212 Pages
ISBN 978-1-917120-53-1
B&W Images
A chance discovery of an old photograph ignites a powerful journey into the forgotten world of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot. Taken in South Africa shortly before the regiment marched into Zululand, it shows a proud, disciplined, and surprisingly youthful military band. Their instruments hint at a balanced, confident ensemble; their expressions reveal nothing of the tragedy awaiting them. Within months, all but two of these musicians would fall during the devastating Zulu assault at iSandlwana, the British Army’s greatest defeat.
Through vivid storytelling and meticulous historical detail, the novel explores the camaraderie and courage of serving in a military band. As a young recruit trains, performs, and serves alongside his fellow bandsmen, he learns that their duties extend far beyond the parade ground. In battle, they serve as stretcher bearers, messengers, and lifelines amid chaos. At the heart of the story lies the enduring question posed by the photograph itself: who were these musicians, and what became of the lives behind their steady, determined gaze?
Reviews for The Noble Bandsman:
A compelling and highly readable retelling of the tragedy that struck the Regimental Band of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot at iSandlwana. Hall’s vivid storytelling blends 19th Century social history with intimate biography, following a young rural cornetist whose life changes forever after seeing a military band at the local fair. He was surely not the first to be inspired by such a sight, nor the last. Both moving and richly detailed, this book captures the timeless spirit of youth and ambition against the backdrop of one of history’s most poignant military disasters.
LT. COL STUART WATTS OBE LRAM PSM, PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR OF MUSIC (ARMY) 1997–2000
A particularly moving tribute to the members of the Band of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot, who lost their lives at iSandlwana. I was captivated from the outset, deeply moved by a personal connection–for but a quirk of birth, I might well have been one of those bandsmen.
MAJOR DAVID MARSHALL ARCM LTCL BBCM PSM (Ret.), DIRECTOR OF MUSIC COLDSTREAM GUARDS BAND 1990–1999
I am no musician; I can just about whistle in tune, but I know a good story when I read one, and I could not put The Noble Bandsman down. The book has given me an even greater appreciation for the professionalism of the bandsmen of the Royal Corps of Army Music, who continue the proud tradition of service and support of their forebears in times of conflict.
CAPTAIN SEAN WORTHINGTON (RET.), ROYAL ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL ENGINEERS 1986–2000