Two of the Younger Bands of the Brigade of Guards

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 15, 20 October 1933, Page 11

Two of the Younger Bands of the Brigade of Guards

H.M. Irish Guards When the Irish Guards was formed in 1900, Lieut. OC. H. Hassell was appointed their first bandmaster, out of 100 applicants. He is of the "Knapsack breed," being the son of a fighting soldier and born March 1, 1866. Aé 12 he had already enlisted in the army. On being sent to Kneller Hall in the following year he studied the clarinet there under Lazarus. Further experience and study led to his appointment as bandmaster of the 4th Batt. King’s Royal Rifles in 1892, with a transference to the Irish Guards eight years later. Mr. Hassell has been twice with the band to Canada (1906 and 1913). During the Great War the band served in France on three occasions, also in Italy with the massed bands. The band is some 65 strong, being a splendid combination, and some of the finest musicians of the army are to be found in. its ranks. .

H.M. Welsh Guards This regiment was formed in 1915, but the band was not organised until the following year when Lieut. Andrew Harris, L.R.AM., was specially appointed bandmaster by H.M..the King and ordered to form the band. This was an unenviadle and dificult task, but on March 1. St. David’s Day, 1916, the band did duty with the guard at Buckingham Palace for the first time. The same evening it made its first appearance on the concert platform at a grand Welsh patriotic meeting, held in the London Opera House, Lord Harlech presiding. On October 28, 1916, the band went to France for duty with the Guards Division. Since then ihe band has played in Paris, Milan, Florence and Rome. Its reputation és now equal to that of the older bands of the Brigade of Guards, and | their run of engagements is literally continuous.