The RCMP Pipe Band has new graphics on our regimental drums! The newly emblazoned drums were paraded for the first time at the 2024 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, by a composite band drawn from across Canada.
The RCMP was presented with its third Guidon in September 2023. The new Guidon was updated with His Majesty King Charles III Cypher, as well as a new corps operational honour for Afghanistan 2003-14, and the distinctive badge of the Canadian Provost Corps with scroll 1939-1945. The commonwealth tradition is that regimental drums are emblazoned based upon the heraldry displayed on the regimental Guidon (flag) or Colours. Now, the regimental drums of the Force’s eight pipe bands and the recruit band at Depot Division, will also be updated.
Hand painting regimental drums with battle honours is a centuries old tradition from the British Army. Their drums were often used as signaling tools for communication in times of battle, and were closely linked to the regimental flags. The RCMP adopted emblazoning of drums in the late 1950’s. Nowadays, computer-generated decals have replaced the hand painted drums.
These regimental decals were created by Doug Matthews, and were received just before the Tattoo. Our drum corps worked diligently to get them all onto the drums before the first Tattoo event. Since this was the first set to be installed, some creativity was needed to get everything just right. It all worked out well and the drums are beautiful. This video gives a view of the whole set of drums
The honours on the guidon and now the drums, attest to wartime service in conflict zones. For the RCMP, they include:
North West Canada 1885, South Africa 1900-2, France & Flanders 1918, Siberia 1918-19, Second World War 1939-1945, and Afghanistan 2003-14.
As a national police force, the RCMP also has a proud military heritage, following many British Army light cavalry traditions from the early days of the Force in the western prairies from 1873 onward. There they kept the peace while enforcing the law in a very young Canada. They also answered the call in times of conflict to work towards peace alongside Canada’s military, both in Canada and across the world into the 21st century. Further information about the guidon is available at https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/guidon
The newly emblazoned drums were paraded for the first time in Edinburgh at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, where they were played by our RCMP drummers in the massed pipes and drums. They lined up alongside the regimental drums belonging to the many British Army regimental bands playing in the Tattoo. The first show with our re-emblazoned drums was on August 2nd, 2024.
These photos show our old regimental drums in the drum altar created for the new Guidon presentation at RCMP Depot Division in Regina in 2023, and the newly updated drums in Edinburgh at the castle.
