OLD DEVONPORT . UK
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THE ROYAL NAVY IN OLD DEVONPORT  |  ROYAL NAVAL BARRACKS  |  HMS "VIVID"

BLUEJACKET BAND

It would appear that every Royal Navy warship had its own "Bluejacket Band".  The Band from HMS "Agincourt", attended the funeral of two of the ship's seamen at the Royal Naval Cemetery at Clarence Place, East Stonehouse in February 1883.  Likewise, the Bluejacket band from HMS "Impregnable" played at a Naval funeral in Devonport in 1885.  It is not surprising then that HMS "Vivid", the Royal Naval Barracks, had its own Bluejacket Band.

The two postcards reproduced here show the Bluejacket Band from the Royal Naval Barracks and although included here under HMS "Vivid" one or both may have dated from after 1935, when the Barracks had become HMS "Drake".  Presumably the one above is of the Band in summer uniform or perhaps it was simply a less formal uniform used at rehearsals.

It would appear that the Band always accompanied the Barracks' Guard when it did route marches in the countryside around Plymouth.  This must have been quite an attraction in Saint Budeaux.  However, apparently for the first time, on Tuesday August 14th 1928 the Bluejacket Band and its Naval detachment traveled by train from Keyham Station to North Road Plymouth Station, and at 10am commenced a long route march along Cobourg Street, Pound Street, Old Town Street, Bedford Street, George Street, Union Street, Edgcumbe Street, over Stonehouse Bridge, up Devonport Hill, then along Fore Street, Marlborough Street (which was still two-way at that time), down New Passage Hill, along Keyham Road and Saltash Road to the Barracks.  It was due to arrive there at 11.30am.  This was to publicize Navy Week and they repeated it again on the following Thursday, in reverse, from the Barracks at 9.45am, but turning left at George Street in to Frankfort Street and passing via King Street, Cecil Street, Victoria Park, Millbridge, and Albert Road before returning home.