The Appearance of the Busby

After a rain soaked show in 1949 it was apparent that the current band uniforms, relics of the First World War days, were done. The tunics were discoloured and the seams were coming apart. Directed by the Colonel and Officers of the Regiment, a campaign was started to raise the funds necessary for new uniforms. In the year that followed the band contributed $2500, raised through dances, towards the fund. By early 1951, the new uniforms arrived from England completed with our first busbys.

The busby was generally worn by Hussards and artillery units. It was adapted from the type used by the Hungarian armies of the old days. Originally, the bag (flap) on the right side of the busby extended down and clipped on the shoulder of the uniform. This was to ward off sword cuts in battle. Today, it is merely a decoration.

The uniforms were very different from what we had proudly worn for so many years. Along with the busbys came the epaulets (wings) on the shoulders identical with the uniforms worn by the Militia at the Riel Rebellion. They are also identical to those worn by the North-West Mounted Police, forerunner to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police when western Canada first came under its jurisdiction. The Signals Band is the only unit carrying on this 100 year tradition.

Story by: Denny Glaze