Corps of Drums c1897

All the members of the Corps of Drums were trained as drummers, buglers and fife players but in this photo of the 2nd Battalion there are those with drum carriages over their right shoulder and those without so that the more skilled drummers specialised in the side drum and those better suited to wind instruments played the fife and bugle. The drum-major, or sergeant-drummer as he was titled at that time, wears a gold laced tunic and crimson sergeant's sash on his right shoulder. He has a peaked forage cap like the officer but has a gold cap band and solid metal badge. The officer may be the commanding officer of the battalion, and wears a dark blue frockcoat.

Regimental details | Band