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Date	Original Topic
12th November 2002	British Greniders By Dan Rudary Does anyone know where I could find a printable version of sheet music for "British Greniders? Thank you very much. Also... Does anyone know how long the British Army used fife and drum corps activly on campagin? Thanks Dan
Date	Replies
12th November 2002	John Young I have an antique copy of the music and the words. I will endeavour to scale it down and send it to you if that helps. As to your other question, I would venture to suggest from its inception following the Restoration of the Monarchy through 2nd Anglo-Boer War at least. I'm sure someone might even suggest their use in WW1. John Young, Chairman, Anglo-Zulu War Research Society.
13th November 2002	Mike McCabe Some musical historians believe that English military use of the drum in connection with marching formed bodies, can be traced back to the so-called 'English March' certainly used in the early stages of the Hundred Years' War, and according to some sources in the English Wars against the Scots, and earlier still. It was not a 'march' in the sense that we use the term today, not having a beat or cadence to which men could march in step. It was used more as an identifying sign, by the drummer walking alongside or ahead of a marching body or 'band', playing the drum tune - and thereby identifying them (by sound) as being part of the 'English Army'. There are long standing disputes over exactly how and when marching in step was introduced into continental and English (then British) armies. The drum is generally accepted as one of the earliest instruments commonly used to convey messages, signals and orders - by' beat of drum'. But, the effectiveness of the single drum was limited in some weather and ground conditions, and a 'corps of drums' and then trumpets and horns (early bugles) were brought in as better or supplementary methods of increasing range, providing sharper distinctions in sound, and penetrating the increased battlefield noise of the 'firearm' era. Also, fifes were found to be both compact and fairly easy to play, as well as being capable of playing a wide range of simple marching tunes. The playing of the fife also helped strengthen the bugler's lungs, and 'lip' while on the march, so that he remained fit to blow the proliferating number of 'camp' and operational calls on the bugle at short notice when required. Marching in step contributed to morale and strength of purpose, made manoeuvre easier to coordinate, contributed to the psychological impact achieved by disciplined bodies on the battlefield, and reduced the sense of fatigue on long marches. There are plenty of filmed examples of WW1 units marching up the line to their drums and fifes, pipes, etc. Company and battalion pipers frequently stirred on attacks in the period leading up to 1916, with not so many examples being recorded after that. There is evidence of corps of drums being used on the line of march in the Archangel expeditionary force after WW1, and I would suppose that there were plenty of Indian Army examples in the various wars on the frontiers of India in the 1920s and 1930s. And, don't forget the 'Argylls Entry into Crater' in Aden in the late 1960s.
13th November 2002	John K. You usually find music at a music store