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Military Music in Britain

The Diary of a Victorian Bandsman

British publishers of military music 1770-1880

The Diary of a Victorian Military Bandsman

Transcribed by Helen Barlow

William Shepherd, ‘Reminiscences of 54 Years with 1st Devon Militia’, [c. 1907]

Wm Shepherd born in the City of Exeter on the 19th May 1832
Enlisted in the 1st Devon Militia on the 6th Day of December 1853 at the age of 21 Years and 7 Months.
Head Quarters at the Castle of Exeter in the Yard the men drill^d.
Orderly Room on the top of the Slope on the left of the Yard as you enter, and is still there.
there was a large Building under Northernhay (New North R^d) for Stores Rifles Equipments &c it was also used for Band practice, it was here that the Band was first form^d.
under the Bandmaster M^r Pinney we had our first practice about the middle of March 1854.
Previous to this it was fife & Drums.
Our Colonel was Hugh Earl Fortescue, the Adjutant Cap^t Holman
every night during training, weather permitting, the fife & Drums beat Tattoo from the Castle to the top of S^t Sidwells

[end of page 1]

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• A note on the text and its transcription
• William Shepherd
• The militia
• The band of the 1st Devon Militia
• Shepherd’s career with the band
• The transcribed text: William Shepherd, ‘Reminiscences of 54 Years with 1st Devon Militia’, [c. 1907]