Corps of Drums, 1st Battalion 1890

These five men formed part of the Corps of Drums and demonstrate different aspects of this ‘unit within a unit’. The central figure is the sergeant-drummer, more commonly called drum-major. His status was down-graded in 1881 from Class 2 staff sergeant to sergeant-drummer. It wan’t until 1926 that the title Drum-Major was officially restored. The Green Howards wore white facings from 1881 to 1898, and the round style of cuff did not suit itself to having a braid Austrian knot as can be seen on the drummers and buglers.The sergeant-drummer has a white sash on his left shoulder with embroidered badge and battle honours. There is a crimson sergeant’s sash on his right shoulder. The drummers have side drums with badges and honours painted on a white background. They have scarlet tunics with more decoration than the sergeant-drummer. There is white tape with a repeating red crown pattern running up the inside and outside of the sleeve, and up the seams at the back. There are also red and white fringes on the edges of the shoulder wings. Both drummers also have bugles hanging from the right shoulder, with plaited green cords and tassels. There are white good-conduct stripes on their left forearms. The buglers have the same green cords attached to the bugles in their right hand. They also carry fifes in special white pouches, and have large sheet-music pouches on the waist-belt, with badges on the front flap. The five drums piled in front of them were captured from the Russians during the Crimean War.

Regimental Details | Band