THE BAND OF THE CORPS OF ROYAL ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
The Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was formed on the 1st October 1942. Throughout the first five years of its existence, musical support for all Corps functions had been provided by a small group of musicians playing drums and fifes. As the Corps expanded the demand for this group, the band began to increase in size and it was decided to appoint a Bandmaster for the purposes of developing the skills of the existing musicians and to recruit others. The Band remained unrecognised by the Military authorities until 1947 when War Office Letter 27/GEN/2935 (AG1A) dated 23rd September gave authority for Staff Band status.
The Corps Band’s first Director of Music was Captain Denis Plater who had transferred from The Royal Tank Regiment. Its establishment had initially been set at one Band Sergeant, two Corporals, three Lance Corporals and thirty-four Musicians and as the musical standards began to improve, the band soon started to undertake engagements across the whole of the British Isles.
In 2014 as part of the Future of Army Music 2020 review, the REME band was restructured as a Specialist Contemporary Band (SCB). The REME Band is 1 of 22 Regular bands in the Corps of Army Music that provide military music for the British Army. The band relocated from Arborfield to Catterick Garrison and is presently eight members strong. The musicians were brought together from varying backgrounds within the British Army.
The REME Band’s aim is to entertain a wider audience, whilst retaining its proud heritage that has gone before it. The band performs at events and to troops around the world, including Operational commitments.