1883-08-20tt

         

The military band of the Thirteenth Battalion Band was not only useful and highly efficient as regards providing martial music for marching drills, it was an extremely popular musical organization, hired for non-military events.

In the summer of 1883, the federal leadership of that volunteer militia ruled that the members of the Thirteenth Band could no longer wear their striking scarlet uniforms at non-military events.

In response to that ruling, a Spectator reporter conducted the following interview with a member of the band:

          “ ‘And so you can’t wear your military uniform to Rochester,’ remarked a Spectator reporter to a bandsman the other night, as together they wended their way towards the drill shed

          “ ‘It seems not,’ replied the bandsman, giving his coronet a shake. ‘I suppose those Ottawa people think we wouldn’t be loyal to the Queen if we did so, but never mind, we are going to fix things up to suit ourselves, and don’t you forget it.’

          “ ‘If the colonel or someone else don’t sit on you,’ put in the reporter.

          “ ‘Well, it is just like this; for a long time back there has been kicking and grumbling both in and out of the battalion, and even in the band, about the restrictions the band is placed under. You would think we were all little boys who didn’t know how to take care of ourselves the way orders are laid down to us. Now we can take care of ourselves, and we are going to do so. At a business meeting of the band the other night, we decided to buy new suits for ourselves; a complete military uniform that will lay away anything in the military line in this country. When we get that we can go where we like and play for whom we please, Orangemen, Emeralds, and any party or person who will pay us.’

          “ ‘But how about the instruments? Don’t they belong to the officers of the battalion?’

          “ ‘Yes, they do, but that does not make much difference. As long as we do our duty in the battalion, the officers won’t object to letting us have the instruments; at least, they never have objected yet, and if they should take such a notion into their heads, we can easily raise enough to get instruments of our own also.’

          “ ‘When you get these rigs, you will be able to advertise as the Thirteenth battalion band?’

          “ ‘ Yes, I guess we will, and if we can’t, we will devise some scheme by which we will be known as the Thirteenth.’

          “ ‘When will the suits be ready; in time to be worn this season?’

          “ ‘Oh, yes, when the Thirteenth battalion band decides on anything, you may look for it in short order. In the meantime, we must be satisfied to play for those the order allows.’ ”

          “The Thirteenth Batt. Band : the Men to Get New Suits and Play for Whom They Please.”

          Hamilton Spectator.  August 20, 1883.