Major Philip Frederick Joseph Tachauer, CD, was born in Toronto, Ontario, on 11 September 1929. He was the son of David Henry Tachauer and Florence Elizabeth Ann Streeter. He came from a large family with 11 brothers and sisters.

He married Frances Falconer in 1950 and had two sons: Philip A. and Douglas.

For many years Phil worked in the construction industry.

His ‘other’ career was in military service and military bands. As a proud member of the Tachauer family, Phil’s lifetime love was marching bands and their music. Starting at the earliest possible age in the Boy’s Own Trumpet Band in Mt Dennis (his father was bandmaster).

Phil played snare drum and bugle/trumpet (or as bandmaster) in an astonishing array of marching bands – RCSCC Illustrious, Royal Canadian Legion (Br. 31), 2nd Armoured Divisional Signals Regiment, 2nd Battalion Queen’s Own Rifles, Davenport Boy Scouts Bugle Band, Toronto Optimists Drum Corps, Drum Judge – North American Drum Corps, 180 Squadron RC(Air)C, 700 Squadron RC(Air)C, Clarkson Lions Drum & Bugle Corps, Peel Regional Police Pipes & Drums, Streetsville Pipes & Drums, Milton District Pipes & Drums, St. Andrews Mississauga Pipes & Drums, Peel Regional Police – Chief’s Own Ceremonial Band, Volunteer Bandsman – Queens Own Rifles of Canada Band and Bugles.

Accompanying his adventures with military bands, Phil (affectionately known as “Tash”) served in Land Sea and Air branches of the military: Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, Canadian Army (Reserve) and Royal Canadian Air Force (Reserve), earning his commission as a Pilot
Officer in 1965. He proudly attained the ranks of Chief Petty Officer (RCSC), Corporal (Cdn Army) and Major (RCAF). In 1985, Phil retired from the military, having earned a CD and Clasp for his long service.

Notably, he spent an additional 15 years in military uniform as a marching member of the Queen’s Own
Rifles of Canada Band and Bugles, representing the regiment throughout Canada and Europe.

Major Tachauer died on 17 January 2025 in Kitchener, Ontario.