The White Falcon - 26.10.1990, Side 3

oyal Marines Band to perform Nov. 2
\
The rhythmic movement of white drum-
sticks coupled with precision marching; the
flash of silver bugles and instruments and
musical quality unexcelled; these plus a vari-
ety musical program may be seen and heard
when the Band and Corps of Drums of Her
Majesty’s Royal Marines, Flag Officer Scot-
land and Northern Ireland, perform in concert
at Andrews Theater, Friday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m.
Admission is free.
This year marks the 10th visit of this Royal
Marines Band to Keflavik as guests of the
Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Security
Force Co. (MCSF). The band travels annually
to Iceland to participate in the Marine Corps’
birthday celebration.
There are bonds of friendship and strong
military ties that are unique among the few
who are called “Marines.” However, with the
exception of the professional affiliation be-
tween the Royal Marines and the Royal Neth-
erlands Marines, no stronger relationship can
be found between the serving forces of two
sovereign countries than that which exists
between H. M. Royal Marines and the U. S.
Marine Corps. Not only are many of the tradi-
tions and uniform components of the U. S.
Marines derived from the Royal Marines, but
Idle esprit de corps, military and physical dis-
line, reputation for tenacity in combat as
'ell as precision and “smart turnout” on pa-
Fade are legendary and comparable for both
corps worldwide.
Yet, while the links of tradition forge the
chain which elicits close cooperation between
the two forces, it is the subtleties of history that
maintains the association between MCSF Co.,
Keflavik, and the Royal Marines Band that is
based at HMS Cochrane in Roysth, Fife,
Scotland.
For it was a battalion of Royal Marines
known as “Sturges Force” (named for the
officer commanding the battalion, Col. R. G.
Sturges, RM), under the direction of Com-
mander in Chief, Roysth, that disembarked in
the early morning fog of Reykjavik Harbor on
May 10, 1940, in order to “...land a military
force in Iceland, as a precaution against pos-
sible German invasion, and as a preliminary to
the establishment of a naval and air base.”
Having initially secured the Icelandic capi-
tal peacefully, the Royal Marines were re-
lieved by an infantry brigade of the British
Army and departed Iceland within a month.
Following negotiations between the British,
Icelandic and U. S. governments, it was the U.
S. 1st Marine Brigade (Provisional) consist-
ing of the 6th Marine Regiment (Reinforced),
and other elements, that arrived in Iceland on
July 7,1941, as the first U.S. forces to continue
the defense of Iceland, replacing many of the
British ground forces that were needed so
desperately in action elsewhere.
The 1st Marine Brigade was joined shortly
thereafter by contingents of the U. S. Army
and the Marines departed Iceland in March
1942, but not before they had adopted and
worn the whitc/black polar bear patch used by
both the British forces and the U. S. Marines in
Iceland. Indeed, this same patch design is the
logo of the current Marine Corps Security
Force Co., and reflects the history established
by the predecessors of both the Royal Marines
and the MCSF Co.
The exceptional standards maintained by
the Royal Marines Band Service in the tradi-
tional field of military music are undisputed.
Equally at home aboard ship or on shore,
Royal Marines Bands have delighted thou-
sands of spectators, radio and recording listen-
ers and television viewers throughout the
world. Their unique mixture of stirring music,
distinctive white pith helmets, blue uniforms
and silver instruments has put the finishing
touches to many an auspicious event from
Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade in
London, to the deck of IIMY Britannia in a
foreign port.
However, life in a Royal Marines Band is
far more than playing the national anthem at a
championship football match. Traditional
military band engagements do feature sub-
stantially in the band’s schedule, but there are
also orchestral as well as modem concert and
dance band performances in prestigious con-
cert halls and at many of the royal residences
throughout the United Kingdom. Since all
musicians are taught to master at least two
musical instruments, they can play anything
from Schubert to Simon and Garfunkel or
Beethoven to The Beatles. Additionally, all
bandsmen are fully trained to become part of
a fighting force, qualified in the use of small
arms. It is interesting to note that, during both
world wars, they manned the gunnery fire
controls on His Majesty’s ships and, while
attached to 3 Commando Brigade (Reinforced),
the Band of the Royal Marines Commando
Forces were embarked in SS Canberra during
CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
October 26,1990
3