[John@theDrift]

Originally Posted by Coquet

Interesting this. Looks like the 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers borrowed the 'Amble and Radcliffe Prize Band' in 1914.









Mr. Chas. Johnson, of Long Row, Radcliffe, for the past five years has been bandmaster of that excellent local combination, the Amble and Radcliffe Prize Band, which is now stationed in Alnwick, as the Band of the 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. In the streets of Alnwick, their splendid music is heard four times a day, leading the Terriers out on parade and finishing up in the Market Place invariably with ‘The British Grenadiers’. It is interesting to know that their silver instruments cost between £400 and £500. They have won several contests. Two years ago they attended Crystal Palace in the national prize competitions, and came out 12th amongst 27 bands from all parts of the United Kingdom. Mr Johnson is a native of North Seaton, but has spent 10 years at Shilbottle, 11 years at Newton-on-the-moor Colliery as manager and has been about nine years at Amble. He was bandmaster at Shilbottle and organist at the Parish Church (both old and new), being an organ pupil of the late C.E. Moore’s. He was also organist at Newton and occupied a similar post at Eglingham for about a year in the time of the late Ven. Archdeacon Martin. He has adjudicated at several contests, vocal and instrumental, his first experience in this capacity being at the first miners’ picnic at Tynemouth, when 19 bands competed. Mr Johnson has four sons under the colours at the present day- two in France and two in Alnwick- an example of family patriotism on which the admirers of his fine hand will heartily congratulate him.


Alnwick & C. Gazette Aug 1914

This is the band of the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers at Armistice as pictured in Captain Buckley's 'War History'. Charles Johnson possibly fourth from left in the centre row?