GrenadierGuardsDmr's video: Band of the Royal Marines Plymouth in Sydney Australia - 9 October 2013

The Band of the Royal Marines Plymouth visited Sydney, Australia, as part of the International Fleet Review celebrating the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy fleet into Sydney Harbour in 1913. As a British colony until Federation as a nation in 1901, previously the Royal Navy operated from Sydney. From 1913 the permanent Royal Australian Navy bands wore the Royal Marines ceremonial uniform until around thirty years ago. At 2:47, in the background just above the Drum Major, about 50 metres away, is the exact spot where Captain Arthur Phillip RN, landed in 1788 with Royal Marines to establish the first European settlement of the Port of Sydney, Colony of New South Wales and eventually the Nation of Australia. On 9 October 2013 the Band formed up in The Rocks area of Sydney and were near the rear of a parade of contingents from all visiting vessels down George Street for review by the Governor General of Australia. They were immediately in front of the H.M.S. Daring contingent. The Director of Music, Royal Marines School of Music, Portsmouth, Major Jason Burcham, can be seen standing behind the Drum Major at the step off. Whilst it was 28 degrees Celsius (83 F), the following day was 37 degrees!! The Band had a final performance at the Capitol Theatre on 10 October, some recreation, then departure on 13 October 2013. All the Royal Marines bands have a great musical heritage and behind the public performances is an enormous effort to excel. Plymouth continued this excellence in their Sydney performances. Performance of the full music "H.M.S. Ocean" (thank you lirbugler) at the end of this clip can be seen in the link below, a week earlier, in Wellington, New Zealand. However, the brass section sounds much sweeter in Sydney, the warmer weather perhaps? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZsMFkmyhLY