Casestudy NWVCoD
The NWVCoD was created as a Facebook page in October 2021 and a go fund me page was set up. A large donation was given by an injured veteran that enable the purchase of equipment and provide funds for the rental of a rehearsal room and the first in-person session was held on 2nd February 2022. Its formation was the idea of its founder who had served in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers as an infantry soldier and drummer. The aim of the group according to their constitution is:
To form a non-profit organisation in a military-style Corps of Drums (CoD) to incorporate veterans, comrades, and the local community in the local area. The primary aim is to support the annual Remembrance Day parade as well as any locally (Northwest) organised public events.
Membership of the group is open to any person 18 or over located in the Northwest area who has a military background. Tom the organiser states:
‘We are open to all cap badges. Our overall aim is to play as a traditional infantry Corps of Drums but doing that seems to be helping our members mentally this is just by accident and hope this will carry on becoming a support network. We hope to be not just a Cops of Drums but also the “Go To” for Veterans around the Northwest.
The NWVCoD started rehearsing once a week in a rehearsal room in St Helens, Lancashire and the group play traditional military CoD music. They now also have a satellite group in Bolton. The group gave its first performance on 12 June 2022 on the birthday of the injured veteran that generously donated to their start-up fund. The music. Through fieldwork visits to the group and through observations, discussions and interviews with the group founders and members the following themes were identified. Upholding and Upkeep of TraditionsVeteran AttitudesIdentity Self-Esteem and SkillTrauma, Mental Health, Distraction & Diversion Inclusivity and Environment of Support (Hospitality)Commitment to the music Barriers to Operating/ Funding Issues
Upholding and Upkeep of Traditions:
The NWVCoD has the upkeep of traditions at its heart, the founding members come from a time when every infantry battalion had its own CoD with its own unique uniform and traditions, Tom tells us.
‘As I got to think about it I got to realise that a lot of the regiments are losing their Corps of Drums. I think that there is only something like 9 CoDs left in the British army now, so they are also losing all the small traditions particular to CoDs. We hope to keep as many of these traditions and stories alive for future generations. Now it seems as though we are hopefully going to become a source of the traditions of the regiments for people maybe in the fifties to right through to those people just getting out and times change, and traditions change and we are hoping to gather all those traditions together so some of them are saved.’
Graham informed us that he took up the bugle partly because it was hard to find someone to play the last post at a veteran’s funeral, a tradition that was slipping by.
Identity Self-Esteem and Skill:
A significant theme that emerges from the observations and conversations is the effect the group has on self-esteem and their concept of identity. Harry confided ‘it helps me remember fondly my days in the CoD. Also returning to something I am good at has helped my self-esteem and sense of identity that I had lost during my time out of the army.’ Dick tells us ‘I Joined the army & was in the CoD for my regiment. I left the Army but joined the Orange Order that had a marching band – that meant that I kept part of my military identity as a civilian. I was always known as “Dickie drums.’ Tom observes ‘Dick left the Army because of an injury and, the decision to leave was made for him through injury. In some ways he hasn’t left he's still doing it with us.’
Tom as the founder of the group even admits that the formation of the group was a selfish one, based on the pride he had in a skill that was being lost:
‘I think there has always been that need there and it's something I was always quite good at, I was leading tipper in the platoon, so I was the lead side drummer, so was always quite good at it. I’d sort of lost it a little bit and wanted to get it back basically.
Dick also confirms that pride in a skill is part of his identity as a veteran and tells us that being part of the group, ‘It has re-established the pride in my skill and identity – still good at something.’
A small number of the group, and although veterans did not have any prior musical experience. Taking up music with the group has now expanded their identity into a musical identity. Graham tells us:
‘I served in the army but was never in a CoD and didn’t play an instrument. During the lockdown, I bought a bugle and with online support and the sessions here I can now play. Being involved with other veterans is great and playing the bugle has given me a new identity.’
Veteran Attitudes:
The formation of military identity and the military identity legacy described by Cooper et al. (2017) continues after leaving service although stereotypical many veterans conform to certain attitudes & behaviours. The group members attitudes towards themselves and as a community compared to civilians seem to be typical of those described by Balfour (2018). When Tom was looking to find a CoD to play with after leaving the forces he said:
‘I looked at joining the Fusilier association Corps of Drums but got the impression that they weren’t really interested in having me there. I believe this is because they are all Civvies who have never served and didn’t want me upsetting the status quo.’
Others also had problems adjusting to working with civilians playing military music Dick told us:
‘I was injured in Iraq and medically discharged. I tried to start a CoD in my local area and had the support of an association, but they did not understand the military element of the music and it didn’t work out.’
The general stereotypical feeling that veterans have toward other veterans is also demonstrated by the group. Tom explains: ‘We can't make someone a vet, but we can teach a vet to play the drum or a flute and because he’s a veteran he would fit right in. They are of the same mind as us anyway, aren’t they? He goes on.., I believe that any of our members will tell you that just being in the presence of like-minded people helps with their mental health immensely. I know of no Veteran that classes him or herself as a Civilian. In the veteran world, there is also a resistance to civilians who claim to have served but have not, there is a suspicion felt when things don’t seem quite right. Tom describes one situation:
‘We did have a guy that turned up who we think had mental health problems and he left of his own accord, but we didn’t make him feel entirely welcome but none of us believed he was actually a veteran. He had the stories; he knew the people, but things just didn’t add up. None of us persecuted him or gave him a hard time, in fact, he left himself.’
Trauma, Mental Health, Distraction & Diversion:
It is reasonable to say that just as with any group that is brought together, some in the group will suffer from mental health problems. Regarding the NWVCoD, Tom tells us: ‘We do have Veterans that have suffered Trauma and I believe that every Veteran that finished training and served in his unit suffered trauma when they were released from service and abandoned to Civvy Street with no support.’
With one another the group can share their mental health problems, Harry was comfortable enough to disclose that he suffers from PTS and is having continuing psychiatric treatment. He was also open to discussing his triggers and due to PTS triggers, he did not want to do video interviews. He was happy to take part with the camera running background, but no face-to-face interview on camera.
Joe was also quite open and explained how being in the group was helping: ‘I have been in a lot of trouble at work recently and suffer from depression and anxiety. Being in the group has helped me cope and feel happier in life.’
The group is also a good diversion and distraction away from stressors and mental health problems for many of the group. On observing Brian who has problems & stress, in life at work. He arrives at the session looking worried and his shoulders dropped. Once the session starts, he looks younger fitter and happier while playing. Harry comments that when he is in the room with the group for rehearsal, he can forget everything outside of the room for 2 hrs and Tom describes two other members that benefited from the diversion and distraction that participating provided:
‘When he was there, he was relaxed and enjoyed himself and we also found out by chatting to him that he hardly ever left his house. We have another guy who does a lot of fostering and stuff and when he comes to us, he’s away from all that and all the stress and hassle and he’s back to where he was when serving.’ For some, diversion and distraction can also be found in individual practice when preparing for rehearsals.
Graham explains: ‘I have PTS, the group helps me to focus on positive things and I can also pick up my bugle and practice at home when I’m not feeling great.’
Inclusivity and Environment of Support (Hospitality):
The group focus on inclusiveness and support that is restricted to the military veteran community, within this the group are very welcoming to any veteran that shows an interest in the group and encourages those with or without musical backgrounds to join in. Tom explains:
‘If someone is interested and wants to do it we are quite willing to teach them to play the flute or play the drum.’ Some of our members don’t have a social life and have lost touch with their Veteran friends. We give them that back. With one veteran who left, we talked him into coming back we put him on the club committee and he’s fantastic and we think he would have gone back home, sat at home, and done nothing again.’
In rehearsals the sessions start relaxed with no pressure, group members arrive, greet each other, and swap light-hearted banter. Joe says: ‘I have enjoyed meeting people of similar interest and enjoy the banter without being offended.’ They then start to warm up individually, left to their own devices & thoughts and come together with the rest of the group when ready. The leader waits for them to come together and be ready before making a start. The band practices sitting down as a static band rather than marching so those who are injured can still take part. In the first session observed they played one piece all the way through, then discussed each other’s roles having a very supportive & respectful discussion. The second piece was more upbeat with a faster tempo. At end of the piece, there was more military banter. One participant has an ongoing illness he plays the flute and keeps up with others most of the time, he stops where he needs to and picks up again in an appropriate place in the music and everyone accommodates this. Any mistakes made were tolerated with humour. On one piece where Dick was struggling Billy & Ben reassured him ‘You are doing all right- you're really doing all right.’ Later Dick commented, I enjoy the no-pressure banter and the supportive environment.
Commitment to the music:
Although Dave commented ‘We are veterans, we are not expected to be top-notch CoD, we are just having a go, doing gigs and turning up and we are getting better,’ and through all the support and mindfulness of wellbeing there is also a commitment to the music and desire to be taken seriously by the military music community. In the subsequent sessions observed the sessions were different and they ran through a set in real time for the rehearsal for the performance on 11 June. The drummers concentrate but watch each other & keeping time together. Side drummers in flow.
There was a discussion at end of the set highlighting mistakes and corrections all views were taken respectfully. The format of the sessions was different and varied according to need with the drums and flutes moving to different rooms to practice their parts. Billy was coaching & mentoring the other two flautists in a supportive, respectful, and friendly manner. The two were respectful and listened to his coaching. At the tea break halfway through the rehearsal, there was more military banter and throughout the session, the banter was displayed at appropriate times and did not interfere with the music making. After the break was a run through the whole set with no discussion until the set was complete. Again, a discussion was at the end of the set highlighting mistakes and corrections all views were taken respectfully and areas to work on at home were taken away. This was the build-up to their first performance on the birthday of the disabled veteran that had donated to the group. The build-up to the performance was taken very serious by everyone demonstrating not only the supportive side of the group but also their serious commitment to the music.
Funding Issues / Barriers to Operating:
Money or lack of it was a big obstacle to the set-up of the group and could not have happened without a large donation to help them set up. Rehearsal space has been provided by a local brass band at a reduced rate in sympathy with the group's cause. According to Tom, the group is ticking along, but money is still a big issue. Recruitment is also another concern and although the Facebook group has 269 active participants have plateaued at a core consistent group of 8-10 players. The group are optimistic about its future, that the project will grow, and music is an important tool to use in promoting wellbeing in the veteran community, Tom concludes:‘I think what we are doing is what the breakfast clubs set out to do, that doesn’t seem to quite able to do it, breakfast club – fantastic idea – bring people together, but I think because we've got the music as well, we've got that interest on top that’s what gels everyone together the music is the glue that sticks it all together.’