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49th Battalion Pipes and Drums - PipeBand, Alberta,

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49th Battalion Pipes and Drums

Made up entirely of currently serving members of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment, this re-enactment band strives to honour the memory of the soldiers that formed the original WWI pipe band of the 49th Battalion.
Very few records exist that pertain to the formation of the 49th Battalion's pipe band. The band was formed in January 1915 from members of the unit and later that year went to France to fight. The original Pipe Major, Sergeant George Garden, was invalided to England in March 1916. After losing the Pipe Major, many members of the band were transferred to the PPCLI, whose pipe band had suffered substantial losses. Thus the piping talent was concentrated in one band. All eleven of the former 49th Battalion members who transferred to the PPCLI survived to march and play triumphantly through the streets of Ottawa in 1919. The 49th's band thus ceased to exist. Of the original members of the 49th Battalion pipe band, one piper and six drummers remained in the unit as frontline infantry. The single piper to remain, John McCauley, was killed in December, 1916. In 1920 the pipe band was re-established as part of C Company of the 1st Battalion, The Edmonton Regiment, the militia unit set up to perpetuate the 49th. They included members of the PPCLI band, including Pipe Major Henry Laing. They were outfitted in full Highland regalia and were an important part of regimental life. However, the battle for official recognition as a regimental band was not won until 1930. After the declaration of war in September 1939, the pipe band remained with the reserve battalion, and thus did not go overseas as a band. Very little information is available about the pipe band's activities during the years of World War II. It is known that some members attended summer training at Camp Sarcee near Calgary in 1941. It is presumed that the original pipe band either faded out of existence or was disbanded. However, a pipe band played on in Vermillion as part of A Company until at least 1954. Research about the historical band is ongoing, and we eagerly welcome any information that will help us fill in the gaps in the band's history.

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Pipebands - Canada - Alberta
Pipebands - Canada
Pipebands - Military Bands
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49th Battalion Pipes and Drums