of miles away."

The Royal Marines Museum has been unable to trace any of these recordings, but the existence of a written report indicates that they were indeed made. Needless to say, the museum would welcome any leads as to the possible whereabouts of cylinders which may have survived.

Of course, this was before a commercially viable method of molding duplicates, so these would all be originals, or pantographic duplicates if any copies other than the originals exist.

epigramophone wrote:An 1893 issue of the in house publication "Globe and Laurel"

Can you please give me bibliographical details of this issue (place of publication, volume, number, exact date and page). A "quick march played by the band of the Royal marines (Chatham Division)" was, among other cylinders, played on October 21, 1931 night at the house of Mrs. R. Courtenay Gayer, a daughter of Colonel Gouraud, to commemorate the passing of Edison. (The Times, London, Issue 45961, 23 October 1931, p. 9)

That is very interesting, but unfortunately I do not have access to the original material. My information was extracted from the book "The Royal Marines Band Service" (Appendix 5) ISBN 0 953 6163 2 0.

The Chatham Divisional Band ceased to exist on 14 August 1950 when the Chatham barracks closed, and the relevant 1893 issue of "Globe and Laurel", if it still survives, is probably buried deep in the archives of the Royal Marines Museum at the former Eastney barracks. It is not specifically mentioned in the Bibliography section of the book.