The Drums Platoon

[richie264]

Don't knock yourselves boys I'm sure all members on this forum would agree with what I'm about to say.

I have always held the drums in high esteem and admired you not only for your skills as musicians especially playing without the music in front of you, your turnout & demeanor is always of the highest order, The Regiment would not be the same without you.

Your soldiering skills have never been in question either I never served with a bad drummer.
Your "Esp-ere De Corps" has always been great & the Platoon has always had great characters.
And you only have to look at your reunions to see that the spirit continues, you should be proud of yourselves.


"The sound of the drum drives out thought, for that reason it is the most military of all instruments" Joseph Joubert 1884

[aubs]

nice words led and all of them true

rest in peace hugo. one of the best

[patty]

I was in the RWF cadet corps of drums in Wrexham - b flat flute.

Also the IJLB corps of drums in Oswestry, b flat flute and glockenspiel!!

The first Royal Welchman I knew was a certain Drum Major Frank Harry.

Dunno why I didn't become a drummer in the Bn!!!

Married my wife just before I left the army in 93, she only got to attend one Sgts' Mess function - Dai's day 93, garrison theatre, Tidwuff.

She's a musician - grade 8 violin age 12, scholarship to the Royal School of Music, plays piano too.

She was awestruck at the drums display, really moved her and she never shut up all night about how wonderful Dai Beer was!!!

My platoon (sigs) and drums pl joined forces in 86 for a tour of Derry and I think they were more disciplined and loyal to each other than any platoon I ever served with, maybe because they were more used to performing as a team.

[Antony McCarten]

led nice words!!as one of the last berlin crew left in the drums and reached the dizzy heights of D/Maj! alot must be from watching others and learning my trade!from riks drumming to hugos drinking it learnt me alot!hugo was one person who made us laugh and enjoy life to the full,it is sad but i think that he would want us all to sink a few beers in his honour!!here are a few words that sum up this sad week from my wifes RWF drummers poem;


A simple beat with hands like lighting
the way they play you can delight in
with backs so straight and heads held high
whenever you here it, you'll get goose bumps and sigh

This love for a pleasure they get from a fife and a drum
is the same as a sailor, swallowing his rum
not many can throw sticks, like the RWF do
but its their life and dreams and was hugos too

their not only drummers but soliders too
and to keep them in beat,a drum major who
flourishes his mace ahead of the pack
their proud ROYAL WELCH FUSILIER drummers and thats a fact


Rest in peace hugo!!the beat will never fade

[patty]

Er, sorry folks, it's me, John Turner, on me wife's laptop, stepson staying over, hogging the PC.

Forgot to logout and back in as me - ah well!

[BennytheBall]

Led & Mac
What lovely words, I always get a lump in my throat whenever I see the "drum tappings" display that the Corps does and your professionalism is out of this world you should all be proud of being or served in the Corps of Drums and John and 79 have departed us with honour and pride I'm sure.
BennytheBall 1

[jona2283]

Well said Led,I know that you was probably Hugo's closest friend.I will always remember the "performance palace" episode that you,Hugo and Mike Cornish got a 5 job drinking ban for in Berlin.They were the best days as i am sure you will agree. Just a terrible shame.

[beefy22]

Well said Led good on you..

[Mike Thomas]

Nice to see you guys sticking together after all this time. I would just like to say that from a Bandsman's perspective whenever we marched without " The Corp of Drums" out in front it just felt like something was missing, plus, you all did your kit a lot better than us lot! keep on drummin boys!
Tom
1 RWF Band
1972- 1987

[john1]

The band certainly didn’t loathe you! We found you hard work from time to time, when you pinched our beer form the utility room when you were supposed to be rehearsing. Or you used all of the photocopier paper copying your arses (amongst other things). But we (well most of us) never loathed you.

I spent my last night as a member of the RWF having a beer with the drums, not the band and probably spent more of my time on the beer in Berlin with the drums than I did band members. When we worked together we did it properly and produced a professional show and I look back on those times with some pride. So should you.

I raise my glass to you Gentlemen of the Drums Platoon, thanks for the memories I enjoyed my time working alongside you and hope you can say the same.

John Lorenz 1 RWF Band 1988 - 1992