DRUM HORSE

c1890

The earliest record of the LYC mounted band is recorded in a painting of the regiment that dates to the day of the 30th of September 1813. The next record is then photographic and records the mounted band dated 1885. The PAOLYC Mounted Band of 1890 numbered approximately 20 in number and had "Greys" as their mounts. Its not clear if the drums in the above picture have regimental drum banners on them, the drums may have plain cloth side covers. The regiment is in "undress" uniform when this photograph was taken. The Drum horse does appear to have a white "Jowl Plume", ornamented bridle with stirrup reins and the saddle has a black sheepskin cover.


18 members of the PAOLYC Mounted Band in "Undress" uniform, c1890. The Bandmaster, Henry Nicholson, can be seen mounted furthest front left.


18 (approx) members of the PAOLYC Mounted Band in full review order, 1885. The LYC Drum Horse is seen at the front.

The Drum Horse :-  Is a horse, any horse, that has been appointed a position in the Military / Calvary / Mounted troops and Regiments to carry heavy kettle drums and a drummer (rider). The name for this horse reflects it's job not it's breed heritage.
The drum banner :- Whilst the presentation of a Standard or Guidon was an event of importance in the life of a yeomanry Regiment, invariably reported in the County Press and the regimental history (if any). Acquiring a drum banner was apparently of secondary importance and seldom recorded. Nowadays paintings, prints and photographs are also quite rare.

PAOLYC Drum Banner, early Victorian.

It could be that the banner (pictured below) was cut down in size to fit into a picture frame having its backing cloth removed. There are examples of "painted" drum banners in Yeomanry regiments and in particular the London & Westminster Light Horse Volunteers drum banners dated pre 1801. The design (pictured below) is from the early Victorian period and not 1900 indicated on the display card.  There are, as yet, no pictures of the PAOLYC Drum horse that clearly show Drum banners being worn on the Drums.  In contrast the Derbyshire Yeomanry Cavalry had large embroidered Drum Banners that covered the drums in the same way as the regular regiments did. 


Below is a picture of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry drum banner, this is from the early Victorian period. This is almost identical in design to the PAOLYC banner and is approx 45 inches in length and approx 22 inches in depth. The banner is heavily embroidered on silk, backed with a strong cloth and hooked for fixing onto the drum.

This banner can be seen at the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum.


PAOLYC Trumpet Major William Rouse c1897
This picture confirms that the PAOLYC Band wore a white busby bag and white horsehair plume to "difference" them from the main Regiment.

Below is a picture of the PAOLYC Drum Horse (the white "Jowl Plume" can clearly be seen and no drum banners are worn), the mounted band was present at the Duke of Cambridge's' visit to the Midlands in 1885. A Squadron of the PAOLYC can be seen in the right background facing toward the tent and can also be seen in the picture below that are to the close right of the drum horse.

PAOLYC Squadron closest to the photographer (below), these two images are taken from a photograph in a private collection in Leicestershire.