Stansell’s Bandsmen #5: The Oboe

The 5th in a series on some of the roles of British army bandsmen as illustrated by Frederick Stansell c.1900 in the book “Bands of the British Army” by W.J. Gordon. #MakeMusicNotWar.

No.5: The Oboe – Royal Irish Rifles

“In the early days of the British Army the horse had trumpets, and the dragoons and infantry had hautboys, a word spelled in many ways, the latest form being oboe… Oboes were brought into the army in 1678 by the Horse Grenadier Guards, who served as foot as well as horse.“

W.J. Gordon

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