Western Australian Army Band

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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

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.)

Headquarters Band at Karrakatta Easter camp in 1897.
Headquarters Band at Karrakatta Easter camp in 1897.
Headquarters Band leading the 2nd WAMI departure parade in 1900.
Headquarters Band leading the 2nd WAMI departure parade in 1900.
Headquarters Band at Karrakatta Easter camp in 1897.
Headquarters Band at Karrakatta Easter camp in 1897.
Headquarters Band in 1901
Headquarters Band in 1901
Headquarters Band in 1898 at the opening of Parliament House
Headquarters Band in 1898 at the opening of Parliament House
Headquarters Band in 1901 parading the return of some of the WAMI
Headquarters Band in 1901 parading the return of some of the WAMI
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