Bugles, Cavalry Trumpets and Pipe Bands
September 16, 2016
Veteran Ric Hall sent us the following information and photographs for the interest of our website visitors.
Recently we did an article on the “Mysterious White Horse” that popped up in several old photographs taken in Vancouver in the 1920s. I was under the illusion that the junior man got the horse of a different colour, white, from the remainder of the mounted members whose noble steeds were darker in colour. Riding to the rescue was Charles Armstrong a volunteer with the Ottawa RCMP Pipe Band. He explained the history of buglers and trumpeters riding a white horse. As I learned Charles is a history buff when it comes to the use of bugles and cavalry trumpets by the RCMP.
Photograph of Charles Armstrong playing a bugle.
Photograph of Charles Armstrong playing a trooper’s trumpet.
Recently the Ottawa RCMP Pipe band attended the Long Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival (Estes Park, Colorado, USA). Over a period of six days they put 20 performances. The band is made up mainly of volunteers. For their trip to Colorado the two Drum Majors were regular members from Ottawa and they were also joined by members of the RCMP Pipe Bands from Regina, Halifax, Thunder Bay and Toronto.
Red Serge In The Rockies
Photograph of the Pipe Band acknowledging the 15th anniversary of 9/11.
Photograph of Charles Armstrong playing the Last Post on Sept 11th at the Mountain Chapel of YMCA of the Rockies at Estes Park, Colorado.
Photograph of thePipe Band, Dancers and Regular Members at the Quebec City Military Tattoo.
Photograph of the Pipe Band and a troop 100 Regular members at the annual St Patrick’s Day parade New York City – 2013.
Special Note – The band received no public funds to attend these events and all costs were covered by the individuals members.
Many thanks to Charles Armstrong for sharing some his memories with the RCMP Pipe Band.
If you have any old photos of the Force which we could post on a future webpage, please email Ric Hall at rshall69@shaw.ca
