Musical Instruments Carried by British Soldiers?

Of course regiments had bands, but I was wondering if anyone had information on British soldiers in regards to possible musical instruments they carried with them. Obviously this would have been more likely among the GS and other 14 lads behind the line for every pbi in a slit trench. I know my Grandfather, a clerk in the US army, carried a violin with him much of the time. I was wondering if this was common or documented in the British army.

 

I'm sure there's a thread on here about the bag pipes. Use the search function, it will likely bring it up.

 

Nothing like soothing sound of French Horn to make you say "what the bloody hell is that noise?"

 

Spike Milligan comes to mind immediately - and his trumpet, but his regiment managed to carry around a jazz band's worth of instruments if I remember rightly, from North Africa to Italy - certainly guitar, bass, drums, various brass instruments. Of course bagpipes with Scottish regiments - famously Bill Millin on D-Day, recreated in The Longest Day - to name but a few I'm sure.

 

Are you all paying attention ?

Good, then I'll begin this convaluted tale.

First of all, use this link to go to a picture of Derek Franklin of the Hedley Ward Trio and my very old friend Lew (Larry) Fox.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/51/a3381851.shtml

Derek wasn't in my Battery but he was a good friend of Larry and we met up just prior to our stint at Cassino at a Wire Laying course.

Derek brought his ukelele with him when he joined our Ack Ack unit and as we were both Driver/Ops i un-ashamedly got him to give me lessons in the evening.

Ron

 

My late father's old comrade, Len Harvey, of F Troop, 318 Battery, 92nd LAA, recalled how in May 1945 they were near Bremen when they heard news of the German surrender - and were treated to an impromptu concert.

'A cheer went up – and it was time to celebrate. We went over to a big house nearby and took it over. Johnny Chadwick went to his kitbag and took out a small accordion. Nobody knew he had it, or could even play it. He started with all the war songs – Dolly Gray, Tipperary, etc – and out came bottles of wine and the two sergeants brought in bottles of whisky. We drank and sang most of the night.'

 

"Paddy" Flynn of 1 Border took his fiddle with him on Operation Market Garden where he was captured, Jim Swan told me that when he visited in 1946/7 a local came over to him asking if he had come for his fiddle as when he came back after the battle it was lying in his wrecked house, he took it and passed it back to Paddy at a later date.

Alistair

 

Unfortunately I don't know much about this photo, but it is a nice one

Alistair

 

Apart from numerous occasions when Irish pipes were brought out right across Algeria, Tunisia and Italy, my father would recall the aftermath of the fighting north of the Sangro river in early December 1943:

“...We advanced and linked up with our tanks. Closely following E Company, I continued into Fossacesia and arrived just as the company moved a piano into the street. One of the lads was playing it..... It was about 3rd December when the Canadians of The Three Rivers Regiment caught up with us. We had a little celebration with them and one of their number played his guitar..."

best

 

Bexley84: Do you mean Uilleann pipes? or like tin whistle? I know how to play the tin whistle and I'm considering bringing it out to a living history event (it's an old non-plastic fipple one).

Ron Goldstein: Do you remember any of the tunes that were popular to play/sing at that time?

 

How about this list ?

http://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_songs-1940s.html

Ron

 

The attached picture might give you an idea: Rome, July 1944.. a number of these men were, of course from towns/villages in Kerry, Donegal, Waterford etc,..

best

 

One particularly hapless Anti-Tank Regiment received a few hundred harmonicas, before their anti-tank guns arrived much later, in 1939...

 

Always there were instruments to be played and piano's were a constant source of music along with Clarinets - Trumpets - Harmonica's - Saxophones etc anything that could be carried and hidden -

and always appeared in the quiet times after battle…always music….and laughter...

Cheers

 

Heard about one POW who carried a bassoon home in his kitbag after his release. Wonder how many other musicians managed to do the same thing?

 

When Brigadier Rogers took over 26th Bde in 6th Armoured Div in North Africa - he ensured that a certain three ton truck was handled with great care- it was later the first evening when the sounds

of Tin Pan alley was heard emanating from the truck - sure enough - the brigadier had brought along his own piano...

cheers