THIS DAY IN RMR HISTORY – 12 September 1914 – “In the War Establishments under which the First Canadian Contingent was organized no provision was made for regimental bands, but battalions which had an authorized peace establishment of pipers were allowed one sergeant piper and five pipers in addition. This, however, did not prevent the formation of bands; three kilted battalions (the 13th, 15th and 16th) had pipe bands from the parent Militia units, and the P.P.C.L.I. took over a civilian pipe band from Edmonton which volunteered as a body; four regimental bands from Militia units – two brass, one bugle, one fife and drum, with the 6th, 11th, 12th and 14th – accompanied their battalions with authority; two other Militia brass bands accompanied the 7th and 9th without prior authority. On 24th November 1914, by direction of the Minister, who was “a great believer in bands” and wished to see every unit provided with one, the establishment of all C.E.F. battalions was optionally increased by one bandmaster and twenty four men – an option exercised by seven of the thirteen battalions which fought as a unit in France, viz: 7th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and P.P.C.L.I. At Valcartier the bands of the R.C.H.A. and R.C.G.A. were also present and played through the lines, but both returned to their peace stations when the Contingent sailed.” [i]
[i] Col. A.F. Duguid, “Official History of the Canadian Forces in The Great War 1914-1919, Vol. 1, Part 1, King’s Printer, Ottawa, 1938, pg. 70.