The Band of the Scots Guards

Band History

The Scots Guards were formed in 1642 by King Charles I. However the precise origins of the Band of the Scots Guards are lost in the midst of time, although it is known that in 1716 a small band of 'hautbouys' existed.

During the early part of the 19th Century the band grew in strength and by 1838 could boast some 32 performers. Throughout the 19th Century the band expanded until, in 1888, there was an establishment of 44.

During unhappy times in 1916 they entertained troops at Ypres and the Somme. Again in World War II much work was done entertaining troops on the home front. This was very often through the medium of wireless, an example being 18 March 1942 when the band reported to the Paris Cinema at 1am for a BBC Overseas Broadcast. Musicians also found themselves on Fire Watch duties based at Egerton House, Buckingham Gate.

In 1990 the Scots Guards were the only Foot Guards Band to be deployed on active service during the Gulf War. Their work there involved them in many different aspects of hospital duties attached to the various departments of 33 General Hospital based in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Today several members of the band still wear the Gulf War Medal presented to them by the Colonel of the Regiment, HRH The Duke of Kent in 1992.

More recently in 1997 the band played at the handover ceremony in Hong Kong and in early 1998 completed an extensive 10-week tour of the USA and Canada. In February/March 2000 they performed a very successful tour of Australia, playing concerts in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane before travelling on to take part in the first performance of the Edinburgh Tattoo abroad, in Wellington, New Zealand. During October 2000 the band were fortunate to visit Brisbane again, to take part in the Brisbane Festival 2000 international Military Tattoo.

The establishment of the band is currently 49 and includes no less than three musicians whose fathers' served with the band in the 1970s'.