Light Infantry - Music

The Band of The Light Division

The Light Infantry

Regimental March: Light Infantry

Regimental Double March: The Keel Row

Regimental Call: 1st Bar of Light Division Assembly

Slow March - The Regiment never slow marches except when Trooping The Colour.

When the Colours leave the parade ground for the last time it is to the tune Auld Lang Syne.

Light Infantry composed by Bandmaster D Plater, Oxf & Bucks LI in 1931. It was the former march of the Light Infantry Brigade.
The Keel Row was the double march of the Somerset LI, the DCLI, the KOYLI, and the DLI.
Other music played on appropriate occasions is that inherited from the former Light Infantry Regiments.
Other Bugle Calls: The 53rd Salute, KSLI Officers' Mess Calls, Cavalry Brigade Salute, Light Cavalry, The Lucknow Call
Allied Regiment - The Mauritius Special Mobile Force
Regimental March: Thin Red Line, Great Little Army

Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)
Regimental March: Prince Albert

Slow March: Palace Guard

Double March: The Keel Row

Prince Albert the RMSM possesses a manuscript score of the 1840s arranged by Hermann Exkersberg, the German bandmaster of the 4th RIDG, who attributes the tune to Stephen Glover of London. The march was adopted in 1872 and for a time was the only regimental march in the army to be played by band and bugles together.
Palace Guard composed in 1936 by Bandmaster A E James on the occasion of the Regiment doing public duties in London.
Jellalabad composed by Bandmaster A E James.
Allied Regiment - Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (The Wentworth Regiment)
Regimental March: The Mountain Rose

Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Regimental March: One and All

Double March: The Keel Row

Slow March: The 46th

One and All is believed to be an old Cornish country song. In 1811, the Royal Cornwall Rangers Militia, commanded by Colonel Bridges Willyams, volunteered en masse to serve in Ireland if required. The Colonel was delighted with the response and wrote words to fit the tune, using the county motto 'One and All' as the title. This tune was undoubtedly the Regimental march of the 32nd prior to 1881.
Trelawny The source of this tune is unknown but it appeared in the early 19th century and is believed to have been adopted by the bands of the volunteer Regiments of Cornwall. The tune is also associated with the song 'The Noble Duke of York'. 'One and All' and 'Trelawny' were played as regimental marches until 1933 although no authority existed for the use of the latter. In that year official sanction was refused for the playing of 'Trelawny’ as well as 'One and All', so it was decided to combine the two and on 30th June 1934 official permission was given for this.
The 46th Slow March, On the occasion of the presentation of colours to 2nd Bn in 1931 by HM The Prince of Wales, the CO requested Bandmaster A Young to compose a slow march. The result was 'The 46th'.
Rosin Le Beau. Rosin the Beau or Resin the Bow is a song dating from 1838, the words and music being by an anonymous composer. The tune was played by the 46th prior to 1881.
The TA Battalion of the Regiment had its own Regimental call.
Allied Regiment - The Rand Light Infantry
Regimental March: One and All and Trelawney

Slow March: Duke of York and for Colour in Cathedral, Preobajensky March

Double March: Keel Row

Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry
Following the amalgamation in 1959 the Regimental march was a combination of the two marches 'Prince Albert' and 'Trelawny'.

The Regimental Call consisted of the first part of the call of the 1st Bn Somerset LI followed by part of the call of the 1st Bn DCLI.

Allied Regiment – 13th Bn The Baluch Regiment (now 1 SIND)
Regimental March: Blue Bonnets over the Border

King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Regimental March: With Jockey to the Fair

Double March: The Keel Row

Colour March: The Minden March

March Off Parade: With Jockey to the Fair

Entering or leaving Barracks: The Minden March

End of Band Programme: Light Infantry

Rule Britannia (Officers' Mess only)

Other tunes associated with the Regiment: On Ilkley Moor, The Yorkshire Girl

With Jockey to the Fair adopted in 1873 as the Regimental March whilst serving in India. The song itself first appeared in print in the 18th century.
The Minden March commemorates service with the Royal Navy under Admiral Nelson in the Corsican Campaign of the late ]8th century.
The Regimental Call of the 4th Bn KOYLI (TA) is that of the 1st Bn.
Allied Regiment - 2nd Bn The North Saskatchewan Regiment (Saskatoon Light Infantry)
Regimental March: The Mountain Rose

Pipe March: The Mackenzie Highlanders

King's Shropshire Light Infantry
Regimental March: 1st Bn Old Towler, 2nd Bn The Daughter of the Regiment

Regimental Slow March: 1st Bn The 53rd Slow March, 2nd Bn Raglan

Double March: I'm 95

Regimental General Salute: 53rd Slow March (first 8 bars only)

March on to parade: The Farmer's Boy

Troop or Inspection March: The Maid of Athens, Raglan, Shrewsbury, The Brigadier, Presentation, With Colours Flying

End of Band programme: Land of My Fathers, Light Infantry, Daughter of the Regiment, Old Towler

53rd Foot - The first known Regimental March 'I'm 95'was in use in 1862, but was replaced in 1875 by 'The Captain With His Whiskers' written as a Music Hall comic song by Hayness Bayly.
(1) 'I'm 95' continued to be played until 1914 whenever the Regiment had to march at the double.

(2) Old Towler was adopted in 1881, composed by William Shield who was Master of the King's Music in 1817.

(3) The 53rd Slow March was taken into use between 1829 and 1836 and is reputed to be of Russian origin. In 1932 the first 8 bars were adopted as the Regimental General Salute.

85th Foot
(1) The Daughter of the Regiment was adopted as the Regimental march in 1846, possibly on account of the words of one line - 'Everyone says it, everyone knows it, it is the Regiment has no equal'. The tune is said to have been a Spanish marching tune of the same title which became popular with the soldiers during the Peninsula War and brought home by them. It caught the fancy of Donizetti who in 1840 wrote his opera, 'The Daughter of the Regiment' in which parts of the tune appear throughout the score. It continued as the Regimental march of the 2nd Bn until 1948, although it was never officially sanctioned.

(2) The Mess Calls were adopted by the 2nd Bn in 1892 and later by both battalions. They are French hunting calls taken from the 'Messe de St Hubert' (St Hubert was patron Saint of Hunters and his sign was the bugle horn) composed by F Felix Aubry in Paris in the 1830s, and arranged by V Noury. They were selected by Bugle Major R Stevens. For some time prior to the First World War they were played on 16 Bersaglieri horns.

(3) La Ligne. The Regimental march of the 85th until the latter half of 1846, it is said to have been brought back from the Peninsula Campaign. It was reintroduced in 1930 for use when the battalion returned in close column after marching past by companies.

(4) Raglan. Adopted in 1925, it was composed by Bandmaster R Stevens, Rifle Brigade, and presented to his old regiment, the 2nd Bn KSLI of which he was appointed Bugle Major in 1892. Until that date 'The Colours' by Leo Stanley had been used.

(5) Land of My Fathers was played at the end of all band programmes between 1919 and 1934. This practice was revived in 1958. During the First World War a very large number of Welshmen served in the KSLI.

(6) The Farmer’s Boy was introduced about 1927 for marching the battalion to parade. It was the Regimental March of the Shropshire Militian (3rd Bn KSLI) and is the march of The Shropshire Yeomanry (10th Bn KSLI).

(7) After Many Roving Years. Originally played as a Troop by 1st Bn but later as a March to play out drafts or individuals who have served a long period with the regiment.

(8) The Maid of Athens was introduced in 1884. It is the troop of this name by Hartmann (foreign bandmaster of the 4th Foot and 21st Lancers). It was published before the turn of the century, and was based on a song of that name composed by Henry Allen in 1861.

(9) A troop composed by Bandmaster Davidson, whilst the 1st Bn was doing ceremonial duties in India in 1934-35,

(10) Shrewsbury . Composed by Bandmaster F Dennett in 1933 and used for the presentation of Colours in 193 5 by HRH The Duke of York.

(11) The Brigadier. Composed by Bandmaster F Dennett for the Northern Command tattoo in 1936.

(12) Presentation. Composed by Bandmaster Hey in 1950-51 in preparation for the presentation of new colours.

(13) With Colours Flying. Composed by Bandmaster Hall in 1954 for the presentation of new colours.

(14) The Coconut Tree. At the end of the First World War, CQMS Williams of Ellesmere composed the song, the verses of which record the war history of the 4th Battalion. In 1959 Bandmaster F Dennett arranged the song as a troop to celebrate the centenary of the battalion. In 1939 this tune had been arranged as a quick march by Dr A E Nicholls of Shrewsbury.

(15) The 56 Brigade. Composed by A Momay Chef de Musique au 22 Regiment d'Infantrie to commemorate the gallantry of the 56th Brigade which included 4th Bn KSLI and which won the Croix de Guerre at Bligny.

The Regimental call of the 4th Bn KSLI (TA) was that of the 1st Bn.

Herefordshire Light Infantry
Regimental March: The Lincolnshire Poacher

Allied Regiments
Le Regiment de Maisonneuve:
Regimental March: Le Regiment de Sambre et Meuse

Regimental Call: First six notes of 'Canadian Errant' by D Benjamin Viger

1st Bn Kenya Rifles
Regimental March: Tufunge Safari

Durham Light Infantry
Regimental March: The Light Barque

Slow March: The Old 68th

Double March: The Keel Row Monymusk

Troop or Inspection March: Alexandra

Colour March: The Old 68th

March Off Parade: The Light Barque

Regimental General Salute: The Old 68th (first 8 bars only)

Regimental Hymn: Abide with Me

End of band programme: Light Infantry, Monymusk, The Light Barque, National Anthem, Keel Row

The Little Barque written between 1820 and 1830 by Miss A Mohony, a north country lady, and alleged to have been dedicated to a star of the theatre of that period, Madame Vestris. There appears to be no direct connection between the tune and the regiment. It became the Regimental march almost from the time it was composed until replaced by 'I'm 95' at the end of the Crimean War. However 'The Light Barque' again became the Regimental march in 1867.
The Old 68th was played for many years by the DLI but nothing can be discovered regarding its origin.
Abide with Me was adopted during the First World War at the instigation of Brigadier Rowland Bradford VC MC.
The Prince Regent . For a time it was customary to play the first 8 bars of this tune as the Regimental General Salute, but this was eventually changed to the first 8 bars of 'The Old 68th'.
Moneymusk was adopted in 1879 as the double march. The full title of this tune is 'Sir Archibald Munro, Bart, of Monymusk's Strathspey'.
Garryowen was for a time played when marching past in quarter column. It was discontinued in 1879.
The Garb of Old Gaul was a former slow march of the 68th.
2nd Bombay European Light Infantry (2nd Bn DLI). Very little information exists concerning the music played by this Regiment which, numbered the 106th Foot, became, in 1881, the 2nd Battalion, DLI. It is known that for a time, the Regimental march was' Paddy Carey' but this was changed in 1878-79 to 'Ap Shenkin' which continued in use until the Battalion was ordered to play 'The Light Barque' instead.

6th Bn DLI (TA) and 8th Bn DLI (TA) each had their own Regimental Call.

Allied Regiments
2nd Bn Royal New Zealand Regiment (Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast).

Regimental March: Wi' a Hundred Pipers

11th Bn The Baluch Regiment

Regimental March: Blue Bonnets over the Border

Other Regimental Music
a. Ouick Marches

'Prince of Wales or XIII March'
'Thread on the Tail of my Coat'
'Marching through Georgia'
'Le Regiment de Sambre et Meuse'
'La Marseillaise'
'The Captain with his Whiskers' - (Regimental March of the 53 (Shropshire) Regiment 1875-1881)
Old Folks at Home'
'A Hunting We Will Go'
'Hark Forrard'
'Geordie'
'56 Brigade' - (The 1/4 Bn KSLI served in 56 Bde 19th Division at the Battle of Bligny 6 June 1918. The 56 Brigade won the Croix de Guerre avec Star and the 1/4 KSLI the Croix de Guerre avec Paime).

b. Slow Marches

'Silver Bugles'
'Killarney'

c. Regimental Songs'

(1) West Country Selection

'Up from Somerset'
'Tessie of Taunton Deane'

(2) Tyneside Selection

'Blaydon Races'
'Geordie Hinny'
'Lambton Worm'
'Cushy Butterfield'
'We are some of the DLI'

(3) Shropshire Selection

The Farmers Boy

Old Towler (1st Battalion)

Daughter of the Regiment (2nd Battalion)