Headquarters Band 1895-1901
This unit was raised on the 2nd November 1895 as the Headquarters Band by merging most of the bands in the area surrounding Perth. Previously to the unit’s creation there had been Brass, Drum and Pipe bands. With the HQ Band’s creation there was no longer a pipe band which wouldn’t be reformed until the creation of the Highlanders in 1903. It received it’s first and only Officer on the 24th May 1897, 2nd Lieutenant (Later Lieutenant) T Bryan. The unit was very active in celebratory parades. Information on the unit is very scarce.
In 1897 the strength of the unit was:
1 Officer
30 Bandsmen
One Member of the Headquarters Band served in the 1st WAMI in the 2nd Boer War.
1st WAMI
Name | Rank | Birthplace | Job | Age | Service Notes | Campaign Notes |
John O’Connell | Pte | Ireland | Labourer | 34 | 8 Years & 3 Months in the British Army, 3 Months in the Perth Artillery & 3 Months in the Headquarters Band. |
The lineage of this unit continues today with the Australian Army Band Perth.
LIST OF OFFICERS
Lieutenant T Bryan
(Served as an enlisted member of the Metropolitan Rifles from 1874-1895 when he was transferred to the Headquarters Band initially with the rank of Warrant Officer Bandmaster. In 1897 he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and the next year was made a full Lieutenant.)
