Significance

In 1932 the call was put out to the ABC to start a military band. The band’s task was to record music to play on air four times a week, and to perform live concerts for the public. By November 1933 a band was put together with 40 musicians from around Australia. The band was initially conducted by Captain H. E. Adkins, Director of the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, London. After the tour, Adkins returned to his position at Kneller Hall, and Stephen Yorke, a retired bandmaster of the Gloucestershire Regiment, was brought out to Australia to become the permanent director and conductor of the band, which he did until the band closed in 1951. During the band’s 17 year history they presented a sizable program of music. Their final concert received a standing ovation from its audience of 1500, with a teary-eyed Yorke.

Physical description

22 parts concert band instrumentation
One-Step
Key Signature: Eb Major
Refrain words included on most (but not all) march cards

Instrumentation:
Flute & Piccolo Eb
Oboe
Eb Clarinet
1st Bb Clarinet
2nd Bb Clarinet
3rd Bb Clarinet
Bassoon
Eb Alto Saxophone
1st Eb Horn
2nd Eb Horn
3rd Eb Horn
4th Eb Horn
Solo Bb Cornet - Conductor written along the top
Repiano Cornet Bb
2nd Bb Cornet
1st Tenor Trombone
2nd Tenor Trombone
Bass Trombone
1st Baritone Bb
Euphonium (Bass clef)
Eb Bass (Bass Clef)
Drums

Along bottom of most march cards: Cables "Vocable London." Telegrams "Vocable Westcent London."
Bottom of 3rd Clarinet: MUSICAL DIRECTORS write for particulars of our Subscription Scheme

Inscriptions & markings

On envelope: QM156, Picador Nicholas, Q135, 289 (scrubbed out)
Stamped on the reverse of each card: Australian Broadcasting Commission *Sydney*, The Property of Musical Director & Arranger Charles Godfrey