Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC) was an administrative and transport corps of the Canadian Army. The Canadian Army Service Corps was established in the Non-Permanent Active Militia in 1901 and in the Permanent Active Militia in 1903.[2] The Canadian Permanent Army Service Corps was redesignated The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps on 3 Nov 1919.[3][4]
Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
1 November 1901–1 February 1968
Canada
Administrative corps
Nil sine labore (Latin for 'nothing without work')
When the Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force were merged in 1968 to form the Canadian Forces, the administrative Corps of the Army were deactivated and merged with their Naval and Air Force counterparts to form the Canadian Forces' personnel branches.[7]
1st Armoured Brigade
2nd Armoured Brigade
1st Infantry Division
2nd Infantry Division
3rd Infantry Division
4th Armoured Division
5th Armoured Division
1st Corps Troops
2nd Corps Troops
First Canadian Army Troops
General Headquarters, Line of Communication and Base Troops
Korea
Japan
The RCASC sported multiple military bands during its 67-year history. The full dress uniform at the time was the army's dress blues accompanied by a white pith helmet. The original band wore a khaki uniform, however, the commanding officer arranged for a dress blue uniform.
The following is a list featuring the organization of RCASC bands in the past:[11]
The Calgary units of the RCASC formed a band in 1932, with its first public performance was being on 12 March 1933 at Strand theatre. Many band members went overseas in 1940 and a new trumpet and drum band was formed at Sarcee Barracks to replace this band. The latter was dissolved at the end of the war and a new RCASC band was organized by George Bealing in 1948. By the end the summer of 1942, the band mainly consisted of musicians from the depleted ranks of the West Canadian Collieries Band.[12] This band officially disbanded in 1963, with most remaining members transferring to The King's Own Calgary Regiment Band.[13] On 2 September 1939, the RCASC Trumpet Band marched through the streets of Ottawa with accompanying placards that were designed to recruit Canadian volunteers following the declaration of war on Nazi Germany.[14]
The 5th Column RCASC Trumpet Band from Toronto was the RCASC predecessor to the then Jolly Jesters and the modern-day Burlington Commanders Drum Corps. At the time of its active service, it was part of the army reserve. In 1955, the army forbade the band from performing at a civilian function in Toronto. As a result, the band made the decision to remove itself from the army order of battle and become a civilian group.[15][16][17]
Notable RCASC bandsmen included the following officers and personnel: