Reserve musicians and buglers from the Waterloo Band & Bugles of The Rifles once again supported musical activity in London this year, both as a formed unit and by augmenting the Regular Band & Bugles of The Rifles on public duty engagements.
Image Credit: Mathew Murphy-Kane
Formerly cap-badged Royal Green Jackets under the command of 5 RGJ, the Waterloo Band & Bugles are tasked annually at the Regent’s Park bandstand to support a short service and memorial concert commemorating the seven bandsmen of 1 RGJ who were killed there on 20th July 1982 in an IRA terrorist attack. Attendance at this event has grown steadily over the past three years, and this year several hundred people were present, including family members of the fallen, serving personnel, veterans, cadets, and members of the public.
At the time of the attack, the 1 RGJ Band was performing Selections from “Oliver” (arr. Leyden). The piece was not performed by an RGJ, Light Division, or Rifles band for almost 40 years. Following consultation with families and surviving veterans, the band’s Director of Music, Major Lawrence Sale, reintroduced the piece as part of the annual memorial. Each year, the performance pauses at the point in the music where the explosion occurred, during which the names of the fallen are read, followed by the Last Post and Reveille, before the piece is concluded.
Supporting Regular Army bands remains a key role of Reserve musicians. Sergeant Hamilton, Musician Jackson, Rifleman Howard, and Rifleman Brown all supported public duties at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and St James’s Palace, with Rifleman Brown completing over fifty duties.
On 6th November 2025, the Waterloo Band provided a small ensemble and two buglers to support the Goldsmiths’ Livery Dinner at Goldsmiths’ Hall, the final official dinner of the outgoing Lord Mayor of London. The Goldsmiths’ Company is formally affiliated with A Company, 7th Battalion, The Rifles. This affiliation reflects a long-standing tradition in which City of London Livery Companies maintain active links with Armed Forces units, offering civic and social support and strengthening ties between the City and the military.
The following day, the bugle platoon sounded the Last Post and Reveille at the Lloyd’s of London Remembrance Service, reinforcing the strong civic affiliations between the City of London and 7 RIFLES.
