Military bass drum

Description

This bass drum is part of a set made in memory of the 143 ranks of the Royal Marines Band Service who lost their lives in the First World War (1914-1918). The drums were paid for by voluntary subscriptions from all ranks of the Royal Naval School of Music and were dedicated in Eastney on the 5th March 1921. It is a military bass drum with emblazoned wooden shell, wooden counterhoops, 32-inch skin heads, and rope-tensioned with British style white leather braces (round edge, white, with vellum lace). The counterhoops have fourteen drilled holes and brass saddles through which the tensioning rope passes, and three brass feet on one of the counterhoops. The names of the 143 men are painted on the shell, arranged in three columns.