Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums

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Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums
Remembrance Day 2017 at the National War Memorial in Ottawa 05.jpg
Members of the pipe band during a Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in 2017.
Active7 October 1949–Present
AllegianceFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
BranchRoyal Canadian Air Force ensign.svg  Royal Canadian Air Force
Type Military Band/Pipe Band
Role Public Duties
Size40
Garrison/HQ CFB Uplands, Ottawa
March RCAF March Past

The Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums (RCAFPD) is a military pipe band unit composed of current members of the Royal Canadian Air Force. [1] The unit was formally established in October 1949 and is the longest continuous serving Air Force Pipe Band in the Canadian Forces. [2] [3] All of its 40 members are volunteers who are drawn from both the military and civilian sphere. [4] At the time of its foundation, it was known as the RCAF Station Rockcliffe Pipe Band.

Contents

Operations

The band usually performs for RCAF change of command ceremonies, military funerals, and other major occasions in the National Capital Region. Each year, band leads the Remembrance Day parade in Ottawa near the National War Memorial, and even provides a lone piper to play Lament during the honors ceremony. It has participated in all RCAF Presentation of Colours ceremonies, whether it be official such as the ceremony in 2017 in Toronto, as well as a symbolic presentation of the old RCAF colours at Air Canada Centre to the Toronto Maple Leafs. [5] During the latter, the two pipers from the band took part in the ceremony while the band was in full composition during the former. The band took part in a 75th anniversary ceremony on Parliament Hill in recognition of the Battle of Britain in September 2015. In 2018, the band took part in the Virginia International Tattoo. [6] It celebrated its platinum jubilee in the fall of 2019. [7]

Uniforms

The RCAF Pipes and Drums marching during the 2018 Norfolk NATO Parade. Canada in NATO Parade 2018 (41064893924).jpg
The RCAF Pipes and Drums marching during the 2018 Norfolk NATO Parade.

The Pipe Band wear a modified highland dress that features Scottish uniforms augmented with a kilt patterned in the RCAF Tartan. [8] The tartan was created in 1942 by Captain Elmer Fullerton from the No. 9 Service Flying Training School RCAF. He wanted the tartan to reflect his Scottish heritage for his station band. It was approved by the Air Council and was subsequently sent to the Lord Lyon King of Arms on 13 July 1942 to request it become the official RCAF tartan. [9]

Notable members

See also

Related Research Articles

The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1914, with the formation of the Canadian Aviation Corps (CAC) that was attached to the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. It consisted of one aircraft that was never called into service. In 1918, a wing of two Canadian squadrons called the Canadian Air Force (CAF) was formed in England and attached to the Royal Air Force, but it also would never see wartime service. Postwar, an air militia also known as the Canadian Air Force was formed in Canada in 1920. In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) when it was granted the royal title by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968.

This is a table of the ranks and insignia of the Canadian Armed Forces. As the Canadian Armed Forces is officially bilingual, the French language ranks are presented following the English.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regional tartans of Canada</span>

Regional tartans of Canada are represented by all Canada's provinces and territories having a regional tartan, as do many other regional divisions in Canada. Tartans were first brought to Canada by Scottish settlers; the first province to adopt one officially was Nova Scotia in 1956, and the most recent province was Ontario, in 2000. Except for the tartan of Quebec, all of the provincial and territorial tartans are officially recognized and registered in the books of the Court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Guards</span> National household regiment in the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps

The Canadian Guards was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army that served in the same role as the five regiments of foot guards in the British Army. The regiment was formed on 16 October 1953, by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds, the Chief of the General Staff of the Canadian Army, with the redesignation of four separate battalions:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Authorized marches of the Canadian Armed Forces</span>

The following is a list of the notable authorized marches for various organisations of the Canadian Armed Forces. The first march listed is the march most commonly performed for that organisation on parade; it is commonly referred to simply as that organisation's "march" or "march past". In addition, many organisations also have additional pieces for slow marches, marches for mounted parades, pipe marches, etc.; they are subsequently listed and footnoted as applicable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peel Regional Police Pipe Band</span> Canadian pipe band organization

The Peel Regional Police Pipe Band is a Canadian pipe band organization based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The Hamilton Police Pipe Band is a competitive pipe band based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Currently, the Hamilton Police Pipe Band consists of a competing grade 4 band, a developing grade 5 band, and a teaching program. The Hamilton Police Pipe Band has had many successful seasons under its most recent leadership of drum sergeant Sandy McKail and pipe major Trish Kirkwood. Over the last 15 years the two have led HPPB to many local and North American prizes and titles such as North American champions, Canadian champions, Transatlantic champions, Nova Scotia champions, and 1st placings in many PPBSO Highland games across Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders</span> Volunteer pipe band associated with The Calgary Highlanders of the Canadian Forces

The Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders is an authorized volunteer pipe band associated with The Calgary Highlanders of the Canadian Forces. For many years, the band was a bona fide, and separate, military unit unto itself, with a separate Unit Identification Code within the CF. Today, the band has been reduced to volunteer status but officially maintains an establishment of eight paid military musicians on its rolls. The band has had mixed success in competitions, but under the direction of Pipe Major Michael Giles had become successful in the Grade Three circuit in Alberta in the years leading up to the regimental centennial in 2010. The band published a recording to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Regiment in 1990, titled Eighty Years of Glory and commemorated its centennial in 2010 by releasing a second CD entitled Onward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Military College of Canada Bands</span>

The Royal Military College of Canada Bands is the official group of bands of the Royal Military College of Canada. The group is composed of four sections: the brass and reed, the pipes and drums, highland dancers, and choristers. Total band membership consists of 105 Officer Cadets from the college. Officer Cadets in the band practice three days a week in the morning on top of attending their individual full-time university programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian military bands</span>

Canadian military bands are a group of personnel in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) that performs musical duties for military functions. Military bands form a part of the Music Branch of the CAF, composed of six full-time professional Regular Force bands, 15 Regular Force voluntary bands, and 53 part-time reserve force bands. Bands of the Music Branch are often badged with the unit or Canadian Forces base insignia that they support.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Air Force Pipe Band</span> Former U.S. Air Force highland unit

The United States Air Force Pipe Band was a highland unit of the United States Air Force. Organized in 1960 from a predecessor unit that had been activated in 1950, it was deactivated ten years later.

The Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band is a grade 2 competitive pipe band based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. As well as participating in competitions, the band performs at civic events, parades and charitable fund-raisers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces</span> Military unit

The Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces is one of six full-time Regular Force military bands in the Canadian Armed Forces. It is also the seniormost military band in the CAF. The band provides professional musical support for the representative institutions of the Canadian Forces, supporting the Department of National Defence and the Government of Canada, in events throughout the National Capital Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Band of the Ceremonial Guard</span>

The Band of the Ceremonial Guard is an ad hoc military band that is attached to the Canadian Forces Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa. All members of the band are fully trained members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and consists of personnel principally from the two Foot Guards regiments and has even since 2007 been manned by a pan–Canadian Forces approach that is inclusive to musicians from the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force. The band forms a separate company within the CG and rely on the Headquarters Company for administration and support personnel. In full composition, the band is active from April to August.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Roads Military College Band</span>

The Royal Roads Military College Band was the college military marching band for the Royal Roads Military College in Hatley Park, near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It was formed in 1975. The band was disbanded in 1995 following the closing of Royal Roads Military College.

The Pipes and Drums of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa is an authorized pipe band in the Canadian Forces, attached to of Headquarters and Service Company of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. It provides musical support for regimental and extra-Regimental activities as directed by the commanding officer. Outside of musical duties, the 25-members of the Pipes and Drums participate in Individual Battle Task Standards (IBTS), which requires it to augment "A" Company during field training exercises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navy bands in Canada</span>

Navy bands in Canada are part of the Royal Canadian Navy's command structure and overseen by the Music Branch of the Canadian Forces and the Directorate of History and Heritage of the Department of National Defence.

The 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums is an authorized pipe band in the Canadian Forces and is currently located at Moss Park Armoury in Toronto, Ontario. The current pipe major is Master Warrant Officer Iain Lang, who is concurrently the official piper to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Corps Musician Enlistment Option Program</span> Organizaitonal body for Marine bands

The Marine Corps Musician Enlistment Option Program (MEOP) is the central organized body overseeing the active-duty military bands of the United States Marine Corps. Marine Corps field bands can be found in the Southeast United States, Southern California, and the Pacific-Asia region. While serving with their bands, Marines perform throughout the continental United States and travel internationally to locations ranging from Beijing to Paris. These units take part in activities such as retirement ceremonies, the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, funerals, change of commands, and civil/military parades. It is one of two music programs in the Department of the Navy, with the other being Fleet Band Activities.

References

  1. "RCAF PIPES & DRUMS - MassedHead | Based in Canada, MassedHead is a full service branding and marketing communications company". massedhead.com. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  2. "RCAF Pipes & Drums | Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival". dragonboat.net. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. "Pipers & Pipe Bands".
  4. "News Article | RCAF Pipes and Drums reunion planned". arc.forces.gc.ca. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  5. "Retired Air Force Colours Entrusted To Toronto Maple Leafs". espritdecorps. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  6. "www.vafest.org/media/161975/19084-vitbrochure-spring_low-res.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj5zeyJ0uvmAhUECawKHcAGD-A4ChAWMAh6BAgBEAE&usg=AOvVaw2AxyGkVw0XcsEvNUOIMHH1". vafest.org. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  7. "RCAF Pipes and Drums reunion planned – The Maple Leaf". ml-fd.caf-fac.ca. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  8. Leatherneck Association; Marine Corps Institute (U.S.). (1963). The Leatherneck. Vol. 46. Leatherneck Association. pp. 10–63. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  9. "The RCAF tartan: The world's first air force tartan - Canadian Military Family Magazine". cmfmag.ca. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  10. "Thomas J. Brown (1976 – 2017) | PPBSO Ottawa Branch". ppbso-ottawa.org. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  11. "Jack Gauthier, 1930 – 2017 | PPBSO Ottawa Branch". ppbso-ottawa.org. Retrieved 5 January 2020.