TWELVE TRUMPETERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2924, 9 November 1916, Page 6

TWELVE TRUMPETERS

FROM "REVEILLE" TO "LIGHTS-OUT" FEATHERSTON TRUMPET BAND The Trumpet Band of Fea'therston camp is well known ill Wellington; it played the Eighteenth Reinforcements through Auokland streets, and it may •shortly visit other parts of the Dominion, for military parades. It is a new thing in bands in New Zealand, a creation brought about by the war in general, and by Featberston camp in particular. Being a mounted camp, Featherston was entitled to a trumpet baud, and now that it has got what it wanted 1 , th'©. camp is very proud of its hand of twelve trumpets and eight drums. Tho trumpeters aro buglers too, and those infantry calls which etiquette demands should he so sounded are blown on the bugles. But most of the regulation calls are made on the trumpets, and the recruit who, in Featberston camp, has become used' to tho sound of the reveille or "rouse" on tho bugle, gets a surprise when twelve trumpeters make tho welkin ring with their clear, brilliant notes.

Tho quarters of the Trumpet Band in tho camp are in a half-hutment, over which flies a red pennant with the w r ord "Trumpets" blazoned upon it. Inside tho long room are to be seen tho signs of the martial minstrelsy which is the calling of the lads who occupy it—for most of the trumpeters and drummers aro mere lads, full of life and high spirits. Trumpets, drums, and bugles aro hung on the walls. At one end a cabinet gramophone is discoursing operatic music, while in tho centre of the aisle between the beds two bandsmen, in shirt sleeves, engage in a catch-as-catch-can wrestling bout. It iB late forenoon, and an off moment, one of the rare occasions during the day when the band is neither practising nor playing according to camp schedule.

The trumpet-major is resting too, as though Time had not claimed him as one of its slaves. He is not watching the clock. But he has the sailor's or bushmau's instinct of time, and presently he warns his men that they are due on tha parade ground within a, few minutes, to play the troops tnat. aro drilling into camp, for lunch. Then a transformation takes place. The gramophone stops suddenly, tho wrestlers separate, and in less time than it takes to tell it, the band has cot into its tunics and artillery hats, picked up its trumpets and drums, and is gathering at the door. The trumpet-major gives the order to fall in. The drummer hangs tho big drum to the strap that circles his shoulders, tho small drums, that go in the lead of tho band, are hooked to the drummers' harness. The trumpeters are in their places behind the big drum, and the band is ready. Tall, lithe lads they aro for the most part, and looking smart in their artillery uniforms. "Quick march!" is the trumpetmajor's order. Tho big drum beats twice, "boom, boom." Then a sidedrum whirrs in staccato, and gives a double note for the step as they swing away to lead the troops back to camp. It is one of the sights of the camps to seo the Eeinforcements in training march in to the music of a band. At Feathcrston they never move from camp to parade ground or from parade ground to camp without either the Trumpet Band or the Camp Brass Band at their head. The khaki column comes into view with the glitter of trumpets at its head and tho heartening music of drums and trumpets playin" in 6-8 time to lift the weary feet along. The band halts outside headquarters until tho last file has passed, and then returns to quarters and dinner. That is only one of the duties of the Trumpet Band, whose round of work extends from 5.30 in the morning till 10.15 at night. When most of tho camp is still asleep, the twelve trumpeters turn out, some of them with sleep still clinging to their oyes. lhey march to a certain place near headquarters, swing their trumpets to their lips, and while the camp flag is hoisted tho reveille's first, slow notes, liko clear voices hailing, float away on the breeze. Many a man, lying in bed wide awake, waits for the twelve trumpeters to come, and make music of the reveille. At six o'olock one trumpeter blows the defaulter's call, and at 6.30 the "fall in." "Breakfast" and "defaulters" are sounded again at 7.45 and "sick parade" at eight—all aro trumpet calls. Half an hour later the massed trumpets lift their ringing notes in "boot and saddle," and "warning for parade"—calls that cover both mounted and infantry requirements. "Fall in" follows at nine, when the band leads the troops ,out of camp to parade. During the morning there are calls to be made at 9.30, for the guard, and at 11 o'clock, for rations. The march in is at 11.50, and "dinner' sounds at 12. At 1 o'clock "boot and saddle" and warning for parade come round again, and at 1.30 "fall in." Then the Brass Band plays the troops out, and the trumpets have respite, save to sound "orders" when required, until 4.45. But the afternoons aro filled with practices which only cease in time for the Trumpet Band to plav selections at "retreat," when the guard turns out, and every man in camp stands to attention as the flag outside headquarters floats slowly down, "Officers' mess" is at 5.30. Jho Brass Band plays twice a week during mess, and the trumpets occasionally. Then tho evening calls begin:_ Defaulters at 6.45 and again at 8.45; "First Post" at 9.30 is a massed call, the twelvo trumpeters again; "Last Post" at ten; and "Lights Out." at 10.15— and the trumpeters' day is ended.