The 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment returned from the Middle East in 1924 and were stationed in Aldershot at the time of this photo in 1927. They show an array of wind and percussion instruments including kettle drums and xylophones. Bandmaster E C H Burgess can be seen seated second from the left, holding his conductor’s baton. He wears an officer-pattern double-breasted frock coat. The band sergeant, holding a flute, is seated second from the right, wearing his unique pattern scarlet dress tunic as seen in the photo of Bandmaster & Band Sergeant 1925. He has slash cuffs and buttoned breast pockets, and fewer buttons fastening the tunic down the front (partially covered by his red sergeant’s sash).
The band sergeant does not have a white shoulder belt like the rest of the band. Most of the bandsmen have the belt on the left shoulder with a white pouch on their back to hold sheet music. One bandsman, standing on the right of the photo, has his white belt on the right shoulder; this is a drum carriage for a side or snare drum. The large bass drum in the centre is carried by the percussionist in the middle of the back row, wearing a leopardskin apron. Most of the musicians are without medals, indicating that they joined the army after the War. The band corporal next to Bandmaster Burgess has the most medals. Three officers are seated either side of the bass drum, wearing blue no.1 dress.
