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Oldham Rifles Band 1865-1934

Also/previously known as: 10th Battalion Manchester Regiment Oldham Rifles Prize Band, 10th Manchester Regiment, 22nd Lancashire Rifle Volunteers (Oldham), 23rd L.R.V. Oldham, 23rd Lancashire Rifle Volunteers (Oldham), 31st L.R.V. (Oldham), 31st L.R.V. Oldham, 31st L.R.V.B., 31st Lancashire Rifle Volunteers (Oldham), 7th L.R.V. (Oldham), Manchester Corporation (Water Street) Oldham Rifles, Oldham 31st L.R.V., Oldham Rifles Prize Band, Oldham Volunteer


This band no longer exists.
Region: North West

The famous Oldham Rifle Brigade band, after whom the march "O.R.B." was named (the composer, Charles Anderson, was the band's conductor), was founded in 1865 as a civilian band.

In 1871 it became affiliated to the local volunteer regiment, which underwent various name changes over the years, which are reflected (sometimes apparently inconsistently) in the names that the band contested under.

The history of the regiment name that the band was attached to is as follows:
February 1860 - founded as 31st (Oldham) Lancashire Rifle Volunteers
November 1860 - became part of 7th Admin. Bn.
1880 - consolidated as 23rd corps, but changed back to 7th shortly thereafter
1882 - new corps formed with same personnel - 22nd Lancs. RVC
1888 - became 6th VB Manchester Regiment
1908 - became 10th Manchesters

The band was reformed after the 1914-18 war by Francis Miller, and continued as a brass band until 1934, when the War Office decreed that all military bands must become mixed brass/woodwind. It is not currently known how long the band continued after that date, although it is interesting that we have them recorded at Belle Vue in 1935.

Anne Stewart feedbacks:
"Just to inform you that my Grandfather was the F. Miller described as conductor at some of the contests. Francis Miller. He fought and was injured at Gallipoli although came out of the band at that point to fight with his half brother who was not in the band. He ended up as Reg Sgt Major and bandmaster of the Manchester 10th and I believe that after the war he went to buy new silver for the regiment. I have photos of the band and Regiment and will try to find out if he conducted at any of the other contests. My father talked of going with my grandfather to the contest at Crystal Palace prior to the first World war. He says the band was mustered on the forecourt of Euston Fire Station in London and marched all the way to Crystal Palace. However my father did not remember them winning!"
"My Grandfather was Francis Miller mentioned above. I sent an earlier E mail. I think the H miller you have down as conducting the band in 1924 at Crystal Palace must in fact have been F Miller as my Father said they competed 3 times with him as bandmaster. My Uncle's Family account of his Father Francis Miller says After the 1918 war the band was reformed by my Grandfather and continued until 1934 when the war Office issued an order that all Army Bands had to be standerdised and turned into military bands. My Grandfather knew nothing of military bands with woodwind instruments and he struggled on for 2 years. He then left the army being too old and the 10th became a tank regiment."



Date Contest Position March Conductor
25 May 1934 Uppermill (Whit Friday) 3 Unknown
09 Jun 1933 Mossley (Whit Friday) Unknown
29 May 1931 Lees (Whit Friday) 1 Unknown
13 Jun 1930 Mossley (Whit Friday) 1 Unknown
24 May 1929 Bottom Mossley (Whit Friday) 1 Unknown
24 May 1929 Micklehurst (Whit Friday) 3 Unknown
24 May 1929 Mossley (Whit Friday) 3 Unknown
01 Jun 1928 Greenfield (Whit Friday) 1 Charles Anderson
01 Jun 1928 Micklehurst (Whit Friday) 3 Charles Anderson
01 Jun 1928 Mossley (Whit Friday) 2 Unknown
01 Jun 1928 Uppermill (Whit Friday) 1 Charles Anderson
10 Jun 1927 Ashton (Whit Friday) 1 March: O.R.B.

Unknown
10 Jun 1927 Bottom Mossley (Whit Friday) 2 March: O.R.B.

Charles Anderson
10 Jun 1927 Greenfield (Whit Friday) 1 March: O.R.B.

Charles Anderson
10 Jun 1927 Micklehurst (Whit Friday) 3 March: O.R.B.

Charles Anderson
10 Jun 1927 Mossley (Whit Friday) 1 March: O.R.B.

Charles Anderson
10 Jun 1927 Uppermill (Whit Friday) 1 March: O.R.B.

Unknown
28 May 1926 Ashton (Whit Friday) 1 Unknown
28 May 1926 Bottom Mossley (Whit Friday) 2 Unknown
28 May 1926 Greenfield (Whit Friday) 3 Unknown
28 May 1926 Mossley (Whit Friday) 4 Unknown
28 May 1926 Uppermill (Whit Friday) 1 Unknown
05 Jun 1925 Ashton (Whit Friday) 1 March: O.R.B.

Charles Anderson
05 Jun 1925 Micklehurst (Whit Friday) 3 Unknown
05 Jun 1925 Mossley (Whit Friday) 1 Unknown
13 Jun 1924 Ashton (Whit Friday) 3 Charles Anderson
13 Jun 1924 Greenfield (Whit Friday) 2 Charles Anderson
13 Jun 1924 Mossley (Whit Friday) 3 Charles Anderson
13 Jun 1924 Uppermill (Whit Friday) 3 Charles Anderson
25 May 1923 Micklehurst (Whit Friday) 3 Unknown
25 May 1923 Mossley (Whit Friday) 3 Unknown
25 May 1923 Uppermill (Whit Friday) 2 Unknown
09 Jun 1922 Micklehurst (Whit Friday) 2 Unknown
20 May 1921 Bottom Mossley (Whit Friday) 3 Unknown
18 May 1894 Hollinwood (Whit Friday) 1 Unknown
18 May 1894 Whit Friday Hollinwood 'A' 1 March: The Contest 1894 James Holloway
18 May 1894 Whit Friday Hollinwood 'B' 1 March: Revenge 1894 James Holloway
26 May 1893 Whit Friday Hollinwood 'A' 1 Unknown
26 May 1893 Whit Friday Hollinwood 'B' 1 Unknown
14 Jun 1889 Whit Friday Oldham (Star Hotel) 1 Unknown




Printed from https://brassbandresults.co.uk/