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The Salvation Army began in Canada in 1882 with Jack Addy and Joe Ludgate conducting open airs in downtown London. As the Army grew over the next decade, it experienced some interesting growing pains such as at least one person jailed for beating a drum on King Street in downtown London. A very special event was the visit of William Booth in 1886.
There was peak excitement during this decade when Canada received its first visit from a reigning monarch. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth came to the country in June 1939 and were in London on June 7. Among the estimated 300,000 citizens and visitors who came out to welcome them, was the Citadel band who were to play at the corner of Grosvenor and Waterloo Streets. As the band was preparing to march to their playing spot from the Citadel on Clarence Street, a car pulled up and an unknown American SA Colonel got out and stood behind the D.C. for the march. He was wearing a straw hat, Army tunic, grey trousers, and brown shoes, much to the consternation of the bandmaster, Hugh McGregor, who was a real stickler for proper uniform. No one ever found out who the Colonel was.
The Citadel band was used for church services at Wolseley Barracks many times and several bandsmen joined the Army Service Corps Band (Reserve), which was conducted by Hugh McGregor, Wally Needham and then Glen Shepherd. On one occasion the band went to play to soldiers who were departing for overseas. The bandmaster asked if anyone had any requests. Someone yelled out "Roll Out the Barrel" - somehow the band was able to fulfill this request and played with their usual finesse.
During the war years, the London Citadel Corps in general, and the band in particular were augmented by soldiers, sailors and airmen from other countries, as well as other towns in Canada. In 1944 the bandmaster, Hugh McGregor, moved to Brantford and Glen Shepherd took over the leadership of the Citadel band.
The corps received many visits from other musical sections in the Army world including Earlscourt Band, Kitchener Band and Danforth Songsters. In 1952 London was visited by the International Staff Band under the leadership of Col. Duggan and Bandmaster Bernard Adams.
The 70th anniversary celebrations were conducted by Commissioner and Mrs. Dalziel. The march of witness was rained out but a service was held at the Armouries featuring the massed bands of Hamilton Citadel, Kitchener Citadel and London Citadel.
The welcome meeting for Captain and Mrs. Fred Watkin in 1965 was held without the participation of the band, whose instruments were in the process of being converted to low pitch. The band was now under the leadership of Bram Gregson, who took over at the end of 1964.
The Salvation Army took part in the Canadian Centennial celebrations in 1967. There was an army float in the parade on July 1, 1967 and the Citadel band participated.
In the summer of 1976, the band undertook a 2 week tour of England, which was a great success in spite of the oppressive heat in England that year. The tour's highlight came at a performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
A neighborhood carol service held in December 1984 at Saunders Secondary School attracted over 600 people. It has since been an annual event held at London's Centennial Hall and often enjoyed by crowds of 1200 or more.
Since that time, the band has done a second trip to the UK in 1997 as well as trips to the West Coast of Canada and the USA, Southern USA Territory, Old Orchard Maine, Holland Michigan, Columbus Ohio, Chicago Illinois, Syracuse New York, The Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville Kentucky, and many others.
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The
London Citadel Band got its start in 1883. It improved over the next decade and by the
early 1900's was in demand at other Army corps including Windsor and Detroit. I
