Scots Guards Band

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The Scots Guards are a band that was formed by King Charles I in 1642. It is known that in 1716 a small band of "hautbouys" existed, however the precise origins of the Band of the Scots Guards are unknown.

The band grew in strength during the early part of the 19th Century and by 1838 could boast some 32 performers. Throughout the 19th Century the band expanded until, in 1888, there was an establishment of 44.

During 1916 they entertained troops at Ypres and the Somme. During World War II they were again entertaining troops on the home front. This was sometimes through the medium of wireless, an example being March 18, 1942 when at 1am, the band reported for a BBC Overseas Broadcast at the Paris Cinema. Musicians also found themselves on Fire Watch duties based at Egerton House, Buckingham Gate.

The Scots Guards were the only Foot Guards Band to be deployed on active service during the Gulf War in 1990(with three of there colleagues from the Irish Guards Band). Many different aspects of hospital duties attached to the various departments of 33 General Hospital based in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia were involved in their work there. In 1992, the Colonel of the Regiment, HRH The Duke of Kent presented Gulf War Medals to them, many of which are still worn by their owners.

The band played at the handover ceremony in Hong Kong in 1997 and completed an extensive 10-week tour of the USA and Canada in early 1998. In February and March, 2000, they performed at concerts in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, all in Australia, before travelling on to Wellington, New Zealand to take part in the first performance of the Edinburgh Tattoo abroad.