Page 25 - Book Eleven Havelock

DRUM TATTOO Written November 3 2011 Page 23
My career in military endeavors is much less than praiseworthy but I do have one vivid memory; my short career as the drummer- bo􏰀 of Havelock􏰁s Air Cadet Squadron 􏰂􏰃􏰄􏰅
We 􏰆ent on periodic 􏰇route marches􏰈􏰅 I guess real soldiers go on route marches so 􏰆h􏰀 shouldn􏰁t high school air cadets go on route marches? Our route marches were not the really long arduous ones which the real soldiers endured as part of their training in discipline and fitness and which we have all seen depicted in movies. Ours were maybe from the high school for a Church Parade to one of Havelock􏰁s churches􏰅 We had several Church Parades rotating visits to each of Havelock􏰁s four 􏰉at that time􏰊 congregations􏰅 It made us feel a bit like soldiers but it didn􏰁t ta􏰋 the limits of our endurance and it was kind of neat parading into the church and all sitting in rows near the front of the sancturary. Active military groups used to enhance their very long dreary route marches by singing as the􏰀 marched􏰅 Songs like 􏰇It􏰁s a Long Wa􏰀 to Tipperar􏰀􏰈 made the routine more endurable􏰅 The Americans in World War II 􏰆ould chant 􏰇Cadence Count􏰈 to keep the marchers cheerful. Knowledge of these procedures prompted my father, our Commander, to come up with an idea designed to improve our own air cadet route marches. Our morale was okay but maybe we could spruce it up a notch, he reasoned.
Dad got his hands on a decent kettle drum􏰅 I don􏰁t remember 􏰆here he got it but he 􏰆as al􏰆a􏰀s resourceful and never stopped trying to improve things􏰅 He theori􏰌ed that his air cadets􏰁 route marches 􏰆ould be more inspired if we marched to the beat of that drum. Somehow I got to be the volunteer drummer-boy.
Ta-dum, ta-dum, ta-dum dum dum works fine for marching but that alone is much too boring for a long march􏰅 Dad thought he kne􏰆 a prett􏰀 good 􏰇tattoo􏰈 to throw in occasionally. Not sure if he heard a real drummer using it or if he thought of it when he was shaving one morning. It went ta-dum dum dum ta-dum dum dum ta-dum dum dum-a-dum-a dum dum dum.
It sounded pretty sophisticated so I immediately began to practise it. At home. Annoying everyone else in the house of course. I could have moved my practices out into the garage where nowadays rock bands are exiled. But it was late fall and it was warmer inside.
Dad decided to introduce our drum corps and impress the town on the route march planned for Armistice
Day, November 11. Armistice Day came. Squadron 149 lined up for the parade with a nervous drummer
scheduled to do his thing. I planned to wait a few blocks before attempting my climactic crescendo, the
drum-roll I had practiced diligently at home. After a few blocks I was about to present it but my courage
failed me. Once, twice, about five times. I was desperately waiting to feel just the right beat to get it started.
I finally dared to take the plunge but by this time we were away out in the East End of Havelock where houses
were scarce and no street-side crowd. My first effort was a disaster. I couldn􏰁t get the right beat􏰅 It didn􏰁t
spruce up the footsteps of the cadets at all. It startled them and rattled ever􏰀bod􏰀 because m􏰀 tattoo didn􏰁t fit in 􏰆ith the rh􏰀thm of our steps. My confidence fell a few degrees but I 􏰆asn􏰁t ready to give up. We were even farther out of town when I summoned the courage to try it again. Not much better but at least no worse. By this time I was getting the bo􏰀s􏰁 attention. I heard a few snickers between drum beats.
Our platoon turned around and was heading back into town for my next try. This time it was somewhat better yet and almost didn􏰁t interfere with the natural rhythm of the marchers. Almost, but not quite. I was sweating and beginning to wonder if the drum-roll Dad taught me was even marchable. It seemed to be okay indoors at home where nobody was marching. I had tried to feel the cadence of marching at home when I had practiced diligently􏰍 but not diligently enough, as it was turning out. So I tried again. OKAY! This time it did match the marchers􏰁 steps and 􏰆e didn􏰁t all have to shuffle to get back into step. I was encouraged when I heard one of the boys mumble􏰎 sarcasticall􏰀 I􏰁m sure􏰎 􏰇He􏰁s getting better ever􏰀 time􏰅􏰈 That􏰁s all I needed􏰅 I can do it! I performed it successfully again as we approached the Cenotaph where there was a crowd waiting to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph in honour of young men who had lost their lives in the war overseas.
This all happened while World War II was still exacting lives of Havelock boys. The crowd there at Havelock􏰁s Cenotaph 􏰆as seriousl􏰀 mourning the deaths of precious loved ones on Armistice Day, also called Remembrance Day. Glad I finally got that drum-roll right.
Mercifully that was the first and last performance of Havelock Air Cadet Squadron 􏰂􏰃􏰄􏰁s 􏰇drum corps􏰈.