The Buglers

Last year the Together Trust held a ceremony to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War I. The occasion was marked with the unveiling of a bronze plaque, engraved with the names of those who had fallen whilst serving for their country. All these names were men who had either worked for the charity, or lived in one of its homes when it resided in Manchester.

Commemorative plaque, 2018

The positioning of the bronze plaque at our Head Offices of the Together Trust allows the charity to have a recognised place for remembrance each year. On Monday, staff will come together to remember all those involved in wars across the world.

Many of those associated with the charity signed up to the local pal brigades. These were specially created battalions comprising of men who had enlisted together in local recruiting drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and colleagues, rather than being randomly allocated to battalions. 

The main battalions joined in our records were the Salford Pals and the Manchester Pals. It is interesting to note that three of our boys fought together in Platoon VII, ‘B’ company of the 15th (Service) Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers Company. They also played together as part of the Bugle Band. It is likely the three men learnt their musical skills from the charity, who had its own brass band. Although known as the Bugle Band, individuals were known as ‘Drummers’.

Brass Band at Strangeways

The bands were used during the War as a way of keeping up morale. They were also considered to be useful for recruitment and training purposes. Instruments however, were not easy to come by; the War Office at first refusing to supply them. Instead a special appeal was made for donations or gifts of instruments, which were fulfilled by generous donors.

All three of these boys survived the War and their music played on.