1867 is probably the card number as the photo was taken after 1901

 A DCLI band taken between 1878 and 1914 – probably circa 1905.

The smallish ‘gor blimey’ caps worn by the male spectators put it as having been taken in the first few years of the 20^th Century (these caps grew larger in the forthcoming years). 

The Home Service helmets worn by all the bandsmen seem not to have normally been issued to Volunteer or Territorial Force soldiers who are generally depicted wearing the round forage cap in full dress. 

I think that this is a band of the 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd (Militia) Battalion DCLI.

(Hugo White of Cornwall’s Regimental Museum) 

 

Two photographs of the 3^rd Battalion DCLI in 18^th May 1908 (Photo: courtesy Audrey Aylmer)

 

 

This is probably one of the DCLI Volunteer battalion bands between 1905 and 1908.

In 1881 the many Cornwall Rifle Volunteer corps were grouped into two DCLI Volunteer battalions – recruited from west and east Cornwall respectively. The soldiers wore the newly designed DCLI cap badge and a variety of embroidered stars and diamonds (indicating achievement of efficiency standards) on their right lower sleeves.  These can be clearly seen in the photograph. 

Up to about 1905 the Volunteer battalions were not issued with khaki serge, hence that date as the earliest possible for this photograph.

In 1908 the Volunteer forces underwent another major change – the 1^st and 2^nd Battalions of the DCLI Volunteer battalions becoming the 4^th and 5^thBattalions DCLI (Territorial Force). The stars and diamonds were no longer worn, hence the cut-off date of 1908 for this photograph. 

I cannot make out the painted decoration on the bass drum, but if the original is clearer, you may able to see whether it was the 1^st or 2^nd DCLI Volunteer Battalion.

Incidentally, the embroidered cloth regimental designations worn at the top of the sleeve by all those in the photograph are new to me. At that time the Volunteers tended to be a law unto themselves, designing their own uniform appointments. 

(Hugo White of Cornwall’s Regimental Museum) 

 

Rechabite parade in St Stephen-in-Brannel (Photo: courtesy Alan Blake)

Either 4^th or 5^th Battalion DCLI (Territorial Force) about 1912.

I do not think that Territorial Force battalions were issued with Home Service helmets, hence the wearing of the round forage caps in full dress.

The very large ‘gor blimey’ caps worn by several of the spectators puts the date as later than the earlier one – the straw boater was also popular summer wear in the years immediately preceding the Great War.

(Hugo White of Cornwall’s Regimental Museum)

 

Ferris Town, Truro – suggested to be a celebration of the coronation of King George V (June 22, 1911)

I think that this is either the 4^th or 5^th DCLI (Territorial Force) about 1912.

The large, somewhat baggy version of the ‘gor blimey’ cap worn by the man in the centre foreground of the photograph is very typical of the period immediately before the Great War.

Two of the Serjeant Instructors, who would have been regular soldiers, are wearing medals. The one nearest the camera has both the Queen’s and King’s South Africa Medal; the one further back has what is probably either the Queen’s South Africa Medal or the 1897-98 India Medal. 

(Hugo White of Cornwall’s Regimental Museum) 

 

(The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph Thursday 18^th February 1915 courtesy Val Thomas, St Ives)

DCLI Band 1915 – seated left is Bennet Oliver from Four Lanes Band (Photo: courtesy Leonard Adams)

The DCLI at Truro when it received the freedom of the city (The Cornishman 1^st August 1946)

DCLI Band 1915 – Back row third from right is Bennet Oliver from Four Lanes Band (Photo: courtesy Leonard Adams)

 

 

Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)

 

This collection is a part of the Cornish National Music Archive (CNMA) project to Collect, Preserve and Share our Cornish Heritage and Culture.

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