BANDS

When the First Echelon left New Zealand the understanding was that each infantry brigade should have a band. Had it stopped at that all would have been well; but there was a tendency for other corps or units to want bands of their own. It was not long, for instance, before the artillery had a band, and Maadi Camp at least one, all these being official. In addition, a number of unofficial bands appeared, the explanation being that the men were really something else during working hours and only bandsmen in their spare time, a tale that deceived no one. The value of bands is undoubted, providing they play for their formation or unit and do not go touring; but some limit there must be.