The Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is an Army Reserve military band part of the

5th Battalion Fifth is the ordinal form of the number five. Fifth or The Fifth may refer to: * Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as in the expression "pleading the Fifth" * Fifth column, a political term * Fifth disease, a contagious rash th ...

History

In 1951 the Band of the 43rd (6th (City) Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Royal Tank Regiment, or simply the ''Band of the

43rd Royal Tank Regiment The 43rd (6th (City) Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Royal Tank Regiment (43 RTR) was an armoured regiment of the British Army's Royal Armoured Corps that tested and demonstrated specialised Armoured Fighting Vehicles during World Wa ...

'' was formed in Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1956 as part of the reductions of the Royal Armoured Corps, the 43rdRTR was redesignated as the 6th (City) Btn, RNF. In 1967, after the reductions of the Territorial Army (TA) after the

1966 Defence White Paper The 1966 Defence White Paper (Command Papers 2592 and 2901) was a major review of the United Kingdom's defence policy initiated by the Labour government under Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The review was led by the Secretary of State for Defence, ...

, the battalion was disbanded and concurrent amalgamated with the 4th/5th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers to form A (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Coy in the Fusilier Volunteers. The band followed suite, joining the Fus Volunteers, becoming the Band of the Fusilier Volunteers. Though the Fusilier Volunteers sat under the TAVR IIA category (meaning it could deploy as a battalion if mobilised), the band was placed under the TAVR IV category (UOTC and bands). Following the formation of the 6th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 1975, the band transferred to the new unit and was redesignated as the Northumbrian Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Following another reduction of the TA in 1999, the band dropped the RRS suffix, while joining the new Tyne-Tees Regiment. Following the disbandment of the later regiment, the band became the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers on 1 April 2006, and joined the reformed 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The band is currently based at St George's Barracks in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Organisation

The current band is separated into three 'ensembles': * Marching Band — performs at numerous Royal, Civic, Public, and Private Engagements * Fanfare Trumpeters — provides a Regal opening for that more prestigious Occasion * Brass Quintet — provides a wide selection of music for the more subdued event

Notable performances

In December 2013 the band, joined by members of the Northern Band of the

Royal Corps of Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...

, Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band, Band of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment to perform at

Gateshead Gateshead () is a large town in northern England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank, opposite Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle to which it is joined by seven bridges. The town contains the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Sage ...

Metrocentre. Their performance included jazz and Christmas tunes. In April 2017, the band lead the 5th Military Intelligence Battalion during a home coming parade in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Later in June the band performed at the Newcastle Military Show, showing off their musical talents by playing the " British Grenadiers" and " Blaydon Races" while on a carousel. In June 2018 they returned performing the same tunes on a ferris wheel.

Footnotes

References

* {{cite book, last=Frederick, first=J. B. M., title=Lineage book of British land forces 1660-1978 : biographical outlines of cavalry, yeomanry, armour, artillery, infantry, marines and air force land troops of regular and reserve forces (Volume I), publisher=Microform Academic, year=1984, isbn=978-1-85117-007-4, publication-place=Wakefield, oclc=18072764 Military units and formations established in 1951 Royal Corps of Army Music Military units and formations in Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Regiment of Fusiliers British ceremonial units