The Lincoln and Welland Regimental Band

Music has always been a part of the fabric of the Regiment. Like their British counterparts, Butler's Rangers carried a drummer (who may also served as a fifer) on their establishment. The accompanied the Corps on expeditions, and at least on two occasions the drummers accompanied a Flag of Truce, drumming to attract attention to the Flag.

An instrument return dated 1827 documents the existence of a band in the 3rd Regiment of Lincoln Militia. It notes that the fifes and drums of the Regiment had been augmented by a triangle, privately owned by one of the soldiers.

As military bands took on more instruments (for example, bugles), so did the bands of both the 19th and 44th. Early photographs show the diversity of the bands and their participation in all major activities of the two units.


The Band of the 19th "Lincoln" Regiment began to perform community concerts at Montebello Park in St Catharines before 1890. That tradition is now over 100 years old, and continues today.

In 1906 the 19th formed a bugle band, and by 1910 the 44th was boasting a similar band.

During World War I, all three battalions had brass and bugle bands. The brass band of the 98th Battalion, CEF, continued to perform until 1923, although the Battalion was disbanded and the men were volunteers.

In 1923, the Lincoln Regiment had three bands: brass, bugle and bagpipe.

Throughout World War II, the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment had a brass band. The 1st Battalion took a brass, bugle and bagpipe band to Nanaimo, BC, but they were disbanded and did not exist overseas. After the war, while awaiting return to Canada, the 1st

Battalion re-established the bugle band.

On its return in 1946, the 1st Battalion was led through the streets of St Catharines by the brass band of the 2nd Battalion.

The Regiment paraded with two bands on the Remembrance Day parade in Port Colborne in 1949.

In the early 1950s, the Regimental Association and Band began attending the annual Warriors' Day parade at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. Both won many awards over the years. The Band no longer attends the parade on a regular basis.

The Regimental Band has a close relationship with the band of the Bermuda Regiment. There have been a number of visit exchanges between the two bands, as well as trips to Europe.

The band was reduced to Voluntary Status as part of an overall band reduction in the Canadian Forces during the 1990s. This means that only a few band members are on strength of the Canadian Forces, while the rest are volunteers. The band is currently organized as a brass marching band, but has the capability of forming a concert or dance band.

The Band Display