ISSUE 61 : Nov/Dec - 1986 - Australian Defence Force Journal

I: DEFENCE FORCE JOURNAL No. 61 November/December 86
The Silver Ceremonial Drums
In 1961, the Royal Australian Navy celebrated
their Golden Jubilee and as a lasting
memento of the Anniversary, the Commonwealth
and State Governments presented the
Senior Service with a set of silver ceremonial
drums consisting of 8 side drums, 2 tenor drums
and one base drum.
These drums were manufactured by the Brisbane
Company Drouyn and Drouyn and, although
it is not officially recorded, it is believed
that their construction created several records,
including the fact that the bass drum was made
from the longest piece of continuous silver ever
fabricated in Australia and that the entire set
consumed almost the entire silver stock of the
Eastern seaboard of the continent.
The specifications of the drums demanded
the following:
• Sterling silver shells with rolled top and
bottom for reinforcement,
• Rod tension instead of rope tension,
• Sterling silver hoops, fitted over aluminium
hoops carrying plastic batter and
snare heads, and
• Silver slinging hooks and carrying ring
to be bolted, not screwed.
Detailed individual specifications for each
type of drum indicated the snare mechanism
and Coat of Arms of the donor Government
which was attached to the appropriate drum,
along with the Royal cypher and the RAN
badge.
The carrying slings were manufactured of
leather, and with the exception of the base drum
sling, all feature an enamelled RAN badge.
The drum sticks were manufactured of
Queensland black bean with sterling silver ferrules
and the drum drapes were created from
nylon rope, each drum being cased in a metal
carrying container for maximum protection.
Presentations were organized in each state
were RAN Bands paraded and Government representatives
officially handed the drums to senior
Naval Officers.
The presenters were as listed under:
4 side drums from Commonwealth Government
1 side drum from South Australia
1 side drum from Queensland
1 side drum from Tasmania
1 side drum from Western Australia
1 tenor drum from Victoria
1 tenor drum from New South Wales
1 bass drum from Commonwealth Government
Because of the quality of the silver used, it
is necessary to handle the drums whilst wearing
white cotton gloves, otherwise the surface stains
very quickly with constant touching by hand.
The drums are very heavy, the bass drum
weighing nearly 25 kgs., so their use is restricted
to very important ceremonial occasions. They
were used on parade during the Navy's 75th
Anniversary in 1986 and were on display at
various times throughout Australia during the
year.
Off The Nautical Record
"Music from the sea has rotated on countless
turntables and snaked through interminable
cassettes".
•
A perceptive look at a part of the Royal
Australian Navy that you never knew
existed.
Smoky Dawson, regarded as the doyen of
country and western music, boasts a recording
career covering many years.
Far removed from the guitars, the horses and
the rodeo circuit, and situated at the other end
of the musical spectrum, the Band of the Royal
Australian Navy has been recording with the
EMI Company for a period of time spanning
four decades.