The Drums

This drum belonged to the Wrentham Volunteers, formed in 1803 and commanded by Captain Gooch. In January 1860 a volunteer corps was again formed at Wrentham with about 30 members. This drum was probably used by both corps.

The drum was given by John Allen to E. R. Cooper, a Major in the 4th Battalion The Suffolk Regiment. It was presented to the Officers of the 2nd Battalion in 1911 and to the Suffolk Regiment Museum in 1972.

During the Allied retreat to Dunkirk the British Expeditionary Force was ordered to destroy all non-essential equipment, which included the instruments of the Band and the Drums.

Rather than destroy their Drums, the 1st Battalion The Suffolk Regiment handed them to the people of Roubaix for safe keeping. The French later moved them to a safe place where they were hidden safely.

In 1944 the Battalion returned to the area after D-Day and the Commanding Officer sent a party to Roubaix to enquire after the Drums. Of the original eight Drums, three had survived the war and were retrieved although unfortunately one of them was later destroyed by enemy action. The surviving Drums were played on the Battalion’s first ceremonial parade after D Day.

After the war the Drums were again used by the Corps of Drums and were eventually replaced and disappeared from view.

In the early years of the 21st century a Suffolk Regiment Drum appeared for sale on eBay, which was identified as one of the pre-war set. It was purchased and is now one of the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Regiments' Museum’s most cherished artefacts.

During the defence of Singapore, the Cambridgeshire Regiment's possessions, including the Drums, were hidden in the Goodwood Hotel.

After the war had ended Miss Mary Taylor, a Red Cross Welfare Officer, spotted some drums whilst investigating outbuildings at the hotel and recognised the Regimental Badge. She arranged for the Drums to be returned to England where, in February 1946, her father handed them back to the Regiment in Cambridge. It was decided that they would be paraded in silence to honour the memory of the fallen at Singapore and thereafter. Some of the Singapore Drums are on display at Ely Museum.