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La Brabaconne

5th Dragoon Guards

The Brabançonne (Song of Brabant) is the national anthem of Belgium. The anthem has a Dutch, French and German version, for the three official languages of the country. Legend leads us to believe the words were written during 1830 in the Belgian Revolution and first read during a meeting at the Aigle d'Or café. The writer was a Frenchman Alexandre Dechet (aka Louis-Alexandre Dechet) with music by François Van Campenhout. It was first performed September 1830 and in 1860 Belgium formally adopted the song and music as its national anthem.

The 5th Dragoon Guards used it prior to their amalgamation on becoming 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. In 1915, HM King Albert of Belgium was appointed Colonel-in-Chief and became the custom for the Regimental Band to play the Belgium National Anthem before God Save the King when playing off at the end of a programme on Officer’s Mess Nights.

La Dame Blanche

Blues and Royals

Not much is known about the march except the Blues and Royals adopted it as trot past.

La feuille d-erable

Cadet Instructors List (Land) Officers (Canada)

The Regional Cadet Support Unit (Eastern (RCSU(E)) proposed that "La Feuille d'érable" be the march past piece for CIC officers. This piece of music is a song, actually a traditional Catholic French-Canadian song that came out of the bonne chanson in the 1940s. Here is the original version of "La Feuille d'érable" by Albert Larrieu. The song is well known to members of the Eastern Region, however, very little in English Canada. It has however been translated into English:

On one fine day the good Creator

said to people of the earth

“let each of you go choose a flower

and then send an emissary.

Make sure that they are all on time.

Each take a flower that he loves.

And that flow'r for ever be a symbol

of the Love, the Love I have for you.”

La Gaillarde

College militaire royal de Saint-Jean

This is the slow march of the College militaire royal de Saint-Jean which is located in the Richelieu Valley. The college can trace its history back to 1836 and various military units that occupied the area used the original buildings. The fort was an important installation built by the French to maintain the advanced posts guarding the invasion routes to Canada in the Lake Champlain and Richelieu River areas. In 1775, it withstood a 45 days siege from the Americans under the command of General Montgomery. The length of the siege and the start of winter prevented an assault on Quebec resulting in the complete failure of the attack. This is the first recorded account of French and English Canadians soldiers fighting for a common cause. The Fort Saint-Jean Museum offers a rich historical perspective into a heritage of an area that has played an important role in the founding of Canada. The college opened in 1952 and produced bilingual officers for the Canadian Forces along with granting degrees. The march is used as a quickstep, reflecting the spirit of the school and a strong French link to Canadian history. In Fall 2007, the federal government reopened the military college at Saint-Jean, which was closed in 1995. The reopening of RMC Saint-Jean greatly differs from the original college that opened in 1952 and from the RMC of Canada located in Kingston. The new RMC Saint-Jean encompasses the Canadian Forces Management and Development School, one of the oldest CF training establishments in the country. It is also the home to the Non-Commissioned Member Professional Development Centre, which develops the prospective future senior leaders of the Canadian Forces NCM Corps. Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, inaugurated the Royal Military College Saint-Jean on May 24, 2008, and she presented the new college coat of arms to the Commandant, Colonel Francois Pion.

La Ligne

85th Foot / King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

The 85th Regiment of Foot was formed in 1794 and used the march until 1846 when Daughter of the Regiment was adopted. In 1808 the regiment became light infantry and retained that distinction even in the big changes of 1881 when they became the 2nd Battalion The King’s Shropshire Light.

La Mandolinata

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment / Royal Anglian Regiment (3rd Bn)

This tune was the regimental quickstep of The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (2nd Bn) and later adopted by the 1st Battalion. Its adoption was due to its popularity when first published and is taken from the 1872 opera "Le Passant" by Emile Paladille. The song was dedicated to Madame Galli-Marie, who did much to make his work known and was heard everywhere on the Continent and in England. The song, originally called Scuvenir de Rome had its cover of the sheet music showing a view of Rome by moonlight, a rose covered balcony, two beautiful women and below, four men - two of them with mandolins. The song was translated from the Italian, opens with the words: Amis la nuit est belle, La lune va briller. The march was retained when the regiment became the 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment in 1958.

La Marche de la Victorie

Le Regiment de Hull (RCAC)

Composed by Mr. Beaulieu the arrangement is by Sgt. Richard Riedstra a former bandsman Canadian Forces from 1958-1962. This original composition is written as a traditional march. This tune is the official quick march of the Canadian Forces reserve unit formed at the start of WW1, Le Regiment de Hull (RCAC).

La Marches du College Militaire Royal de St. Jean

College Militaire Royal de St. Jean

Used by the Military College at St. Jean, Quebec.

La Marche du Richelieu

College militaire de Saint-Jean

This is the quick march of the College militaire royal de Saint-Jean of which the history has been described in La Gaillarde. The march is used as a quickstep, reflecting the spirit of the school and a strong French link to Canadian history and composed by Madame Denise Chabot the wife of the head of the French Department Major Chabot.

Lancashire Fusiliers Slow March

Lancashire Fusiliers / Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

This slow march was used by the Lancashire Fusiliers and is adapted from The Minden Walrzes composed by an unknown bandmaster of the Regiment. The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers continued it use as a slow march along with Rule Britannia and De Normandie including St. George (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers), Macbean’s March (Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers), De Normandie (Royal Fusiliers).

Lancashire Lads

31st Regiment of Foot / 59th Regiment of Foot

The 59th Regiment of Foot used this piece that originated in France, though it had long been used as an English folk-tune, hence its English name. Lord Castleton formed the 31st Regiment in 1694 with most of the recruits coming from the Lincolnshire area. It was not until 1744 that the first recruits from Lancashire joined the regiment then called Frampton’s Regiment.

Lancashire Lass

The East Lancashire Regiment

The 2nd Battalion adopted this French tune from the 59th Regiment of Foot and gave it an English name that was played when parades were dismissed.

Lancashire Witches

2nd Bn, The South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wale’s Volunteers)

The tune, used as a slow and quick march by the 2nd Bn, The South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wale’s Volunteers) comes from an Opera of that name first produced in Manchester in 1870. The South Lancashire Regiment used it first as the 2nd Battalion’s quick march and then in 1931 also adopted it as the Regiment’s slow march. In 1958 it became the slow march of the Lancashire Regiment.

Lass of Richmond Hill

107th Regiment of Foot / Royal Sussex Regiment (2nd Bn) / Women's Royal Army Corps

The 2nd Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment until amalgamated into the 3rd Battalion The Queen’s Regiment, used this music. The new regiment discontinued its use and adopted Soldiers of the Queen even when amalgamated into The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. Prior to this the 107th Regiment of Foot used it as a regimental march. The Honourable East India Company formed it in 1853 as the 3rd Bengal European Light Infantry. After the Indian Mutiny the regiment was taken on the British Establishment as the 107th Bengal Infantry – becoming the 107th Foot and then in 1881 the 2nd Battalion The Royal Sussex Regiment.

The march was combined with Early One Morning to form the Corps March of the Women's Royal Army Corps. It is made up of two tunes, a song by James Hook and an old English folk tune that is believed to date from the 17th century. The pipe air version is used from time to time. The arrangement, by Captain MacDowell, was adopted in 1956 although not officially authorized until 1959. The Corps pipe tune is The Nut Brown Maiden while the slow march is Greenseleeves.

The words were written by Leanard McNally and was first sung at Vauxhall Gardens and achieved great popularity as the Lass was taken to refer to Mrs. Fitzherbert the morganatic wife of Prince Regent.

Lass o'Gowrie

(Loch Eroch Side)

70th Regiment of Foot / Border Regiment (2nd Bn) / East Surrey Regiment (2nd Bn) / King’s Owen Royal Border Regiment / Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) / Peterborough Rangers / Prince of Wales Rangers (Peterborough Regiment) / Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment / South Alberta Regiment / Wentworth Regiment

There appears to be no indication as to whether the Lass O’Gowrie was real or a fiction charater however the tune was originally known as Loch Eroch Side with words by writer Caroline Oilphant (Lady Nairne) and later based another version on an earlier version Kate O’Gowrie by William Reid.

The 2nd Battalion, The Border Regiment used the tune and it was added to the new regimental march along with John Peel and Corn Rigs are Bonnie on the 1959 formation of the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment; the 2nd Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment adopted it from the 70th Regiment of Foot. Originally raised in Glasgow but there is not indication when the regiment adopted the tune and its selection may have been due to its time in Glasgow. The East Surreys were amalgamation and the march was pasted onto The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment that was combined with Braganza. When the Queen’s Regiment was formed the march was dropped in favour of Soldier’s of the Queen and was carried on in 1992 when the Princess of Wale’s Royal Regiment was formed.

In Canada the South Alberta Regiment used the tune until they became The South Alberta Light Horse that dropped the march; the Peterborough Rangers used the tune until their 1936 amalgamation forming the Prince of Wales Rangers (Peterborough Regiment). The new regiment continued its use until 1946 when it converted to artillery under the title of 50th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA (Prince of Wales Rangers (Peterborough Regiment)). Went the Wentworth Regiment, formed in 1872, actually adopted the march is unknown but did use it until its 1936 amalgamation to form the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.

L'Attaque

East Lancaster Regiment / Queen’s Lancashire Regiment

The 1st Battalion of The East Lancaster Regiment adopted this Crimean War period tune from a French regiment with which the corps (30th Foot) was serving in China in 1857. The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment continued with its use along with The Red Rose.

Le Prophete

HM Royal Marines

Since 1882 the Royal Marines have used A Life on the Ocean Wave. Prior to this each Division of the Royal Marines had its own march and changed as new commanders were appointed. This tune, composed by Meyerbeer, was one of the more popular choices along with Dashing White Sergeant and British Grenadiers.

Le Regiment de Joliette

Le Régiment de Joliette

Le Régiment de Joliette adopted this tune as a regimental quick march. The regiment was formed in 1871 as the Joliette Provisional Battalion of Infantry at Joliette, Quebec. In 1965 the Canadian Forces under went many changes and some regiments, including this one, were reduced to nil strength and place on Supplementary Order of Battle status.

Le Regiment de Quebec

Le regiment de Quebec (Mitrailleuses)

The regiment was formed in 1864 at Beaufort, Quebec and was amalgamated in 1954 with the Les Voltigeurs de Quebec (Motor). The new regiment became the Les Voltigeurs de Quebec in 1958 when the title Motor was dropped and adding Mitrailleuese.

Le Régiment du Saguenay

Le Régiment du Saguenay / LES Franc-Tireurs du Saguenay

The marches name is the same as the regiment and inherited from the LES Franc-Tireurs du Saguenay when it was renamed with the present title. The tune is an original composition, by RH Singfield, has a very long introduction that includes the Regimental Call. The main theme effectively utilizes chromatic harmony.

Lead on Forty-Second

Black Watch (RHR)

The composer, Bandmaster Sam Holmes, wrote the march in 1970 for the Black Watch (RHR) and includes the song The Black Watch The Gallant Forty-Second having reference to Wha saw The Forty-Second.

Leaving Port Askaig

48th Highlanders of Canada / Royal Canadian Regiment

This march was composed by Pipe Major W. Ross in 1926 and adopted by the 48th Highlanders of Canada for the Support Company and the Royal Canadian Regiment as their India Company march.

Leopold March

The Durham Regiment

Not much is known about this march however the Durham Regiment used it until amalgamation. The regiment was formed in 1866 as the 46th East Durham Battalion of Infantry at Pot Hope, Ontario. In 1936 it Edward Regiment joined with the Northumberland Regiment (L’Etoile March) to form the Midland Regiment (Northumberland and Durham). At this time the march was dropped in favour of The Standard of St. George and in turn was discontinued in 1954 when a large amalgamation saw the formation of the Hastings and Prince using I’m Ninety-Five.

Les Hugenots

Blues and Royals / Regiment of Foot Guards / Royal Berkshire Regiment

The arrangement use today is by Dan Godfrey Sr. and based on themes from Meyerbeer’s opera Les Huguenots. This was the regimental slow march of the Royal Berkshire Regiment until their amalgamation to form the Duke of Edinburgh Royal Regiment. At that time the slow march was changed to Auld Robin Grey. It is traditionally played for the slow troop of the Foot Guards bands and so far as it is known, it was first used on the Queen’s Birthday Parade in 1869. Initially, the sole copyright of the bands of the Guards Division it became available to all when in 1904, Boosey and Company had it published. The Blues and Royals adopted the march as a trot.

Les Pays

35 Canadian Brigade Group

In 2007 the brigade reached the 10 year milestone On 1 April 1997, what was formerly called “three Militia districts” was divided into two distinct brigades, and the Eastern units in the province became part of 35 Canadian Brigade Group. In February 1942, the Canadian government had issued a directive to set up 12 Reserve brigade groups in each Militia district by 1 April 1942. These Reserve brigade groups were numbered from 31 to 42; the one in Quebec City was number 35. The three functions assigned to the Reserve were to assist the civil power as required, support the active forces available for Canada’s defence, and, if necessary, be a reservoir for the expansion of the active Army. After the war ended, 35 Reserve Brigade Group was dissolved on 15 May 1946. With the implementation of the Total Force concept, the Quebec Militia and all the elements of the Regular Force in Quebec have been combined under a unified command since 1 September 1992. This command, Land Force Quebec Area (LFQA), was first organized into districts, then into two brigades, 34 CBG and 35 CBG. 35 Canadian Brigade Group consists of 11 units stationed throughout Eastern Quebec and a headquarters located in the Connaught Barracks at 3 Côte de la Citadelle in Quebec City.

Les Voltigeurs de Québec

Les Voltigeurs de Québec

Les Voltigeurs de Québec has the unique distinction of being the first French Canadian regiment in the Canadian Army. Its origins go back to 1862 when formed as The 9th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada or Voltigeurs of Quebec. The term ‘Voltigeurs’ is a Napoleonic term for elite infantry fighting as skirmishers created by Napoleon. In 1812, with war looming, an elite unit of French fighters was formed called the Voltigeurs Canadien. In 1958, it was amalgamated with Le Régiment de Québec (Mitrailleuses) to form the present unit retaining the unique status of Voltigeurs. The march, composed in 1888 by Joseph Vezina, is unique as it the first original march written for a Canadian militia unit. The traditional march form is not evident in the Vezina composition. There is a strong French military march influence in the music.

Let Erin Remember

16th/5th The Queen’s Royal Lancers / 5th Royal Irish Lancers / Irish Guards / Royal Dublin Fusiliers (2nd Bn) / Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria’s) / Royal Irish Regiment

The tune is from Bunting's Ancient Music of Ireland with the words set to an old score title The Little Bold Fox. The tune is one of many unofficial national anthems of Ireland. In the song, Malachi is the tenth century King of Ireland who successively defeated in hand-to-hand combat two champions sent against him by the Danes. He took trophies of a sword from one and a collar of gold from the other. The Red Branch Knights were a hereditary order of chivalry based in Ulster, Ireland. Lough Neagh or Lake Neagh, according to legend, was a fountain that overflowed and submerged the countryside. Thomas Moore was a government official in Bermuda at the time of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Returning to Ireland in 1804, he began formulating a collection of Irish melodies. This collection included his famous titles as Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms and The Harp that Once through Tara's Halls.

The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria’s) used the tune at one time but changed to the slow march O’Neill’s War March - The Bard of Armagh. The 5th Royal Irish Lancers used the march combined with The Harp that once through Tara’s Halls before their amalgamation to form the 16th/5th The Queen’s Royal Lancers in 1922. The march would become part of an arrangement by Bandmaster Noble when he combined it with the slow march of the 16th Lancers.

The Irish Guards were formed in 1900 by Queen Victoria to commemorate the bravery of many Irish regiments in the South African campaigns. The Regiment, recognized by the famous bearskin with St. Patrick’s plume on the right side, their Irish Wolfhound mascot and this familiar tune used as slow march. A different arrangement of this tune is used as the Slow March of The Irish Guards and has been used for many years by The Royal Irish Regiment as a slow march. The 2nd Battalion, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers once used this march.

Let the Hills Resound

Cinque Ports Battalion

This was the regimental march of the Cinque Ports Battalion, one of three battalions raised to meet the Napoleonic threat invasion of 1803. It became affiliated with the Royal Sussex Regiment under the Cardwell Scheme and emerged as the 5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion in 1908. The march, composed by Welsh composer Brinley Richards in 1873, also composed God Bless the Prince of Wales.

L’Etoile March

Northumberland Regiment

Little is known about the march but it was used by the Northumberland Regiment formed in 1866 based in Cobourg, Ontario. The march was not adopted in the 1936 amalgamation when the regiment joined with the Durham Regiment to form the Midland Regiment.

Liberty Bell

Canadian Forces Public Affairs Branch

The Liberty Bell located at Independence Hall, Philadelphia has great importance to all Americans. It is associated with the country's founding struggle, the War of Independence. The original Province bell was ordered to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was made by Thomas Lister, Whitechapel, London and finally reached Philadelphia in 1752. Inscribed on the bell was Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.

The famous crack in the bell came about by a stroke of its clapper in September 1752 while hanging in the State House yard awaiting testing. The bell was recasted with copper to reduce the brittleness. When tested, it was found that the bell now contained too much copper that changed its tone and under when another recasting.

In June 1753 the bell was finally hung at the State House. It was put to use during several occasions; when the Continental Congress was in session; it rang out in defiance of British tax and trade restrictions proclaimed the Boston Tea Party; and at the first reading of the Declaration of Independence.

On September 18th, 1777, when the British Army was advancing on Philadelphia, the bell was moved to Allentown, Pa. and hidden in the Zion Reformed Church until June 27th, 1778. After the British had left, the bell was return to its original location. In July 1781 the bell was lowered again when the wooded steeple became unstable. It would remain dormant until the start of the Mexican War then later placed on exhibition in the declaration Chamber of Independence Hall.

When the Centennial Exposition was held in Philadelphia during 1876, the bell was put on display. The bell made several more moves until January 1st, 1976, when it was put under a new glass and steel pavilion behind Independence Hall. This was done for the easier viewing by the larger number of visitors expected during that year.

The 1894 march is one of John Phillip Sousa’s most famous which was one of the first to be published on a royalty basis bring him in six years. The true origins are clouded in three possible origins: it is believed that Sousa got the idea for the march after having seen a huge painting of the bell at a show in Chicago; the composer’s younger son had marched in a Philadelphia parade honouring the Liberty Bell; and Sousa's unashamed patriotism had a nationalistic ring and he was sometimes called the Pied Piper of Patriotism.

In Canada, the Director Military Traditions and Heritage accepted the march on 16 February 1995 as the official march past for the Canadian Forces Public Affairs Branch.

Life Guards Slow March

The Life Guards

The Life Guards is the senior cavalry regiment of the British Army and originated in the four troops of horse guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of horse grenadier guards which were raised some years later. In 1788, these troops were reorganised into two regiments, the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Life Guards and from 1877 1st Life Guards and 2nd Life Guards. In 1922 the two regiments were merged into one regiment, the Life Guards. In 1992, the Life Guards were amalgamated with the Blues and Royals, forming the Household Cavalry Regiment (armoured reconnaissance) and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (ceremonial duties). However they maintain their regimental identity, with distinct uniforms and traditions, and their own colonel. The march is made of a combination of the 1st and 2nd Life Guards Slow marches. In 1922 when the Life Guards were formed this march was combined with Men of Harlech to form the new regimental slow march as arranged by Hewitt.

Light Barque

68th Regiment of Foot / Durham Light Infantry

This song was composed during the 1820s published in 1831 in London. Miss Mahony wrote the words based on the music composed by G. T. Craven for the famous singing Madame Vestris. Before the Crimean War The Light Barque the march had fallen out of use and I’m Ninety-Five was adopted as the 68th Regiment of Foot was closely associated the the Rifle Brigade. The Rifle march remained in service with the regiment until 1867 when marches started to be standardized within the Army. Each regiment was asked to submit recommendations and the 68th sent in I’m Ninety-Five. Kneller Hall rejected this request and introduced Light Barque on the suggestion of the Duke of Cambridge. In 1881 their title changed to the Durham Light Infantry and a year later Light Barque was the authorized march all battalions of the regiment. In 1968 The Light Infantry was formed from the amalgamation of several light infantry regiments including the Durham’s. It was at this time that the march was not adopted in favour of The Light Infantry.

Light Cavalry

3rd The King’s Own Hussars / Queen’s Own Hussars

This Overture, composed by Franz Von Suppe, has become due to its title and famous main tune, one of the most frequently played overtures in the world. It was first performed in March 21, 1866 and has a strident military style fanfare and a graphic representation of a Cavalry Regiment on the move. The 3rd The King’s Own Hussars were formed in 1685 as a regiment of dragoons and changed to hussars in 1861. In 1958 they amalgamated with the 7th Hussars to form The Queen’s Own Hussars adopting an arrangement of the former marches - Light Cavalry, Robert the Devil and Bannocks of Barley Meal.

Light Infantry

The Light Infantry

In 1968 when the large regiment of The Light Infantry was formed this tune was selected as the quick march that was composed by Bandmaster D Plater of the Oxfordshire & Buckingham Light Infantry in 1931. The individual battalions retained county links by continuing to play old regimental marches at concerts and regimental functions.

Light of Foot

Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) / Royal Canadian Dragoons / Royal Hussars

The music is a published version of the march Light of Foot by the German composer Charles Latann, the Bandmaster of the Second Division of the Imperial German Navy located in Wilhelmshaven. The distinctive characteristic of this march is the trio. Latann developed it into a very strong martial idiom rather than a flowing type of trio we experience in other marches.

When The Royal Hussars were formed in 1969 it was adopted by the regiment but later changed in 1976 to The Merry Month of May; the cap badge of The Royal Canadian Dragoons is a Springbok, which is characteristic of the march title and used as a dismounted march past and may have adopted the march for that reason. The trio of the march is also heard in the famous march collection titled Passing of the Regiments. (Published by Winterbottom-Chappel). The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) used the tune along with Bugle Horn until 1949 when they were reorganized as the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment and the highland tune Heiland Laddie was adopted.

Lili Marlene

19th Alberta Armoured Car Regiment / Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry / Special Air Service Regiment

Before world war two this German song was almost unknown but had been composed when Hans Leip was a private in the German Army during World War One. The music was composed by Norbert Schutzer, was rejected by German publishers until Lila Anderson began singing it. German Radio broadcasted it to their North African army where British soldiers heard on intercepted radio transmissions. It was made popular in the United States by Marlene Dietrich.

Norbet Schultze was born in 1911 and became trapped in Berlin during 1945 with his wife, the former actress Iva Vanya. They would spend time in Soviet detention camps forced to entertain top Russian military staff. They were released into Berlin’s American Zone and became entertainers at the US Officers Club before being recognized as the composer of Bomben auf England. He was dismissed and for two years worked as a laborer until 1948 when he moved to Brunswick. His musical career began to reform and in 1953 when he started a publishing company. His famous song Lili Marleen continued to be played by radio stations right across the world. He never collected any royalties due to the Custodians of Enemy Property Act. Later the Allied Powers relented and he began receiving royalty cheques every three months. In 1960 he moved to Hamburg. In 1972 his son produced and directed a documentary about his father and the famous composition. He celebrated his 90th birthday in January 2001 and died in 2002.

It came to the attention of Jimmy Philips, an English music publisher, when soldiers of the English Eight Army returned home on leave to London. Sitting in a pub with bandleader Billy Cotton, he heard a room full of soldiers singing the German version known as the Song of the Young Sentry. Philips and Cotton realized the German version would be a draw back so Tommie Connor was asked to make a translation. Cotton recorded the song immediately with Anne Shelton and in American during 1944 Marlene Dietrich made it a hit in her shows.

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry use the tune as their Regimental slow march in keeping with the use of popular songs for regimental marches. The 19th Alberta Armoured Car Regiment used the tune as a slow march until they became the 19th Alberta Dragoons when the march was discontinued. The Special Air Service Regiment adopted this tune as their slow march.

Lillibulero

See REME Corps March Past

Lincolnshire Poacher

5th Tank Regiment / 19th Lincoln’ Battalion of Infantry / 36th Regiment of Foot / 44th Battalion of Infantry / 81st Regiment of Foot / East Yorkshire Regiment / King's Own Royal Regiment / Lincoln and Welland Regiment / Loyal North Lancashire Regiment / Lunenburg Regiment / Northamptonshire Regiment / Royal Air Force College / Royal Lincolnshire Regiment / Royal Regiment of Wales / Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters / Worcestershire Regiment

Like Robin Hood, the Lincolnshire Poacher stole from the rich to feed the poor and his own family. The tune was sung as an unofficial county anthem in the county of Lincoln, England.

A number of regiments, by 1881, were using this tune for parades including The King's Own Royal Regiment but they changed to Corn Rigs are Bonnie in 1881. The reason why the change is obscure, though a general believe is that Queen Victoria took a disliking to The Poacher and it was dropped in deference to her wishes. Other regiments included The East Yorkshire Regiment; the 2nd Bn The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment; the 81st Regiment of Foot in keeping with their title of the Loyal Lincoln Volunteers; The Northamptonshire Regiment but was referred to as Hard Up; the 36th Regiment of Foot adopted for the close relationship with the 10th Foot and the march was retained when, over the years, the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters were formed; and finally the march became special property of The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment. When the Royal Anglian Regiment were formed the old tune was replaced with the combination of Rule Britannia and Speed the Plough; the Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot); the 5th Tank Regiment in combination with On Ilkley Moor composed by Major Peter Parkes.

In Canada the Lunenburg Regiment until their amalgamation on the formation of the West Nova Scotia Regiment when God Bless the Prince of Wales was adopted; the 19th Lincoln’ Battalion of Infantry and the 44th Battalion both used the march which they passed on onto the Lincoln and Welland Regiment during amalgamation.

The motional power of the song and of the music in the Army, was attested to by Rudyard Kipling in a speech at the Mansion House, reported by The Times on 28 January, 1915: “ I remember in India in a cholera camp, where the men were suffering very badly, the band of the 10th Lincolns started a regimental song sing-song and went on with that queer, defiant tune ‘The Lincolnshire Poacher’…. There was nothing in it - nothing except all England, all the East Coast, all the fun and daring and horseplay of young men bucketing about pig pastures in the moonlight. But as it was given very softly at that bad time in hat terrible camp of death, it was the one thing in the world that could have restored as it did restore shaken men back to their pride, humour and self-control.”

This music was used in civilian life in promoting and sealing many friendships and was used for the same purpose in the military service of the United Kingdom. One example is the link between the Royal Air Force College and the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment through this march. For years cadets of the college had marched to this music until 1932 when Wing Commander Sims (then Warrant Officer and College Band Master) wrote a special march for the college. But the Poacher had gained such a root that after the war and the reopening of the college the Commandant Air Commodore GR Beamish wrote to Major General AA Griffin, Colonel of the Regiment seeking permission to play the march at ceremonies. The Colonels response was: “I am sure I speak for all ranks of the Regiment when I say that there is no unit in the Services which we would rather have associated with our Regiment March.

We all fully appreciate the fact that there would be no Royal Lincolnshire Regiment but for the gallantry, devotion to duty and sacrifice of the officers and men of the Royal Air, who fought over Dunkirk and in the Battle of Britain, many of whom were trained at and gained experience from, the Royal Air Force College.

Moreover, all infantryman know the inestimable value of close air support in the saving of casualties, and there is no more hearting sound when going into action on the ground than to hear the roar of the bombers and fighters of the Royal Air Force flying overhead.

The value of tradition is also well understood by us, as the importance of inter-service friendship and co-operation.

For these reasons and because of your location in our county, the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment will be proud for you to share their Regiment al March and to use it on all ceremonial occasions which may be adjudged proper and suitable by you or succeeding Commandants.

I feel sure that the good relations which already exist between the College and the Regiment will be cemented by this sharing of a tune with so many traditions behind it.”

From that day forward the Lincolshire Poacher became an official march the RAF College.

The Lion

Life Guards

Programmes of important events of the 1920’s show the regimental slow march of the Life Guards as this march and arranged by J Hartmann. One point to mention here is that it is not mentioned in any regimental documents. One theory is that it may have been part of the regimental music of the 2nd Life Guards whose badge was the Royal Crest of England which is a crown surmounted by a lion.

Lippe Detmold

1st Royal Tank Regiment

This is a German folk song adopted by the 1st Royal Tank Regiment whilst stationed in Deltoid on the River Lippe at Hobert Barracks from 1946 to 1952. This old air tells of an occasion in the early 19th century when the town could only provide one soldier to go the wars. Its words are often sung after dinner or at Guest Nights in both Officers Messes.

Litary of Loretto

4th Hussars / Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars

The slow march of the 4th Queen's Own Hussars was derived from settings of a 13th century litany in honour of the Virgin Mary. Many composers including Palestrian and Mozart had made arrangements of it, and in 1890 Colonel Brabazon, then commanding the regiment heard several settings being performed while on a holiday in Italy. He obtained a manuscript and on his return requested that Bandmaster Davies transform it into a slow march. Retained by the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars it was added to March of the Scottish Archers (8th (King’s Royal Irish Hussars)) to form the new slow march and re-arranged during the 1930s by Bandmaster Jones for publication.

Lochaber No More

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s) / Queen’s Own Highlanders / Royal Highland Fusiliers / Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

The original title is believed to Farewell to Lochaber. There are versions of this tune called King James March to Ireland dating from the 17th century. It is known in Ireland as Limerick's Lament. It was the poet Allan Ramsay who composed the words in 1724 about an enlisted Highlander's nostalgia. This ballad was first published in Tea Table Miscellany (1724). The tune is usually attributed to the Irish Harper, Thomas Connellan who spent time in Scotland, and adapted the tune Limerick's Lamentation to Farewell to Lochaber. According to Donal O'Sullivan's biography of Turlough O'Carolan, Limerick's Lamentation was generally attributed to Irish harper Myles O'Reilly (b. 1635). However, O'Sullivan believes the tune was Highland in origin and O'Reilly only "refashioned" it. Although Ramsay did not participate in the Jacobite Uprisings, he had strong Jacobite leanings, so the "dangers of weir (war)" are probably those of the Jacobite Uprisings. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s), the Royal Highland Fusiliers and The Queen’s Own Highlanders used the tune for funnels. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Duty Piper sounded this tune to turn out the Regimental Guard for the last time to ensure that all are present.

Logie O'Buchan

15th-19th The King's Royal Hussars

George Halket composed the words around 1800 and was later combined with the Sahagun Song to form part of the march Bold King’s Hussars used by the 15th/19th The King’s Royal Hussars when they were formed in 1922.

London Returns

The London Regiment

The London Regiment (British Army Territorial Unit) was formed in 1908 in order to regiment the various Volunteer Force battalions in the newly formed County of London, each battalion having a distinctive uniform. Later it was merged with the Yeomanry in 1908 forming the Territorial Army. The London corps was a notable exception, being grouped to form their own regiment, each retaining a measure of its original identity, and independent of any regular army regiment. The London Regiment ceased to exist in 1938 with the battalions transferring to regular infantry regiments, the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers. It was reformed in 1992 through the regimentation of most of the remaining successors of the original regiment (except the Rifles and the Artists' Rifles). It is the only permanent infantry battalion in London District and consists of an HQ and four rifle companies. Two companies of Royal Green Jackets, F Company and G Company joined the regiment in 1998 following the Strategic Defence Review. As a consequence, the Artists' Rifles became the only former unit of the old London Regiment not represented in the current regiment (the heritage of the Artists' Rifles is maintained by 21st SAS Regiment). The Honourable Artillery Company is also still separate but, although ordered to do so, never actually became part of the original London Regiment. Following the restructuring of the British Army in 2004, it was announced that the Guards Division would gain a TA battalion. This saw the London Regiment retaining its name and multi-badge structure, while transferring from the Queen's Division to the Guards Division. The two RGJ companies were transferred to the Royal Rifle Volunteers in preparation for the formation of The Rifles in 2007, leaving the remaining companies in their present multi-badge formation.

Long Live Elizabeth

The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment

The slow march adopted by The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment was taken from Edward German’s 1902 operetta Merrie England and was adopted in honour of the Regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

The Longest Day

Canadian Airborne Regiment / Canadian Parachute Centre / Le Régiment de la Chaudière

The theme was composed by Canadian pop singer Paul Anka and the official Canadian Forces arrangement is by Mr. Shel Richardson of Victoria BC. The Canadian Airborne Regiment adopted the march from the theme music of the 20th Century-Fox movie of the same name. The movie depicts the spearhead landing of airborne paratroopers before D-Day of which the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion played a key role in securing vital objectives during the invasions.

Normandy is a region in NW France, bordering on the English Channel. Conquered by the Romans, Franks, and was repeatedly raided by the Norsemen, for whom the region is named. The Normandy Invasion took place on 6th June 1944 with the Canadians landing on Juno Beach. From there they penetrated about 9 km inland and by the end of the day they had secured their objectives and started the long road inland. At the end of the Normandy Campaign they had suffered 18,444 casualties along with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion losses of 300 officers and men. The First Canadian Special Service Battalion served overseas in a joint force of Canadians and Americans known as ‘The Devils Brigade.’ Their story was brought to life in the movie starring William Holden and Cliff Robertson. In 1968, the Canadian Airborne Regiment was formed and perpetuated their history and carried the battle honours from both units until the 1995 disbanded. The regiment used this march through the Normandy battle honour.

Le Régiment de la Chaudière was formed in the amalgamation of several old French regiments. The adoption of the march is fitting for the regiment as it landed on the Normandy beaches June 6th, 1944 and fought continuously throughout the North West campaign. The march is combined with Sambre Et Meuse, a march connected with the French area of Sambre and Meuse Rivers which as famous during World War One.

Lord Alexander Kennedy

Black Watch (RHR)

This march was composed by J. Honeyman and used by the Black Watch (RHR) for the ‘B” company march.

Lord Charles Montague’s Huntingdonshire March

(The Huntingdonshire March)

31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment / East Surrey Regiment / Queen’s Regiment (1st Bn)

Although the background of the march remains obscure, it was the regimental slow march of The East Surrey Regiment. From 1782 to 1881 the 1st Battalion was known as the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment and it was during this period they adopted Lord Charles Montague’s Huntingdonshire March. The 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Regiment used the march on Sobraon Day when the Regimental Colour was entrusted to the Sergeant’s Mess. A sergeant selected by the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) receives the colour from the Commanding Officer and together with the Colour Party, proceeded by the Band and Drums, march through the ranks of the battalion that line the route from the Officer’s Mess to the Sergeant’s mess. Upon arriving at the Sergeant’s Mess they halt and the Band begins playing this march and Colour is slow marched into the mess. Here it remains until the conclusion of the Sobraon Day Dinner. The Minden March was adopted when the Queen’s Regiment became part of the newly formed The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.

Lord Ferrars March

The King’s Regiment

This tune became the slow march of The King’s Regiment formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) and the Manchester Regiment.

LORE

Land Ordnance Engineering Branch

The Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers came into being officially on 15 May 1944, with the fusion of various elements from the Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, following the model of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. The RCEME motto, Arte et Marte (By Skill and By Fighting) RCEME Corps consisted of a laurel wreath, three shields, the Tudor Crown surmounting, and the letters R.C.E.M.E. on a scroll underneath. In 1949, the RCEME Corps adopted a new badge, nearly identical to the British one that had been struck in 1947. The only modification ever made to this badge was in 1952 when Elizabeth II ascended to the throne, and the Tudor Crown was replaced with the St. Edward's Crown. 1968 also saw the unification of the Canadian Forces, which saw the RCEME Corps disbanded, and replaced with the Canadian Forces Land Ordnance Engineering Branch. In the 1980s, it was confirmed that the organization of materials support was inadequate for the Army's needs and again the title changed to Land Electrical and Mechanical Engineers with the badge remaining the same.

There was some debate as to what the Regimental March should be, and several tunes, including Hi Ho, Hi Ho! from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs were proposed, but the final tune chosen was a medley of Lillibullero and Auprès de ma Blonde, just as REME had chosen. However, there were some things that RCEME chose differently than their British counterparts. The Regimental Slow March of REME was not chosen for RCEME, but rather, the tune chosen was The Flower of Scotland, arranged by Brain Gossip, and St. Jean de Brébeuf was named the patron saint.

Low Backed Car

12th Royal Lancers

Once a popular song, composed by Lover, is was adopted as a regimental quick march of the 12th Royal Lancers. The 12th (Prince of Wales's) Royal Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army raised by Brigadier-General Phineas Bowles in Berkshire in 1715 against the threat of the Jacobite rebellion. In 1751 the regiment was officially styled the 12th Dragoons then later in 1768 King George III bestowed the title of The 12th Prince of Wales's Regiment of Light Dragoons, and the regiment was given the badge of the three ostrich feathers, and the motto "Ich Dien". The 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's) were amalgamated with the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers to form the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's) in 1960 however the march was not retained.

Lower Castle Yard

Oxfordshire and Buckingham Light Infantry / Prince Albert Volunteers

This tune is an old Irish air and was adopted by the 52nd Regiment of Foot in Dublin around 1832. In 1881 the 43rd (Das Nachtlager von Granada) and the 52nd where amalgamated and both marches were combined into a new arrangement. The Oxfordshire and Buckingham Light Infantry adopted it prior to becoming The Royal Green Jackets. In Canada The Prince Albert Volunteers used the march until 1936 when they disbanded after becoming the Prince Albert and Battleford Volunteers in and One and All was adopted.

Lutzow's Wild Hunt

2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles / 60th Regiment of Foot / Blue and Royals/ Halifax Rifles (RCAC) / Regina Rifle Regiment / Royal Regina Rifles / Victoria Rifles of Canada

The 60th Regiment of Foot original quickstep was the Grenadiers March for over 50 years. In 1827, the Huntsman's Chorus from Weber's opera Der Freischutz was adopted and played until 1905. In 1881, their name was changed to The King's Royal Rifle Corps being modeled after the Austrian Jaeger units. Originally composed as a cavalry march, the rhythm was found unsuitable but several attempts were made to correct the problem by eliminating a few bars of Lutzow and substituting Von Gehriech’s Jagersleben with the Wild Hunt being retained. Later further alterations were done until 1905 when the Jagersleben (still called the Wild Hunt) had some of the original bars of Lutzow were reintroduced and played by the bugles. This new arrangement was adopted as the regimental march and is still used by The Royal Green Jackets.

Other regiments that adopted the tune were the 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles in combination with Wha’s a’ the Steer and Kimmer; the Blue and Royals as trot past; the Royal Regina Rifles, originally named the 95th Regiment, retained the march as a link to their ‘Rifles’ past and the alliance with The Royal Green Jackets; other units were the Victoria Rifles of Canada and the Halifax Rifles (RCAC). This was number 48 on the Kneller Hall March List of 1883. The remarkable aspect of this march is that they were able to retain the original theme and then introduce bugles into the military band arrangement with a good effect.

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