Bandmasters and Bugle Majors (and a Pipe Major)

The photograph above: 1934 Oct Ex-Buglers Association at Church Parade

Pipe Major

  • Between 1860-68 – Pipe Major Alexander M. Oliphant (the Highland Company appears to have had a pipe band or at least some pipers before it was disbanded in 1868)

Bandmasters/Directors of Music

Captain R Hayward, Queen's Own Rifles Director of Music 1920-1928
Captain R Hayward, Queen’s Own Rifles Director of Music 1920-1928

Bugle Majors

Queen’s Own Rifles’ Bugle Major Frank Gardiner, 1926-1939

1865-76 – Bugle Major Francis Clarke

  • 1876-1923 – Bugle Major Charles Swift (47 years)
  • 1923-23 – Sergeant J. U. Woolley
  • 1923-39 – Bugle Major Frank Gardiner (16 years)
  • 1939-54 – Bugle Major Robert (Bob) Wilson MM (15 years)
  • 1942-45 – Bugle Major A. V. Cousins (2nd Bn while 1st Bn was overseas)
  • 1954-54 – Bugle Major Jack
  • 1954-58 – Bugle Major Jim Kaiser
  • 1958-61 – Bugle Major Gord J. Callaghan CD
  • 1961-66 – Bugle Major R. L. “Bob” Price
  • 1967-72 – Bugle Major John  Doeg
  • 1971-84 – Bugle Major Syd Byatt CD (13 years)
  • 1985-86 – Bugle Major Phil Ten Kortenaar CD
  • 1986-89 – Bugle Major Frank Watt CD
  • 1989-2013 – Bugle Major Fred Haire CD (24 years)
  • 2013-17 – Warrant Officer Emily Kenny, CD
  • 2017-18 – Sergeant Marcel Sekine (Acting)
  • 2018-19 – Sergeant Major Dominique Arsenault
  • 2019-Present – Sergeant Matthew McMulkin

    • 1st Battalion (Regular Force)

    • ?(during 1954) to ? – Bugle Major Ted Langley
    • 1955 to at least 1962? – Bugle Major W. Roy E. Bruce OMM, CD
    • 1964 – Bugle Major Fred J. Breurkens
    • 1965 – Bugle Major Fred J. Breurkens
    • 1966-67 – Bugle Major Walter Houstachenko CD
    • 1968-69 – Bugle Major Ove Sorenson
    • 1969-70 – Bugle Major Sergeant H. J. (Jim) P.E. Schulz

    2nd Battalion (Regular Force)

    • 53? -54? – Bugle Major Sergeant “Lucky” Dwyer
    • ? – ? – Bugle Major Ed Bogan
    • 1960 – Bugle Major Sergeant F.H. Lacroix
    • 1960s – Bugle Major Ron Elliott
    • 1963 – Bugle Major Frank Lacroix
    • 1964 – Bugle Major Leith Ewart

     

    13 thoughts on “Bandmasters and Bugle Majors (and a Pipe Major)”

    1. Hello! I’m looking to see if anyone has any photos of the band or information from the 50’s-60’s. My grandfather, Gord J. Callaghan (seen above as the bugle major from 1958-61), was in the band. He played the drums and the bugle. Thanks!

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      1. Hi Natasha – We were very sorry to have heard that your grandfather just passed away. I checked in our museum catalog and don’t seen any photos tagged with your grandfather. There are over 350 photos in a Band and Bugles album (several “pages” worth) on our Flickr site – so all I can suggest is you look through those and perhaps might find something: https://www.flickr.com/photos/qormuseum/albums/72157661609146461

        Sorry we can’t be more help.

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    2. Trying to trace family name Timpson. I see in some records G.J. or G.L or G.I. as band leader . Can you confirm the name and initials. Thanks

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    3. I believe there was a Bugle Major FRED MERCER in the late 60’s when QOR were re-badged PPCLI. Not sure if it was 1st or 2nd Bn.

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    6. Bugle Major, Sergeant Lucky Dwyer Second Cdn. Rifle Battalion 1953-54 Camp Ipperwash, Ontario.
      I left for Korea in March 1954. So this is the last contact that I had with him.

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      1. Knew Lucky briefly, around 1958 at Niagara. He was a Sgt then, 2nd Bn if memory serves. Didn’t know he had been Bugle Major.

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