Calderdale musicians head to Belgium for Great War centenary commemorations

Musicians Robert Batty, Dave Fox, Kevin Stock and Richard Smith of the 5th Halifax (Elland) Company Old Boys Association Band who have been invited to Belgium.

Robert Batty (snare Drummer), Dave Fox (Bugler), Kevin Stock( Drum Major) and Richard Smith (Bass Dummer), pictured above, will form part of a 60 strong National Boys Brigade Old Boys Bugle band with members invited from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

The band, known as The Bugles & Drums of the Stedfast Association, will travel out to Belgium for the Great War centenary events.

On the evenings of Saturday August 30 and Sunday August 31 the musicians will take part in the Menin Gate Ceremony and Kevin will lay a wreath on behalf of Halifax (Elland) Company Old Boys association, with the wording “In memory of all former members of The Boys’ Brigade, particularly remembering those from Yorkshire, who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918.”

On Monday September 1 the band then travels to Thiepval Memorial to perform in the morning followed by performances at Authuille church Memorial and Ulster Tower Memorial where more wreaths will be laid.

It has been estimated that as many as 100,000 members and former members of The Boys’ Brigade rallied to Britain’s ‘Call to Arms’ and joined the Armed Forces during the first year of the 1914-18 War.

The band will then return home on September 2 ready to prepare to perform again in November in London as part of the Lord Mayor’s Parade.