The Band that went to War

I am not usually one to shout but this morning I must and will.

BRIAN SHORT’S BOOK ‘THE BAND THAT WENT TO WAR’ IS A MASTERPIECE!

Launched with the blessing of Major General Julian Thompson CB OBE whose presence on the ground largely secured eventual victory Brian deserves the highest praise for placing on record the experience he and his fellow musicians had on board ‘Canberra’ when it sailed off to War in the South Atlantic forty years ago. Combining pathos, historic accuracy and Band Service humour the book is for any ‘bandie’ a must read item. At £25 the book is the best value colleagues will see anywhere this year. I urge you all to buy, beg, borrow or steal a copy so that you can swell with pride as you realise how much we collectively owe to these men who carried out the many demanding hostilities based tasks allotted to them and and yet still found time to entertain. Brian Short, realising that no one had written about this unique episode of Band Service history, and before events were entirely forgotten, has written this tribute to his colleagues with scarcely a word about himself. I commend his book to all who have proudly worn the uniform of a Royal Marines musician.

Brian Short is the epitome of what one person of stature can achieve for not only was he able to write his book about the Falklands Conflict but at the same time continue to write and Produce his annual sell-out ‘Sgt’s Mess Pantomime’s’ here in Deal. His pantos have now grossed nearly £200,000 that has been given to a host of charities. What a man - and he is one of ours!

Graham Hoskins.