In addition to the band, the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment also had a fine Corp of Drums. These men were proficient not only at drumming, but playing the bugle and fife. They operated separately from the band but often marched with them, always in front. Traditionally the drummers accompanied the combat troops in battle while the musicians of the band were employed as medics and stretcher-bearers or remained at the regimental depot.
Behind the bass drum sits either the commanding officer or the adjutant of the battalion in a plain blue uniform. The rest of the men are in scarlet dress uniform but with blue forage caps instead of the blue spiked helmet as worn before the First World War. The tunics have yellow collars and pointed cuffs. There is no drummers’ lace and there are no shoulder wings worn except by the drum-major who sits next to the officer. His title as drum-major was restored in 1926, after having been down-graded in 1881 to sergeant-drummer. He has four inverted gold lace rank stripes on his right forearm with a drum badge above. His tunic is the same pattern as the band sergeant, having slash cuffs instead of pointed. He also has buttoned breast pockets and only five buttons down the front instead of seven. He has a yellow drum-major’s sash on his left shoulder and a red sergeant’s sash on his right shoulder. His mace is leaning against the bass drum.
The role of each drummer is indicated by the white belt worn on the shoulder and the leopardskin aprons. Those men who carry drums have a drum carriage on their right shoulder. There are nine men with drum carriages, two wearing leopard skins are the tenor drummers, and they also have white gauntlet gloves. The others play side drums and perhaps one of them plays the cymbals. The bass drummer also has a leopardskin but his drum carriage is a small white collar with a hook for the drum. The rest of the corps have a pouch-belt on the left shoulder and black tasseled bugle cords on their shoulders.
