I have had the honor of playing Taps at 2 family members' funerals that also had military gun salutes. One was a former WWII POW from Cabanatuan and survivor of the Bataan Death March, rescued in Jan 1945. His funeral took place on Nov. 11, 2001, which was an especially poignant time in our history. I've played in front of 100,000 at football games, but doing that was the hardest thing I ever did, and what I am most proud.
Good on mate, I have the silver bugle tattooed to my right arm twice, one for the 7th battlalion, the LIGHT INFANTRY, motto, swift and bold, under which is tattooed the the silver bugle of the DLI, the DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY, motto, The FAITHFUL, in which all the men of the family served in. I also my sons Fairbanks Sykes knife tattooed on my left arm, (commando dagger), he served in 43 RMC, best regards from County Durham.
Much, much respect for you. When my uncle passed in 2013, he was buried with military honors as a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross in Vietnam. The Navy "bugler" sent out had one of the Ceremonial Bugles with the electronic insert. Turns out, they didn't know how to play the bugle, instead being a Honor Guard assigned to "look the part". My brother is also a former Sailor and an accomplished trumpet player. On seeing that he raised a fit, had the insert removed and played Taps. Very emotional, but only proper thing to do. Hard to believe there aren't trained buglers as standard part of an Honor Guard.
@@ParkerUAS I shake my head brother, couldn't play, it took a man to step forward, as usual. In our battalions it's an honour to be the colonels bugler, highly sought, I have mukkas who even today since retiring still come and play at our association parades. During the lockdown they stood outside their homes and played "HIGH ON THE HILL", on their own, by themselves, and which is the tune they'll play at my funeral., best regards from County Durham
Very awesome. I was in band since the 5th grade, but I was never really that good. At one point I made 3rd chair. Maybe 2nd for a day or two. The band probably consisted of 40 in all, maybe 50? Kinda sad I don't remember exactly. Anyhow, I went on to marching band and played a decent roll in the 4 shows I was in. Never the worst but for from the best. Every year we would play in the memorial day parade. It always concluded at the local cemetery where there was a rememberence of those fallen in war. There were some speakers. Local Ms. and Mr. Blah blah from the school. But the best part was 2 trumpeters got to play Taps, 1 as lead and the other as an "echo". I dreamt so much of being a part of it. Sadly I didn't have the chops to hit the high note steady and long enough. So I never got to play. My good friends did. And it was pretty awesome to be a part of. Looking back, I never practiced, was always outside tinkering with stuff, but given another chance, I would have worked up the chops to at least be echo. Taps is a bone chilling wonder. If any youngins happen to read this, and want to be in band or play a trumpet, its worth the effort. I have pretty fond memories from those days. I was able to finally play it on my own and dedicated it to my grandfathers. One who served in WWII, as U.D.T (like pre-Navy Seals) and the other who served in the Korean War as a Medic, who drove a M34 ambulance. Anyway, just wanted to add to and also appreciate the o.p. for sharing. Very strong stuff.
Was once asked by a funeral home how much my post charged to render Honors. I told the director in no uncertain circumstances, their price was paid the moment they raised their hand and took the oath. As long as I am above the grass no veteran will ever be charged to sound those 24 Hallowed notes. Btw I love the podcast! Looking forward to future episodes!
"Trumpets have a magical power to summon war." Well, if you've ever heard me playing my horn, you'd know this is true. Just ask the legion of angry neighbors outside my door.
@@robertoayala9203 You do realize that, if you commit the crime of buying your boys a bugle, the punishment is you have to listen to your boys playing the bugle. ;)
"we can hear you play... loud... even from the parking lot... very loud..." our neighbors are paying the sins of their previous lives. or so i like to think :)
I'm reminded of Robin Williams being surprised in mid schtick entertaining troops when "retreat" was called and the whole audience did an about face to salute the colors. Edit: When, not if, it happens your attaining one million subs will be well deserved.
I commend your insightful comment. It most definitely earned it's spot at the top of the list, and the comment everyone can read before even starting the video. I congratulate you, internet stranger.
I was a bugler for a civil war re enacting regiment, interesting enough is that there were different calls for Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery during the Civil War and calls were organized into standard calls that you hear today after the conflict. Napoleon had a school for buglers knowing how important the instrument was in calling troops into action.
Sometimes at military funerals Taps is played on a “ceremonial bugle” when a real bugler is not available. The ceremonial bugle looks like a bugle, but is electronic. It is held up to the mouth and a button is pushed to play it. Before those came in use, back when I was in high school I occasionally got out of school to play Taps on trumpet at funerals. Those were some memorable and stirring occasions.
As a former Bugle and Trumpet player - THANKS! I learned to play Bugle when I was in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, and progressed to a trumpet. Although rusty at playing either, I still have one of each, and do occasionally dust them off and play them. I've found that probably the most difficult song to play on a bugle is Last Post (of course the British version, as I'm Canadian). The large range of notes is very spread out, as well as the emotions generated both combine to make it quite difficult to play.
One of my favorite History Guy episodes! Played trumpet through high school. Hired by a few funeral homes to play taps at veteran's funerals. It is too bad to hear that some funerals have to bring in people with electronic bugles that play taps automatically. Part of the Drum and Bugle Corps at the Air Force Academy -- I appreciate you taking the time to explain the difference as many people don't know. Thanks for taking a few extra minutes on this one. Even at almost 18 minutes I felt like you could have kept going!
Part of my enlistment was served on a small army post in southern Bavaria. Each evening "Retreat" was played while the colors were being lowered. If you were anywhere outdoors you stopped what you were doing, faced the colors (even if you could not see them), came to attention and rendered a salute for the duration of the tune. Driving your car on post was considered being outdoors so you stopped your car, exited the vehicle, and also did the above, And, you had better be undercover (wearing a hat) if you were in uniform. Any divergence from the above ritual, if noticed, resulted in a rather unpleasant conversation between you and the company first sergeant.
Another great presentation from the history guy . I once was a side drummer my brother a bugler we were in the boys brigade and preformed at Anzac day ceremonies and many other local events . I later discovered that my great great Grandfather was a drummer lance corporal in the 63rd regiment of foot who served in many places including Nova Scotia and India .
Bugler Cook describes the action in his own words: "General Gibbon, our commander, had just ordered Lieutenant Stewart to take his section about one hundred yards to the right of the Hagerstown Pike, in front of two straw stacks, when he beckoned me to follow. No sooner had we unlimbered, when a column of Confederate infantry, emerging from the so called west woods, poured a volley into us, which brought fourteen or seventeen of my brave comrades to the ground. The two straw stacks offered some kind of shelter for our wounded, and it was a sickening sight to see those poor maimed, and crippled fellows, crowding on top of one another, while several, stepping but a few feet away, were hit again or killed." "Just then Captain Campbell unlimbered the other four guns to the left of Stewart, and I reported to him. He had just dismounted, when he was hit twice and his horse fell dead, with several bullets in its body. I started with the Captain to the rear and turned him over to one of the drivers. He ordered me to report to Lieutenant Stewart and tell him to take command of the battery. I reported, and, seeing the cannoneers nearly all down, and one, with a pouch full of ammunition, lying dead, I unstrapped the pouch, started for the battery and worked as a cannoneer. We were then in the vortex of the battle. The enemy had made three desperate attempts to capture us, the last time coming with in ten or fifteen feet of our guns." "It was at this time that General Gibbon, seeing the condition of the battery, came to the gun that stood in the pike, and in full uniform of a brigadier-general, worked as a gunner and cannoneer. He was very conspicuous, and it is indeed surprising, that he came away alive. At this battle we lost forty-four men, killed and wounded, and about forty horses which shows what a hard fight it was."
Thank you for that, we need more of this sacrifice and those of others talked about right now. It is almost mind boggling to think those who survived went home, so often broken on the inside and out, to their families and somehow got up the next morning and the next morning and the next doing the best they could. Anyone who talks of civil war is obviously a fool, satanic or insane.
@@rnedlo9909 , when a war ends and a cease fire or treaty is signed, the battle isn't over for the soldier. Instead, they face a new enemy, their own demons. Only recently have we, as a culture, come realize this and start a road of helping our veterans. In armed combat, a soldier is rarely if ever fighting alone, but when tackling PTSD they are inevitably fighting alone and unarmed. Through compassion, empathy, and treatment they can get get the support and the tools necessary to take on this stealthy and silent enemy.
@@51WCDodge Indeed it is. When looking for it on a map, you might have to look for Ieper, the name in Dutch (Flemish), or Ypres, the name in French of this city, that was on the Western front for almost the entirety of the Great War. The Menin Gate (Menenpoort) is one of the Commonwealth's main memorial sites on this front, and each night, the local Fire Brigade still plays the bugle in recognition.
My great-uncle, Joe Mayuiers, was famously known as the "Ragtime Bugler". His group was the very first of the AEF disembark into France and months later news articles across the country specifically noted that he was one of the first Americans to die during the Battle of Cantigny in France. His history, as well as all who served and sacrificed so much on all sides, deserves to be remembered.
I was assigned to Ft. Rucker, AL when the amplifier for the PA system went out and Reveille needed to be called out. When my Capt. told us what the issue was, I immediately volunteered to perform the duty and, while I caught flak for "brown nosing," I also received a letter of Commendation from both my Company Capt. and my Battalion commander, as well. Never felt more proud of my mundane ability to play that horn.
I had the honor of playing taps at a number of military funerals when I was on the Honor Guard at Dyess AFB. It was some of the most somber and powerful experiences of my life.
I like your channel because I have a BA in History, primarily American history,, something not taught in our schools, today. Hell, they can’t even teach students to read, write or basic arithmetic, something I had a good grasp of by the 6th grade.
At 9.45 the cap badge displayed is that of the Durham Light Infantry, which was my local regiment. In my home town of Bishop Auckland there was a pub which referenced the regiment. Its name? The Silver Bugle.
I don't think it's so much a case of bugles having a magical power to summon war. I think it's more likely that some buglers sound so awful that they incite violence.
I have a Bugle presented to the Light Cruiser HMS Birmingham, from the city of Birmingham, a few dents, but a nice piece to have from my home city. On war bugles, ( not a bugle I know) probably the most mystical Erie sound, and one that must have struck fear into the Roman legions I think is the Carnyx used between 200BC and 200AD by the Iron Age Celts a long upright horn that was played way above the heads of the soldiers , a fascinating instrument 👌🏻😎
one of the loudest noises above the din of battle is the navy bo's'n's pipe (boatswain), shriller than the call of a bugle over the sound of rifle and cannon fire. one bos'n can pipe and direct an entire ship's company during battle with several very distinct calls, still used on many navy ships world wide, and much more ancient than bugle calls, allegedly dating back to whistles of roman centurians. you might address this someday, as well. i was an electrician's mate, and was pretty adept at piping when younger. pipes were shaped from their issued version, reinforced with solder and finely tuned for melodies with melted drops of bee's wax, to the quality tone of the best of any musical instrument. ship's bos'ns take great pride in their pipes and their skill at piping. it's a tradition, and gifted talent seldom attributed to the average "deck ape" of the navy!
In the British Army, bugle calls often had lyrics added to simplify recognition of the signal. An example of this is the call for meal times, where the words "Come to the cook house door, boys, come to the cookhouse door." fitted the first part of the call. Another example is "Stables" in mounted regiments "Come to the stable all you that are able, and give your fine horses their water and straw."
It's impossible to not appreciate the bugle/trumpet and their origins. Is it possible we might see an episode at some point featuring the bagpipes? Another "war" instrument that has been used for centuries and developed by numerous cultures toward artistic pursuits as well. We Scots do love our pipes and the histories in which they've taken part.
If you know the history of the British Commonwealth bugle call "last post", which is the British equivalent to the American "taps", it might be an interesting subject to add to this video, or maybe on it's own.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
Accounts from the Korean War say that the Chinese used horns and whistles during the Korean War during human wave attacks. An odd instrument is the auloi, double reeded like an oboe, English horn or bassoon, but forked. It looked like two oboes linked to a common mouthpiece. There were also single examples ehich some sadist eventually turned into the chanter of a bagpipe (which were also used in war) The auloi were probably generally used among the ancient Greeks, but for some reason I associate them with the Spartaans.
When I trained for deployment with the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment Battle group prior to deployment to Kandahar, we did a combat team live fire exercise. The exercise kicked off with a Leopard 1C2 firing it's 105mm cannon, followed immediately by a whistle blast from the infantry. It sent shivers down my spine, despite it being an exercise, and my being on their side.
Stationed in Germany for 5+ years I earned a Jagdshein [Hunters license.] In the education process to accomplish that I was required to learn the 'calls' used by the Hunters Horn to signal different facets of the hunt. When I retired and returned to the US my Hunters Club, consisting primarily of German citizens [all of whom were hunters] presented me with a Hunters Horn. I was most pleased by their generous gesture of appreciation of my efforts. 🤠
Thank you for all the information. I never knew so much of the history of the bugle. What I do know is the sorrow & the pride I feel when I hear TAPS being played. Thank you to all of our vets past, present, & the ones of the future.
@@davidleethompsoniii8263 it's from an episode of Mash in which Radar gets promoted; bugling above and beyond the call of duty is one of the reasons given for his promotion. ruclips.net/video/17ta9akG8e8/видео.html
As a bugler myself and an avid follower of THG this was a great episode. I kept expecting to have to correct something but this was spot on. Being British (I write under a pen name here on RUclips) I most often play Last Post, The Rouse, Reveille and Sunset with a few other calls thrown in now and again. It is fair to say I have played dozens of old Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen off with my bugle and also played at many commemorative events. If I may indulge I will tell you about the two that stand out the most. One was a funeral for an ex-soldier who had died at a young age, barely five years older than myself. After leaving the army he had many problems as many do. As funerals go this one was difficult given the circumstances. His parents were there and were understandable distraught. Last Post is always poignant and was particularly so this time. At the end of the service I did as I usually do and lined up outside with the Standards from the Royal British Legion and Regimental Associations for the family and guests to inspect as they left. The father took one look at me, the tears still rolling down his cheeks and said what is the most honest, blunt, and humorous thing I have ever heard at a funeral. He pointed at the bugle by my side and said "That thing's bloody lethal!" The other occasion was at a commemoration for Gallipoli. One of the descendants of one of the Buglers present during the landings had possession of his bugle and had brought it along. It was very battered but with it's connections a very notable instrument. She asked if I would consider playing it instead of my own and I agreed. It still played, not brilliantly but well enough that with my experience I could make it sound good. The interesting part though was the history. Her relative (Great Grandfather as I recall) had landed at Gallipoli, but he didn't get much further. Once on the beach the men formed up and he was ordered to sound the Advance. An Ottoman sniper seeing the flash of something silver in the distance and perhaps thinking it a sword or bayonet or perhaps knowing it was the Bugler and wanting to stop communications took aim and fired. His first shot hit the Buglers knee but the sniper adjusted and the second went straight through his chest. As far as anyone knew the bugle had not been played in earnest since, certainly not publically, until I sounded the Last Post with it that day.
Being a trumpet player for many years I really enjoyed this video. I learned a lot of things that I never knew about my instrument. Thank you History Guy! Your show has taught me so much History that deserves to be remembered.
The trumpet from the tomb of Tut remaining in sufficiently good enough condition to actually play after literally millennia, is the most astounding fact I've heard in recent memory. I had never thought about any horn being that old, let alone undamaged over such an extended time. Thank you for an interesting video about a subject I hadn't thought about as history.
I have noticed a sad event happening more and more during veteran funerals. The bugles now have an electronic speaker in the bell and TAPS is played electronically so the honor guard don't have to know how to play the bugle. During one funeral the battery died on the electronic bugle and TAPS ended in the middle. Very Sad!
Very good and informative, the bit at the ending was very nice too telling us to be careful off fake items, maybe you could start explaining more often what is legit and what isn't for collectables items like these ones as well?
I offered my services last Remembrance Day and was told that “Due to Covid” the local council had ordered that a CD was used as me blowing down my bugle was a health hazard.. 🤦♂️. First time in over 40 years that I’ve not played last post on Remembrance Day wherever I was in the world ..
@@gavindy_Sv2 It takes a year of serious practice to learn just the basics of a trumpet. A true bugle is just muscle memory in the lips and breathing. A trumpet you add three fingers and more muscle memory.
Now this is timing. Tomorrow is my son's birthday. He plays trombone in middle school. I just bought him a trumpet (which he's wanted for years.) He doesn't know yet.
Bronze horns from the bronze age are found a lot in Denmark. They are almost always found in pairs, and have a big disk at the flared end of the instrument that does very little for the accustics but looks pretty. We don't know what they were called back in the bronze age, but today we call such a horn a "lur". The lur was adopted as a brand for quality export butter from Denmark: _Lurpak._
The last use of the bugle in action by the British Army was during the Battle of Imjin River in Korea in 1953. The Chinese used bugles for battlefield communication and the Adjutant, Captain Anthony Farrar-Hockley got a senior NCO (whose name sadly escapes me) to play Drummer Eagle's bugle to confuse the Chinese. There is a famous painting of the event. Sadly Drummer Eagle had to destroy the bugle with a hand grenade to prevent its capture. During Operation Market Garden in 1944 Lieutenant Colonel John Frost of 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment used a hunting horn to assemble his troops following the landing. There is a connection between these events as Farrar-Hockley's son received the Military Cross as a company commander (Major) while serving with Para at the Battle of Goose Green in 1982.
My immediate supervisor in the US Army was the late SSGT Leroy Payne, he said while the N. Koreans and Chinese use of the bugle, during the Korean War, was scary it did give him time to prepare for the attack.
Brings back many good memories of revelly and taps played at the various posts and bases I served at during my time in the U.S. Army. Thank you for sharing this.
I was first cavalry division for 18 of my 20 years, and our change of command ceremonies were 100% bugle calls, complete with a cavalry charge... I wish they’d announce these ceremonies ahead of time so I could attend. Experience one, from the bleachers.
My father was a Sergeant First Class First in the First Air Cavalry in Vietnam. He died not long after he returned. His Military funeral was in the winter. I was 11 and the things I remember most are the cold wind, the 21 gun salute, and the bugler. I’m 62 now and those memories still bring tears to my eyes.
Modern military funerals (USMC funerals are the only ones I’m familiar with) use trumpets with a device inserted in the bell to play the appropriate bugle calls. The person holding the trumpet is just a Marine with no musical training. Funerals are the most important mission of the Marine Inspector/Instructor of a reserve unit. If that electronic bugle device fails, or the battery runs out, the Inspector/Instructor gets in a lot of trouble.
I used to march in junior drum & bugle corps competitions back in the 1960s (as a drummer). There was also a senior division that competed, and both held national championships each year. The most awe inspiring bugle solo I ever witnessed was in 1966 at the American Legion finals in Washington, DC, when a soprano bugler from the NY Skyliners played Flight of the Bumblebee on a G-D single valve bugle. The triple tonguing and articulation required to do that was nothing short of magical. I believe there's a RUclips video posted by Gelp99 that shows the complete 66 Legion Finals, and that performance is there.
6:30 the detail on the painting is amazing brush Strokes flawless you can just feel the horse pucker up as if you were there. Edit: you can just feel the tension that the horses under
It is all recorded these days, unless it's a special ceremony, where a live bugler is requested. At funerals, sometimes, they use two buglers, to get the echo effect.
As a musician, I was so excited watching this video! I played Alto Saxophone, Mellophone and French Horn in High School and had a blast with it. When I was in Boy Scouts a few years ago, we went on a campout and I had the privilege to play Taps on a bugle before we went to bed the first night. Such beautiful instruments. Also, I wanted to ask if there was any way you could do a video on forgotten history of the Battle of Stones River from the Civil war. Theres tons of stories from those battles that deserve to be remembered. I live near the battlefield so I'm able to visit occasionally. Its quite the sight. Anyways. Keep up the great work THG!
@Marc Thomas Thank you for sharing that! I don't play much music now just because I don't own a personal instrument and they're very difficult for me to afford right now. So I agree with you lol, I'd love to go back to those days. I have some videos on my channel from my senior year when I marched Mello. I wasn't the best given it was my first year as a Brass player and i was coming off of 5+ years as a Saxophone player. But if you're interested, they're there. It was always such a blast. I never practiced as much as i should've, had I done that, I would've been a phenomenal brass player lol.
Well, yeah! The poor thing was sure that he/she was about to be the focal point of an imminent charge. How was it to know the History Guy was using his bugle frivolously?😀
I graduated from Norwich University, the nation's oldest, private military college, and the corps of cadets was organized on the regimental format. I was in Band Company (I played Baritone Horn and Trombone) and we had a corporals slot for the Regimental Bugler. Our day began and ended with the traditional Army bugle calls, and only the coldest Vermont winter days saw the use of a recording played over speakers. And such bugle calls were used to denote certain actions needed during parades such as Adjutant's Call or Officer's Call, and other ceremonies. Additionally the Regimental Bugler was responsible for playing Taps and often a second bugler was used to sound Echo Taps.
You should look into the life of Nancy Hart. She was a woman who lived during the revolutionary war. Awesome story about a frontierswoman who was known to resist British loyalists. She was born in North Carolina and lived in Georgia. We even had an elementary school named after her. Love your videos!
Thank you for your bugle message. You may recall I requested this coverage as my grandfather was a buglar durng World War I. Nice to know you seriously interact with your subscribers. Thank you.
When I was 11, I was loaned a silver-plated trumpet carried by my Grandparents' dear friend when he served aboard several warships in the US Navy Pacific Fleet in WW2. He was a Signalman, but also an excellent musician, and tapped early on to be a unit bugler. Sadly I never really learned to play the trumpet well, and wound up returning it to him when my middle school band assigned me a trombone.
Thank you, History Guy. I am very glad I came upon this video for a few reasons. One is a pet peave of mine whenever I hear someone claim that US Marine musicians do not go to bootcamp. That is true for only The President's Own. The reason for that is because they recruit directly from the nation's universities. And most people who join the military with a college degree become officers. But it would be very impractical to have an entire unit of officers. So, those who pass the audition for the President's Own are automatically started out as an E-6 staff sergeant. The reason for this is to give them the pay as close to a second lieutenant as an enlisted member. On average it takes at least 8 and sometimes up to 12 years to become a staff sergeant. So it is specifically for pay. But those who join are still required to meet all height and weight standards. The enlisted Marine ranks of E-3 and higher have a set of crossed rifles. But those in The President's Own do not. Their rank is divided by a music lyer. However, the drum major is always selected from the field bands and does have crossed rifles. They are also subjected to an audition between the 9 other drum majors in Marine field bands. Nothing is a give me. And yes, a Marine field musician can become a member of The President's Own by passing the audition. However, if you are already an E-6, you will move up in rank faster in the field as to do so in The President's Own basically means someone has to get out. But even the field band musicians have more college degrees than any other MOS in the Corps. (Marine Occupation Specialty) When I was in roughly 1/3 of all Marine field musicians had a college degree and many had 2. I served in the 1st Marine Division band at Camp Pendleton California. I am also a war vet having been a machine gunner in the Gulf War and perimeter security for our commanding general, Mgen Mike Myatt. In fact, on Thanksgiving day in 1990 President and Mrs.Bush came to our position in the desert. Also with them was Gen Schwartzkopf and yes, I have my pictures to prove it. The only ones with live weapons allowed were the president's secret service and the band. We had over 6,000 Marines come through that day and we had to make sure the bolts were taken out of every single rifle. A real pain. But after dinner the president came up and sat with my fireteam in our fighting hole. Not to croud him, I stayed out of the hole. Of coarse tbere was all sorts of press around too. After about 20 minutes and a couple rolls of film, my fireteam leader, a corporal, asked the president for his autograph to which he graciously agreed. So my buddy handed him a copy of Stars and Stripes and a pen. Then president Bush saw a picture of Margaret Thatcher and said, "Oh, she's retiring tomorrow." Then he yelled, "SHIT!!" Not knowing what happened, my buddy asked him what's wrong. President Bush told him, "Now all those bozos out there are going to ask me about her retirement as soon as I get out of here. They aren't suppose to know yet. Mind if I stay a little longer??" My buddy started laughing as did the rest of us when he said, "Sir, I'm a corporal. I think that decision is yours to make !!" He stayed another 15 minutes. Meanwhile I saw Gen Schwartzkopf basically kicking rocks. So I went over, gave him a salute and asked for a picture. Then it was he and I just standing there. So I said to myself, this is it. This is the only chance you will have for this in your entire life. I asked him, "Sir, so .....what's the plan ??" I figured I could only get busted a couple grades. He said, "Damn, I was wondering when someone was going to ask. You are the only enlisted man to do so." I told him, "Well, I'm a Marine and curious as hell." Do you know, he took me about 50 yards away from everyone else and we sat down in the sand where he drew it all out for me in Cliff's notes and told me everything. Then he asked if I thought it would work. I said why not. The guy's an idiot. The more simple the plan the better. I asked him a timeline and he said we are hoping we can do it by next Christmas as there will be no rotations home. We are prepared for about 20% losses. That woke me up. But I told him that we were already tired of waiting. "Yourproblem isn't how long it will take. Its how long we have to wait before we start". As you know, we started the air war on 17 January. I guess he was thinking the same thing. We stood up and he cleaned up all the maps he drew and told me not to say a word. He was never too concerned about what lower enlisted said so I took heed. And I found out real quick that he had not BSed me about anything. What he said would happen happened. Anyhow, I would like you to do a video on the namesake of the USS Cole. He was a Marine musician in WW2 but wanted to be a machine gunner. His requests kept getting turned down as musicians were very hard to come by. But finally he was granted a transfer.. He became a sergeant in a machine gun platoon and yes, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. And 1st Marine Division band also lost members in Vietnam as well. And what upsets me the most is that the people who most often say Marine musicians aren't real Marines are OTHER MARINES !!!
I have a "Made in India" bugle very much like yours, minus the cord and badge. It has a nice patina and sits on a shelf with military history books. I think I got it from an interior decoration company back in the 90s that sold quite a bit of brass decor. I'm sure it cost less than $25 at the time.
I served as REME attached to the 1st Bn Royal Highland Fusiliers,(now 2nd Bn The Royal Regiment of Scotland) in the late '70's / early '80's. The regiment still used bugle calls to mark daily events such as reveille, meal timings, six o'clock call, when the flags were lowered, ten o'clock call which was traditionally lights out and others lost to me in the mists of time as I moved on to serve with other regiments. Thank you for pointing out the fact about the bugle tradition being maintained by the light infantry. The RHF were themselves formed by the amalgamation of the Highland Light Infantry and the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Nemo Me Impune Lacessit.
I still remember most of the bugle calls I heard over 12 years in one military environment or another. Taps is the one that evokes the most memories both pleasing and depressing.
My dad, who served in the 101st at the end of WWII passed away last November. My brother's and I were surprised to learn a military honor guard was available to participate in the socially distanced graveside service. The small gathering of family and friends were deeply moved by the playing of taps by one of the honor guard members, which was beautifully done. We all were grateful. I didn't point out the bugle was electronic and played a recording.
Sweetheart, this winter ain’t got nothing on a blizzard! Yea, I’m old enough to have lived through a bonafide blizzard in Indiana. The snow covered all the cars. The whole state shut down. People were snowed in (IN THE CITY). for days & days. Some drifts came up to the roofs of houses. After plowing, the snow piles from the plows were 25ft tall. It was truly a fun & unique experience. The silence of the city during the storm was amazing ..... I know because we had to go outside and play in it. You could jump off the porch and not get hurt because there was 4 ft of snow on the ground. I wasn’t a kid but I played in it anyway.
I'll add that welding that badge to the bell affects the instrument's sound. The bell itself vibrates and that impacts the tone of the horn. For example, Bach trumpets' bells are formed of one piece and the first weld doesn't occur until way before the bell starts to flare. This is hard to manufacture and is part of what makes a Bach so expensive. Contrast this with a Conn, the more common beginner or rental band instrument. It has a two-piece bell, with the weld occurring a few inches from the lip of the bell and well within the flare. Much easier and cheaper to make, but you can really hear the difference in the two horns when played side by side.
Yeah ... I've heard bugle calls any number of times ... People think that Reveille is the bugle call to wake up - but in Recruit Training, we got up to First Call (that bugle call they play at Horse Races) which was at least half an hour if not more before Reveille. I can still remember hearing the dreaded First Call and having to get out of my nice warm bunk to clean the cold squad bay (these big windows were left open all night) in my underwear (like you see on Full Metal Jacket). And - I pulled Colors any number of times raising or lowering the flag. Yep - they still use bugle calls a lot ... or at least they did in 1970 ... But one thing ... I don't know if I EVER heard these bugle calls actually played on a bugle. I'm pretty sure they were mostly, if not all, recordings ... When I was in Jr. ROTC in High School - one of our jobs was to raise and lower the Schools National Flag and - the music that went with it - was on a record ... which on occasion ... I was the one to put the needle down on. I'd sit there looking at the clock's sweep second hand and at precisely the right time - put the needle down in it's groove. .
I purchased one of those knock-off bugles my freshman year of college, simply for the pleasure of owning a working bugle. I was able to put it to good work as in the fall of 2006 I participated in the filming of a History Channel documentary "The Spanish American War: First Intervention" as they used the USS Olympia in Philadelphia for multiple scenes. I got a brief close-up playing Assembly just before the scene where the commander in Manila surrenders to Admiral Dewey. Since that day I have played the bugle once for a funeral - though the ceremony was non-military, the gentleman was a close personal friend and WWII veteran.
Trumpet player here. Trumpets were a part of the knights retinue and gave directions to knight in battle. They were a guild in Germany and were supposedly paid in gold. Quite a good story here. Please do a video on that.
Great video, I play the bugle for my Boys' Brigade company (72nd Birmingham). Back in the olden days (pre 2020) we used to use bugle calls on our annual summer camp.
As an aside, how about horns? These were used a lot in European cities to announce the setting of the watch for the night, or for curfew. Several still follow this tradition but only really during the tourist season. The exception being Ripon in North Yorkshire, UK, where it is still played at 9pm every day and has been since the city was given its charter over 1200 years ago.
I was at Fort Hood Texas, and they started using bugle calls FOR EVERYTHING, including “curfew” at 23:00, or maybe midnight, not sure. Anyway we heard bugle calls at all hours of the day, and night.
Flag goes up in morning 🎺 Flag goes down in evening 🎺 Taps late at night 🎺 And several times during larger "change of command" ceremonies, different sets of notes as instructions for different parts of the ceremony ( salutes and/or actual marching) 🎺🎺🎺
The older you get the more of those "phone calls " you get friends family. As a vet myself have many vet friends. still.hard not to shed a tear when I hear taps
My ex-husband served with 5th Group Special Forces in Vietnam, and is in our county's Honor Guard. It lately seems that he has to attend services every other week. He is not all that well, and I dread the time when 'Taps' is played for him.
As a music\sound person I studied trumpet and drums since I was 11 or so. I studied them first as instruments used in orchestra and\or band music. Later while I studied percussion at SIU-C my instructor introduced me to the importance of signaling snare drums. Very interesting class. I learned that commanders would judge distances my the delay of the return signals among other uses.
As an Army brat in the 50s living in Fulda, Germany, I can remember Taps being played every night. When we came back to the states in 1958, I had trouble falling asleep without hearing the call. Even to this day, I miss that sound of the bugler.
I just went and found my bugle. I was a bugler for my boy scout troop, for several years. It is a trumpet style with out keys. It is an Official Scout bugle, it is a Calvary style with an after market mouthpiece. As a teen I played T.A.P.S for several years for Memorial Day Services at a military cemetery in the Dallas area.
As a previous civil war reenactor I can tell you that after at least two volleys of fire the only thing you can hear is a bugle call as it hits tones that aren't affected by your loss of hearing. You really can no longer hear your NCOs shouts or even commands being relayed down the line. You can always hear the bugle though.
I grew up partly on American Army bases in the late 1958's to mid 1966. The sound of a bugle is a welcome sound. Thanks to my God Mother's Father so are the bagpipes. Here in my 60's their are two things that will choke me up, a bugle playing taps and the pipes playing amazing grace. For all you young people playing trumpets, learn to play taps and keep in practice. There is nothing more humbling than to be called to honor and lay to rest one of America's brave men or women in uniform.
One of my favorite possessions is a photograph of my great grandfather taken in Gibraltar when he was being sent overseas as a new recruit in the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders regiment for Queen Victoria. I don’t know where he was being sent, so if anyone out there knows where the regiment was posted to in 1889, I would appreciate your input. Thanks. Btw, I enjoy this channel and try to watch every day.
I have had the honor of playing Taps at 2 family members' funerals that also had military gun salutes. One was a former WWII POW from Cabanatuan and survivor of the Bataan Death March, rescued in Jan 1945. His funeral took place on Nov. 11, 2001, which was an especially poignant time in our history. I've played in front of 100,000 at football games, but doing that was the hardest thing I ever did, and what I am most proud.
Good on mate, I have the silver bugle tattooed to my right arm twice, one for the 7th battlalion, the LIGHT INFANTRY, motto, swift and bold, under which is tattooed the the silver bugle of the DLI, the DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY, motto, The FAITHFUL, in which all the men of the family served in. I also my sons Fairbanks Sykes knife tattooed on my left arm, (commando dagger), he served in 43 RMC, best regards from County Durham.
Much, much respect for you. When my uncle passed in 2013, he was buried with military honors as a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross in Vietnam. The Navy "bugler" sent out had one of the Ceremonial Bugles with the electronic insert. Turns out, they didn't know how to play the bugle, instead being a Honor Guard assigned to "look the part".
My brother is also a former Sailor and an accomplished trumpet player. On seeing that he raised a fit, had the insert removed and played Taps. Very emotional, but only proper thing to do. Hard to believe there aren't trained buglers as standard part of an Honor Guard.
@@ParkerUAS I shake my head brother, couldn't play, it took a man to step forward, as usual. In our battalions it's an honour to be the colonels bugler, highly sought, I have mukkas who even today since retiring still come and play at our association parades. During the lockdown they stood outside their homes and played "HIGH ON THE HILL", on their own, by themselves, and which is the tune they'll play at my funeral., best regards from County Durham
Very awesome. I was in band since the 5th grade, but I was never really that good. At one point I made 3rd chair. Maybe 2nd for a day or two. The band probably consisted of 40 in all, maybe 50? Kinda sad I don't remember exactly. Anyhow, I went on to marching band and played a decent roll in the 4 shows I was in. Never the worst but for from the best. Every year we would play in the memorial day parade. It always concluded at the local cemetery where there was a rememberence of those fallen in war. There were some speakers. Local Ms. and Mr. Blah blah from the school. But the best part was 2 trumpeters got to play Taps, 1 as lead and the other as an "echo". I dreamt so much of being a part of it. Sadly I didn't have the chops to hit the high note steady and long enough. So I never got to play. My good friends did. And it was pretty awesome to be a part of. Looking back, I never practiced, was always outside tinkering with stuff, but given another chance, I would have worked up the chops to at least be echo. Taps is a bone chilling wonder. If any youngins happen to read this, and want to be in band or play a trumpet, its worth the effort. I have pretty fond memories from those days. I was able to finally play it on my own and dedicated it to my grandfathers. One who served in WWII, as U.D.T (like pre-Navy Seals) and the other who served in the Korean War as a Medic, who drove a M34 ambulance. Anyway, just wanted to add to and also appreciate the o.p. for sharing. Very strong stuff.
That's cool, and humbling. When our band celebrated Memorial days 50 years ago, one of our trumpeters did the honors of Taps.
Was once asked by a funeral home how much my post charged to render Honors. I told the director in no uncertain circumstances, their price was paid the moment they raised their hand and took the oath. As long as I am above the grass no veteran will ever be charged to sound those 24 Hallowed notes.
Btw I love the podcast! Looking forward to future episodes!
Sir, you make me proud.
We didn't have to pay, but we made a generous donation to the post that provided the bugler.
Thank you. Thank you.
"Trumpets have a magical power to summon war." Well, if you've ever heard me playing my horn, you'd know this is true. Just ask the legion of angry neighbors outside my door.
Jack Linde, way too funny!
I’ve been wanting to buy my boys a bugle...
I’d be the most popular in my neighborhood too.
@@robertoayala9203 You do realize that, if you commit the crime of buying your boys a bugle, the punishment is you have to listen to your boys playing the bugle. ;)
I can confirm. Both my dad and brother played trumpet.... When mom wasn't around 😂
"we can hear you play... loud... even from the parking lot... very loud..." our neighbors are paying the sins of their previous lives. or so i like to think :)
I'm reminded of Robin Williams being surprised in mid schtick entertaining troops when "retreat" was called and the whole audience did an about face to salute the colors. Edit: When, not if, it happens your attaining one million subs will be well deserved.
I never thought I would see the History Guy blowing his own horn. I'll just see myself out now 😂
I suppose this is a good segue into a Horatio Hornblower video.
😂😂
I want to know how many viewers FRANTICALLY pulled their ear buds as soon as they realized he was going to blow the walls down.
I commend your insightful comment. It most definitely earned it's spot at the top of the list, and the comment everyone can read before even starting the video. I congratulate you, internet stranger.
I was a bugler for a civil war re enacting regiment, interesting enough is that there were different calls for Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery during the Civil War and calls were organized into standard calls that you hear today after the conflict. Napoleon had a school for buglers knowing how important the instrument was in calling troops into action.
Sometimes at military funerals Taps is played on a “ceremonial bugle” when a real bugler is not available. The ceremonial bugle looks like a bugle, but is electronic. It is held up to the mouth and a button is pushed to play it. Before those came in use, back when I was in high school I occasionally got out of school to play Taps on trumpet at funerals. Those were some memorable and stirring occasions.
its actually a speaker that inserts into the bell of a real instrument.
@@katelights Indeed, it is getting harder to find a real bugler at funerals.
At least a bugle with electronics & speaker inside is less objectionable than a cassette tape player...
@@GraemePayne1967Marine for sure. and the burial detail do their best to hide it.
I use to have a national guard honor guard in my armory , the amount of funerals the did the could have learned to play.
As a former Bugle and Trumpet player - THANKS! I learned to play Bugle when I was in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, and progressed to a trumpet. Although rusty at playing either, I still have one of each, and do occasionally dust them off and play them. I've found that probably the most difficult song to play on a bugle is Last Post (of course the British version, as I'm Canadian). The large range of notes is very spread out, as well as the emotions generated both combine to make it quite difficult to play.
One of my favorite History Guy episodes! Played trumpet through high school. Hired by a few funeral homes to play taps at veteran's funerals. It is too bad to hear that some funerals have to bring in people with electronic bugles that play taps automatically. Part of the Drum and Bugle Corps at the Air Force Academy -- I appreciate you taking the time to explain the difference as many people don't know. Thanks for taking a few extra minutes on this one. Even at almost 18 minutes I felt like you could have kept going!
Part of my enlistment was served on a small army post in southern Bavaria. Each evening "Retreat" was played while the colors were being lowered. If you were anywhere outdoors you stopped what you were doing, faced the colors (even if you could not see them), came to attention and rendered a salute for the duration of the tune. Driving your car on post was considered being outdoors so you stopped your car, exited the vehicle, and also did the above, And, you had better be undercover (wearing a hat) if you were in uniform. Any divergence from the above ritual, if noticed, resulted in a rather unpleasant conversation between you and the company first sergeant.
Hence the saying "face the music."
I remember doing all these things during my service, and as an "Army Brat."
Another great presentation from the history guy . I once was a side drummer my brother a bugler we were in the boys brigade and preformed at Anzac day ceremonies and many other local events . I later discovered that my great great Grandfather was a drummer lance corporal in the 63rd regiment of foot who served in many places including Nova Scotia and India .
Bugler Cook describes the action in his own words:
"General Gibbon, our commander, had just ordered Lieutenant Stewart to take his section about one hundred yards to the right of the Hagerstown Pike, in front of two straw stacks, when he beckoned me to follow. No sooner had we unlimbered, when a column of Confederate infantry, emerging from the so called west woods, poured a volley into us, which brought fourteen or seventeen of my brave comrades to the ground. The two straw stacks offered some kind of shelter for our wounded, and it was a sickening sight to see those poor maimed, and crippled fellows, crowding on top of one another, while several, stepping but a few feet away, were hit again or killed."
"Just then Captain Campbell unlimbered the other four guns to the left of Stewart, and I reported to him. He had just dismounted, when he was hit twice and his horse fell dead, with several bullets in its body. I started with the Captain to the rear and turned him over to one of the drivers. He ordered me to report to Lieutenant Stewart and tell him to take command of the battery. I reported, and, seeing the cannoneers nearly all down, and one, with a pouch full of ammunition, lying dead, I unstrapped the pouch, started for the battery and worked as a cannoneer. We were then in the vortex of the battle. The enemy had made three desperate attempts to capture us, the last time coming with in ten or fifteen feet of our guns."
"It was at this time that General Gibbon, seeing the condition of the battery, came to the gun that stood in the pike, and in full uniform of a brigadier-general, worked as a gunner and cannoneer. He was very conspicuous, and it is indeed surprising, that he came away alive. At this battle we lost forty-four men, killed and wounded, and about forty horses which shows what a hard fight it was."
Thank you for that, we need more of this sacrifice and those of others talked about right now. It is almost mind boggling to think those who survived went home, so often broken on the inside and out, to their families and somehow got up the next morning and the next morning and the next doing the best they could. Anyone who talks of civil war is obviously a fool, satanic or insane.
@@rnedlo9909 , when a war ends and a cease fire or treaty is signed, the battle isn't over for the soldier. Instead, they face a new enemy, their own demons. Only recently have we, as a culture, come realize this and start a road of helping our veterans. In armed combat, a soldier is rarely if ever fighting alone, but when tackling PTSD they are inevitably fighting alone and unarmed. Through compassion, empathy, and treatment they can get get the support and the tools necessary to take on this stealthy and silent enemy.
@@ParkerUAS Well said, Thank you
What an amazing episode! Bugles are an important piece of history and you definitely did them justice! Thank you for your incredible work!
Ditto!
The Last Post played on the bugle sends shivers all over my body.
Ifyou ever get the chance, go the Menin Gate at Iperes, the Last Post ceremony.
@@51WCDodge I was there during the centennial of Vimy Ridge. Truly moving.
@@allanlank I've been there a number of times, never ceases to grip the heart.
@@51WCDodge Indeed it is. When looking for it on a map, you might have to look for Ieper, the name in Dutch (Flemish), or Ypres, the name in French of this city, that was on the Western front for almost the entirety of the Great War. The Menin Gate (Menenpoort) is one of the Commonwealth's main memorial sites on this front, and each night, the local Fire Brigade still plays the bugle in recognition.
The Last Post was written by Joseph Haydn...FYI
Now you need to do a video on Boatswain's pipes and their use on ships. Thanks for another great video.
My great-uncle, Joe Mayuiers, was famously known as the "Ragtime Bugler". His group was the very first of the AEF disembark into France and months later news articles across the country specifically noted that he was one of the first Americans to die during the Battle of Cantigny in France. His history, as well as all who served and sacrificed so much on all sides, deserves to be remembered.
Navy's turn! A piece on Bosn's pipes would be the ideal follow up. (Yes, I know the Navy uses bugles, also, but hey; the Navy is always different.)
As a retired Marine and former member of the USMC Drum and Bugle Corps thank you for touching on this part of history.
I was assigned to Ft. Rucker, AL when the amplifier for the PA system went out and Reveille needed to be called out. When my Capt. told us what the issue was, I immediately volunteered to perform the duty and, while I caught flak for "brown nosing," I also received a letter of Commendation from both my Company Capt. and my Battalion commander, as well. Never felt more proud of my mundane ability to play that horn.
I had the honor of playing taps at a number of military funerals when I was on the Honor Guard at Dyess AFB. It was some of the most somber and powerful experiences of my life.
I like your channel because I have a BA in History, primarily American history,, something not taught in our schools, today. Hell, they can’t even teach students to read, write or basic arithmetic, something I had a good grasp of by the 6th grade.
At 9.45 the cap badge displayed is that of the Durham Light Infantry, which was my local regiment. In my home town of Bishop Auckland there was a pub which referenced the regiment. Its name? The Silver Bugle.
I don't think it's so much a case of bugles having a magical power to summon war. I think it's more likely that some buglers sound so awful that they incite violence.
Good thing Radar O'Riley served in a MASH.
I have a Bugle presented to the Light Cruiser HMS Birmingham, from the city of Birmingham, a few dents, but a nice piece to have from my home city. On war bugles, ( not a bugle I know) probably the most mystical Erie sound, and one that must have struck fear into the Roman legions I think is the Carnyx used between 200BC and 200AD by the Iron Age Celts a long upright horn that was played way above the heads of the soldiers , a fascinating instrument 👌🏻😎
one of the loudest noises above the din of battle is the navy bo's'n's pipe (boatswain), shriller than the call of a bugle over the sound of rifle and cannon fire. one bos'n can pipe and direct an entire ship's company during battle with several very distinct calls, still used on many navy ships world wide, and much more ancient than bugle calls, allegedly dating back to whistles of roman centurians. you might address this someday, as well. i was an electrician's mate, and was pretty adept at piping when younger. pipes were shaped from their issued version, reinforced with solder and finely tuned for melodies with melted drops of bee's wax, to the quality tone of the best of any musical instrument. ship's bos'ns take great pride in their pipes and their skill at piping. it's a tradition, and gifted talent seldom attributed to the average "deck ape" of the navy!
That zoom-in on the bugle next to the horse's butt almost got scary at the end ;D
I was in the Navy for 7 years, I miss the bugle call "carry on" after the national anthem.
You'd think that after 24 years I'd have tired of it, but no. I too miss it.. And the Boatswain's whistle..
This is one of the longest episodes. I love it . You are a great History teacher. Thank you.
In the British Army, bugle calls often had lyrics added to simplify recognition of the signal. An example of this is the call for meal times, where the words "Come to the cook house door, boys, come to the cookhouse door." fitted the first part of the call. Another example is "Stables" in mounted regiments "Come to the stable all you that are able, and give your fine horses their water and straw."
"You can be a defaulter as long as you like, as long as you answer your na-aaa-me!"
Indeed, and in the Royal Welch Fusiliers "You've got a face like a chicken's arse" was how one call was named.
It's impossible to not appreciate the bugle/trumpet and their origins. Is it possible we might see an episode at some point featuring the bagpipes? Another "war" instrument that has been used for centuries and developed by numerous cultures toward artistic pursuits as well. We Scots do love our pipes and the histories in which they've taken part.
Bugles are all well and good. But I suspect that the sound of bagpipes advancing, unseen, from the mist would loosen an an enemy's bowels.
If you know the history of the British Commonwealth bugle call "last post", which is the British equivalent to the American "taps", it might be an interesting subject to add to this video, or maybe on it's own.
Add to that the Dutch "Taptoe" signal, witch is also different and iconic.
All three are stirring melodies
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Accounts from the Korean War say that the Chinese used horns and whistles during the Korean War during human wave attacks.
An odd instrument is the auloi, double reeded like an oboe, English horn or bassoon, but forked. It looked like two oboes linked to a common mouthpiece. There were also single examples ehich some sadist eventually turned into the chanter of a bagpipe (which were also used in war) The auloi were probably generally used among the ancient Greeks, but for some reason I associate them with the Spartaans.
When I trained for deployment with the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment Battle group prior to deployment to Kandahar, we did a combat team live fire exercise. The exercise kicked off with a Leopard 1C2 firing it's 105mm cannon, followed immediately by a whistle blast from the infantry. It sent shivers down my spine, despite it being an exercise, and my being on their side.
@@Furniture121 Now that you mention it, There are plenty of references to whistles signaling troops to go over the top in WW I trench warfare.
Stationed in Germany for 5+ years I earned a Jagdshein [Hunters license.] In the education process to accomplish that I was required to learn the 'calls' used by the Hunters Horn to signal different facets of the hunt. When I retired and returned to the US my Hunters Club, consisting primarily of German citizens [all of whom were hunters] presented me with a Hunters Horn. I was most pleased by their generous gesture of appreciation of my efforts. 🤠
Thank you for all the information. I never knew so much of the history of the bugle. What I do know is the sorrow & the pride I feel when I hear TAPS being played. Thank you to all of our vets past, present, & the ones of the future.
Still used in the Navy along with that damn bosun’s whistle.
The Bosun’s Pipe is the only musical instrument I ever learned to play. P.S: I’m a QM!
Same here, BM in the Coast Guard
haha, you get used to the bosun's whistle. I kind of like it. Except when I'm trying to get some sleep in my rack of course.
@@JimmyMon666 The Bosun's Pipe is still a much nicer wakey wakey than the bong bong's at zero dark stupid.
The portrayal of the use of the bugle in the Mel Gibson move, "We Were Soldiers" by both the French and North Vietmanese Forces in combat is stirring.
>that french guy that start who gets his bugle solo interrupted with a bullet to the neck
brutal
The sound of the shofar is distinct and immediately recognizable.
T'kiah!
Bugles are also produced by General Mills.
That's good
LOL. Crunchy.
🤦
Obviously attempting to blow your own horn with your humor....
Did the General used to play one????
Bugling above and beyond the call of duty.
Hooray for Radar!
I always thought that it was the heralding of attack!
If it was for war then there were Ben 20,000 more Wars than there were.
@@davidleethompsoniii8263 it's from an episode of Mash in which Radar gets promoted; bugling above and beyond the call of duty is one of the reasons given for his promotion.
ruclips.net/video/17ta9akG8e8/видео.html
@@HM2SGT Radar. Hah! Good ol' 4077.
As a bugler myself and an avid follower of THG this was a great episode. I kept expecting to have to correct something but this was spot on. Being British (I write under a pen name here on RUclips) I most often play Last Post, The Rouse, Reveille and Sunset with a few other calls thrown in now and again. It is fair to say I have played dozens of old Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen off with my bugle and also played at many commemorative events. If I may indulge I will tell you about the two that stand out the most.
One was a funeral for an ex-soldier who had died at a young age, barely five years older than myself. After leaving the army he had many problems as many do. As funerals go this one was difficult given the circumstances. His parents were there and were understandable distraught. Last Post is always poignant and was particularly so this time. At the end of the service I did as I usually do and lined up outside with the Standards from the Royal British Legion and Regimental Associations for the family and guests to inspect as they left. The father took one look at me, the tears still rolling down his cheeks and said what is the most honest, blunt, and humorous thing I have ever heard at a funeral. He pointed at the bugle by my side and said "That thing's bloody lethal!"
The other occasion was at a commemoration for Gallipoli. One of the descendants of one of the Buglers present during the landings had possession of his bugle and had brought it along. It was very battered but with it's connections a very notable instrument. She asked if I would consider playing it instead of my own and I agreed. It still played, not brilliantly but well enough that with my experience I could make it sound good. The interesting part though was the history. Her relative (Great Grandfather as I recall) had landed at Gallipoli, but he didn't get much further. Once on the beach the men formed up and he was ordered to sound the Advance. An Ottoman sniper seeing the flash of something silver in the distance and perhaps thinking it a sword or bayonet or perhaps knowing it was the Bugler and wanting to stop communications took aim and fired. His first shot hit the Buglers knee but the sniper adjusted and the second went straight through his chest. As far as anyone knew the bugle had not been played in earnest since, certainly not publically, until I sounded the Last Post with it that day.
Being a trumpet player for many years I really enjoyed this video. I learned a lot of things that I never knew about my instrument. Thank you History Guy! Your show has taught me so much History that deserves to be remembered.
The trumpet from the tomb of Tut remaining in sufficiently good enough condition to actually play after literally millennia, is the most astounding fact I've heard in recent memory. I had never thought about any horn being that old, let alone undamaged over such an extended time. Thank you for an interesting video about a subject I hadn't thought about as history.
ruclips.net/video/HO3P5jkQmgU/видео.html
I have noticed a sad event happening more and more during veteran funerals. The bugles now have an electronic speaker in the bell and TAPS is played electronically so the honor guard don't have to know how to play the bugle. During one funeral the battery died on the electronic bugle and TAPS ended in the middle. Very Sad!
We avoided that.... Dad wanted Scottish Pipes. . .
Very good and informative, the bit at the ending was very nice too telling us to be careful off fake items, maybe you could start explaining more often what is legit and what isn't for collectables items like these ones as well?
Sadly the “bugle” used in most military funerals today is an electronic device due to the lack of military personnel that can actually play a bugle.
Playing a bugle looks easy but it’s not. Just saying :)
@Jeff Guse bAcK iN mAh DaY
I offered my services last Remembrance Day and was told that “Due to Covid” the local council had ordered that a CD was used as me blowing down my bugle was a health hazard.. 🤦♂️. First time in over 40 years that I’ve not played last post on Remembrance Day wherever I was in the world ..
I really hate that.
@@gavindy_Sv2 It takes a year of serious practice to learn just the basics of a trumpet. A true bugle is just muscle memory in the lips and breathing. A trumpet you add three fingers and more muscle memory.
Joshua was just covering for the noise of the sappers working to undermine the walls...
Thanks THG.
Now this is timing. Tomorrow is my son's birthday. He plays trombone in middle school. I just bought him a trumpet (which he's wanted for years.) He doesn't know yet.
Bronze horns from the bronze age are found a lot in Denmark. They are almost always found in pairs, and have a big disk at the flared end of the instrument that does very little for the accustics but looks pretty.
We don't know what they were called back in the bronze age, but today we call such a horn a "lur".
The lur was adopted as a brand for quality export butter from Denmark: _Lurpak._
The last use of the bugle in action by the British Army was during the Battle of Imjin River in Korea in 1953. The Chinese used bugles for battlefield communication and the Adjutant, Captain Anthony Farrar-Hockley got a senior NCO (whose name sadly escapes me) to play Drummer Eagle's bugle to confuse the Chinese. There is a famous painting of the event. Sadly Drummer Eagle had to destroy the bugle with a hand grenade to prevent its capture.
During Operation Market Garden in 1944 Lieutenant Colonel John Frost of 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment used a hunting horn to assemble his troops following the landing. There is a connection between these events as Farrar-Hockley's son received the Military Cross as a company commander (Major) while serving with Para at the Battle of Goose Green in 1982.
My immediate supervisor in the US Army was the late SSGT Leroy Payne, he said while the N. Koreans and Chinese use of the bugle, during the Korean War, was scary it did give him time to prepare for the attack.
He tooted his own horn! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! 😀
Brings back many good memories of revelly and taps played at the various posts and bases I served at during my time in the U.S. Army. Thank you for sharing this.
I was first cavalry division for 18 of my 20 years, and our change of command ceremonies were 100% bugle calls, complete with a cavalry charge...
I wish they’d announce these ceremonies ahead of time so I could attend. Experience one, from the bleachers.
My father was a Sergeant First Class First in the First Air Cavalry in Vietnam. He died not long after he returned. His Military funeral was in the winter. I was 11 and the things I remember most are the cold wind, the 21 gun salute, and the bugler. I’m 62 now and those memories still bring tears to my eyes.
Modern military funerals (USMC funerals are the only ones I’m familiar with) use trumpets with a device inserted in the bell to play the appropriate bugle calls. The person holding the trumpet is just a Marine with no musical training.
Funerals are the most important mission of the Marine Inspector/Instructor of a reserve unit. If that electronic bugle device fails, or the battery runs out, the Inspector/Instructor gets in a lot of trouble.
I used to march in junior drum & bugle corps competitions back in the 1960s (as a drummer). There was also a senior division that competed, and both held national championships each year. The most awe inspiring bugle solo I ever witnessed was in 1966 at the American Legion finals in Washington, DC, when a soprano bugler from the NY Skyliners played Flight of the Bumblebee on a G-D single valve bugle. The triple tonguing and articulation required to do that was nothing short of magical. I believe there's a RUclips video posted by Gelp99 that shows the complete 66 Legion Finals, and that performance is there.
6:30 the detail on the painting is amazing brush Strokes flawless you can just feel the horse pucker up as if you were there.
Edit: you can just feel the tension that the horses under
Interesting as I was watching this first call sounded at Davis Mountain Airforce base here in Tucson. Yup it's 7am. Rise & shine !
7 a.m the bloody days half gone. Typical chair force
It is all recorded these days, unless it's a special ceremony, where a live bugler is requested. At funerals, sometimes, they use two buglers, to get the echo effect.
Heads up its Davis Monthan. Auto correct probably changed it on you
The butler could probably raise all the dead planes in the graveyard.
As a musician, I was so excited watching this video! I played Alto Saxophone, Mellophone and French Horn in High School and had a blast with it. When I was in Boy Scouts a few years ago, we went on a campout and I had the privilege to play Taps on a bugle before we went to bed the first night. Such beautiful instruments.
Also, I wanted to ask if there was any way you could do a video on forgotten history of the Battle of Stones River from the Civil war. Theres tons of stories from those battles that deserve to be remembered. I live near the battlefield so I'm able to visit occasionally. Its quite the sight. Anyways. Keep up the great work THG!
@Marc Thomas Thank you for sharing that! I don't play much music now just because I don't own a personal instrument and they're very difficult for me to afford right now. So I agree with you lol, I'd love to go back to those days. I have some videos on my channel from my senior year when I marched Mello. I wasn't the best given it was my first year as a Brass player and i was coming off of 5+ years as a Saxophone player. But if you're interested, they're there. It was always such a blast.
I never practiced as much as i should've, had I done that, I would've been a phenomenal brass player lol.
Very interesting story. Thanks History Guy.
When you blew the bugle at the end it startled my cat 😂
Well, yeah! The poor thing was sure that he/she was about to be the focal point of an imminent charge. How was it to know the History Guy was using his bugle frivolously?😀
It did answer my question whether he could sound it...
I graduated from Norwich University, the nation's oldest, private military college, and the corps of cadets was organized on the regimental format.
I was in Band Company (I played Baritone Horn and Trombone) and we had a corporals slot for the Regimental Bugler.
Our day began and ended with the traditional Army bugle calls, and only the coldest Vermont winter days saw the use of a recording played over speakers. And such bugle calls were used to denote certain actions needed during parades such as Adjutant's Call or Officer's Call, and other ceremonies. Additionally the Regimental Bugler was responsible for playing Taps and often a second bugler was used to sound Echo Taps.
You should look into the life of Nancy Hart. She was a woman who lived during the revolutionary war. Awesome story about a frontierswoman who was known to resist British loyalists. She was born in North Carolina and lived in Georgia. We even had an elementary school named after her. Love your videos!
Or Laura Secord, a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812. Her courage blunted the invasion of Canada by USA troops.
Thank you for your bugle message. You may recall I requested this coverage as my grandfather was a buglar durng World War I. Nice to know you seriously interact with your subscribers. Thank you.
When I was 11, I was loaned a silver-plated trumpet carried by my Grandparents' dear friend when he served aboard several warships in the US Navy Pacific Fleet in WW2. He was a Signalman, but also an excellent musician, and tapped early on to be a unit bugler. Sadly I never really learned to play the trumpet well, and wound up returning it to him when my middle school band assigned me a trombone.
Thank you, History Guy. I am very glad I came upon this video for a few reasons. One is a pet peave of mine whenever I hear someone claim that US Marine musicians do not go to bootcamp. That is true for only The President's Own. The reason for that is because they recruit directly from the nation's universities. And most people who join the military with a college degree become officers. But it would be very impractical to have an entire unit of officers. So, those who pass the audition for the President's Own are automatically started out as an E-6 staff sergeant. The reason for this is to give them the pay as close to a second lieutenant as an enlisted member. On average it takes at least 8 and sometimes up to 12 years to become a staff sergeant. So it is specifically for pay. But those who join are still required to meet all height and weight standards. The enlisted Marine ranks of E-3 and higher have a set of crossed rifles. But those in The President's Own do not. Their rank is divided by a music lyer. However, the drum major is always selected from the field bands and does have crossed rifles. They are also subjected to an audition between the 9 other drum majors in Marine field bands. Nothing is a give me. And yes, a Marine field musician can become a member of The President's Own by passing the audition. However, if you are already an E-6, you will move up in rank faster in the field as to do so in The President's Own basically means someone has to get out. But even the field band musicians have more college degrees than any other MOS in the Corps. (Marine Occupation Specialty) When I was in roughly 1/3 of all Marine field musicians had a college degree and many had 2.
I served in the 1st Marine Division band at Camp Pendleton California. I am also a war vet having been a machine gunner in the Gulf War and perimeter security for our commanding general, Mgen Mike Myatt. In fact, on Thanksgiving day in 1990 President and Mrs.Bush came to our position in the desert. Also with them was Gen Schwartzkopf and yes, I have my pictures to prove it. The only ones with live weapons allowed were the president's secret service and the band. We had over 6,000 Marines come through that day and we had to make sure the bolts were taken out of every single rifle. A real pain. But after dinner the president came up and sat with my fireteam in our fighting hole. Not to croud him, I stayed out of the hole. Of coarse tbere was all sorts of press around too. After about 20 minutes and a couple rolls of film, my fireteam leader, a corporal, asked the president for his autograph to which he graciously agreed. So my buddy handed him a copy of Stars and Stripes and a pen. Then president Bush saw a picture of Margaret Thatcher and said, "Oh, she's retiring tomorrow." Then he yelled, "SHIT!!" Not knowing what happened, my buddy asked him what's wrong. President Bush told him, "Now all those bozos out there are going to ask me about her retirement as soon as I get out of here. They aren't suppose to know yet. Mind if I stay a little longer??" My buddy started laughing as did the rest of us when he said, "Sir, I'm a corporal. I think that decision is yours to make !!" He stayed another 15 minutes. Meanwhile I saw Gen Schwartzkopf basically kicking rocks. So I went over, gave him a salute and asked for a picture. Then it was he and I just standing there. So I said to myself, this is it. This is the only chance you will have for this in your entire life. I asked him, "Sir, so .....what's the plan ??" I figured I could only get busted a couple grades. He said, "Damn, I was wondering when someone was going to ask. You are the only enlisted man to do so." I told him, "Well, I'm a Marine and curious as hell." Do you know, he took me about 50 yards away from everyone else and we sat down in the sand where he drew it all out for me in Cliff's notes and told me everything. Then he asked if I thought it would work. I said why not. The guy's an idiot. The more simple the plan the better. I asked him a timeline and he said we are hoping we can do it by next Christmas as there will be no rotations home. We are prepared for about 20% losses. That woke me up. But I told him that we were already tired of waiting. "Yourproblem isn't how long it will take. Its how long we have to wait before we start". As you know, we started the air war on 17 January. I guess he was thinking the same thing. We stood up and he cleaned up all the maps he drew and told me not to say a word. He was never too concerned about what lower enlisted said so I took heed. And I found out real quick that he had not BSed me about anything. What he said would happen happened.
Anyhow, I would like you to do a video on the namesake of the USS Cole. He was a Marine musician in WW2 but wanted to be a machine gunner. His requests kept getting turned down as musicians were very hard to come by. But finally he was granted a transfer.. He became a sergeant in a machine gun platoon and yes, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. And 1st Marine Division band also lost members in Vietnam as well. And what upsets me the most is that the people who most often say Marine musicians aren't real Marines are OTHER MARINES !!!
I bet you freaked the cat out with that blow.
Scared mine.... :-)
I have a "Made in India" bugle very much like yours, minus the cord and badge. It has a nice patina and sits on a shelf with military history books. I think I got it from an interior decoration company back in the 90s that sold quite a bit of brass decor. I'm sure it cost less than $25 at the time.
Never disappointing!
Very cool bugle. Always wanted to know more, and now I do.
I served as REME attached to the 1st Bn Royal Highland Fusiliers,(now 2nd Bn The Royal Regiment of Scotland) in the late '70's / early '80's. The regiment still used bugle calls to mark daily events such as reveille, meal timings, six o'clock call, when the flags were lowered, ten o'clock call which was traditionally lights out and others lost to me in the mists of time as I moved on to serve with other regiments. Thank you for pointing out the fact about the bugle tradition being maintained by the light infantry. The RHF were themselves formed by the amalgamation of the Highland Light Infantry and the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Nemo Me Impune Lacessit.
Excellent video. I remember the sound of Charlie Reveille about 50 years ago when I was a Royal Green Jacket cadet.
I still remember most of the bugle calls I heard over 12 years in one military environment or another. Taps is the one that evokes the most memories both pleasing and depressing.
My dad, who served in the 101st at the end of WWII passed away last November. My brother's and I were surprised to learn a military honor guard was available to participate in the socially distanced graveside service. The small gathering of family and friends were deeply moved by the playing of taps by one of the honor guard members, which was beautifully done. We all were grateful. I didn't point out the bugle was electronic and played a recording.
Hey Playboy, while I was in the Boy Scouts I used to play the trumpet to play Taps and Reverly!
Sweetheart, this winter ain’t got nothing on a blizzard! Yea, I’m old enough to have lived through a bonafide blizzard in Indiana. The snow covered all the cars. The whole state shut down. People were snowed in (IN THE CITY). for days & days. Some drifts came up to the roofs of houses. After plowing, the snow piles from the plows were 25ft tall. It was truly a fun & unique experience. The silence of the city during the storm was amazing ..... I know because we had to go outside and play in it. You could jump off the porch and not get hurt because there was 4 ft of snow on the ground. I wasn’t a kid but I played in it anyway.
Can’t get enough of your channel! Thanks!!!!
I'll add that welding that badge to the bell affects the instrument's sound. The bell itself vibrates and that impacts the tone of the horn. For example, Bach trumpets' bells are formed of one piece and the first weld doesn't occur until way before the bell starts to flare. This is hard to manufacture and is part of what makes a Bach so expensive. Contrast this with a Conn, the more common beginner or rental band instrument. It has a two-piece bell, with the weld occurring a few inches from the lip of the bell and well within the flare. Much easier and cheaper to make, but you can really hear the difference in the two horns when played side by side.
Good coverage of this subject. Thank you for your efforts! Best teacher ever.
“Aim toward the sound of that bugle!“
Yeah ... I've heard bugle calls any number of times ... People think that Reveille is the bugle call to wake up - but in Recruit Training, we got up to First Call (that bugle call they play at Horse Races) which was at least half an hour if not more before Reveille. I can still remember hearing the dreaded First Call and having to get out of my nice warm bunk to clean the cold squad bay (these big windows were left open all night) in my underwear (like you see on Full Metal Jacket). And - I pulled Colors any number of times raising or lowering the flag.
Yep - they still use bugle calls a lot ... or at least they did in 1970 ...
But one thing ... I don't know if I EVER heard these bugle calls actually played on a bugle. I'm pretty sure they were mostly, if not all, recordings ...
When I was in Jr. ROTC in High School - one of our jobs was to raise and lower the Schools National Flag and - the music that went with it - was on a record ... which on occasion ... I was the one to put the needle down on. I'd sit there looking at the clock's sweep second hand and at precisely the right time - put the needle down in it's groove.
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@The History Guy here's one more request for an episode or two about the USS Thresher and USS Scorpion.
I purchased one of those knock-off bugles my freshman year of college, simply for the pleasure of owning a working bugle. I was able to put it to good work as in the fall of 2006 I participated in the filming of a History Channel documentary "The Spanish American War: First Intervention" as they used the USS Olympia in Philadelphia for multiple scenes. I got a brief close-up playing Assembly just before the scene where the commander in Manila surrenders to Admiral Dewey. Since that day I have played the bugle once for a funeral - though the ceremony was non-military, the gentleman was a close personal friend and WWII veteran.
Trumpet player here. Trumpets were a part of the knights retinue and gave directions to knight in battle.
They were a guild in Germany and were supposedly paid in gold. Quite a good story here. Please do a video on that.
Great video, I play the bugle for my Boys' Brigade company (72nd Birmingham). Back in the olden days (pre 2020) we used to use bugle calls on our annual summer camp.
This was nice. I was an Army Bandsmen, and my last Division still has a command bugler, who often plays a straight horn in ceremonies.
Great insights into bugling as well as purchasing items claiming historical connections!
You coverage on Trumpets and Bugles really blew.
As an aside, how about horns? These were used a lot in European cities to announce the setting of the watch for the night, or for curfew. Several still follow this tradition but only really during the tourist season. The exception being Ripon in North Yorkshire, UK, where it is still played at 9pm every day and has been since the city was given its charter over 1200 years ago.
I was at Fort Hood Texas, and they started using bugle calls FOR EVERYTHING, including “curfew” at 23:00, or maybe midnight, not sure. Anyway we heard bugle calls at all hours of the day, and night.
Flag goes up in morning 🎺
Flag goes down in evening 🎺
Taps late at night 🎺
And several times during larger "change of command" ceremonies, different sets of notes as instructions for different parts of the ceremony ( salutes and/or actual marching) 🎺🎺🎺
The older you get the more of those "phone calls " you get friends family. As a vet myself have many vet friends. still.hard not to shed a tear when I hear taps
My ex-husband served with 5th Group Special Forces in Vietnam, and is in our county's Honor Guard. It lately seems that he has to attend services every other week. He is not all that well, and I dread the time when 'Taps' is played for him.
As a music\sound person I studied trumpet and drums since I was 11 or so. I studied them first as instruments used in orchestra and\or band music. Later while I studied percussion at SIU-C my instructor introduced me to the importance of signaling snare drums. Very interesting class. I learned that commanders would judge distances my the delay of the return signals among other uses.
As an Army brat in the 50s living in Fulda, Germany, I can remember Taps being played every night. When we came back to the states in 1958, I had trouble falling asleep without hearing the call. Even to this day, I miss that sound of the bugler.
I just went and found my bugle. I was a bugler for my boy scout troop, for several years. It is a trumpet style with out keys. It is an Official Scout bugle, it is a Calvary style with an after market mouthpiece.
As a teen I played T.A.P.S for several years for Memorial Day Services at a military cemetery in the Dallas area.
I would like to see a video on military drums and cymbals throughout history. It's a fascinating subject that I love to read about.
I used to be one of the trumpeters doing reveille and taps at my Jr. High School, I also played the calls on my Sousaphone.
As a previous civil war reenactor I can tell you that after at least two volleys of fire the only thing you can hear is a bugle call as it hits tones that aren't affected by your loss of hearing. You really can no longer hear your NCOs shouts or even commands being relayed down the line. You can always hear the bugle though.
Fun fact : in French we call a bugle "un clairon". But we also have an instrument named "un bugle" : that's a flugelhorn !
I grew up partly on American Army bases in the late 1958's to mid 1966. The sound of a bugle is a welcome sound. Thanks to my God Mother's Father so are the bagpipes. Here in my 60's their are two things that will choke me up, a bugle playing taps and the pipes playing amazing grace. For all you young people playing trumpets, learn to play taps and keep in practice. There is nothing more humbling than to be called to honor and lay to rest one of America's brave men or women in uniform.
Ending your informative video on a good note!
Bravo!
One of my favorite possessions is a photograph of my great grandfather taken in Gibraltar when he was being sent overseas as a new recruit in the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders regiment for Queen Victoria. I don’t know where he was being sent, so if anyone out there knows where the regiment was posted to in 1889, I would appreciate your input. Thanks.
Btw, I enjoy this channel and try to watch every day.