If you are interested in
becoming a Fife and Drum Corps volunteer,
contact Drum Major
Peter Alexander
at Fort George at 905-468-6617.

For more information
please visit our Upcoming
Events page or contact
The Friends of
Fort George:
tel: 905-468-6621
fax: 905-468-7681
or use Contact Us
to send an e-mail



The Friends of Fort George are the grateful recipients of an Ontario Trillium grant, which will provide new uniforms and accouterments for the 41st Regiment Fife and Drum Corps at Fort George. The Corps members can range in age from 10 years to adult and keeping the younger members in properly fitting clothes from season to season has been a challenge. The new jackets, hats, pants and shirts will provide a resource of sizes for years to come and offer historically-accurate and well-fitted clothing for the volunteer's presentations. To outfit an individual properly, the cost of the uniform can exceed $3000 and we are very appreciative of Trillium's recognition of this programme.

The Fifes and Drums of the
41st Regiment of Foot
  The young men who served the English Crown during the 18th and 19th century as fifers and drummers were disciplined, courageous and held positions of responsibility. Sons of soldiers, they were old enough to take on a role in the regiment and its daily functions. It was up to these professional musicians to act as a communication system and as musical entertainment for the army. They played music to inspire the men, remind them of home, and to help them deal with the hardships of military life.
  As duty drummers (a name used both for fifers and drummers), they took turns on a 24-hour guard shift and were expected to know and be able to play any Order at any time. Incompetence was not tolerated. They performed their duty calls every day, starting with Reveille to wake the garrison, and ending with the Taptoo to warn that the gates of the garrison were to close for the night.
  Fifers and drummers could also be called upon to act as musical entertainment for social gatherings for both officers and civilians. They could act as a band of music when a professional orchestra or a regimental band could not be provided. Tunes like Chain Cotillion could be played for dances, or more traditional music such as the Gravelwalk could be played in taverns for civilians. But this more peaceful existence was always combined with their duties as military drummers.

  Fifers and drummers were expected to perform as communicators in battle or act as stretcher bearers. In many cases, they died alongside the soldiers. Surprisingly, the majority of drummers were enlisted before the age of thirteen.
  As members of the 41st Regiment of Foot Fife and Drum Corps, we are proud to be a part of this musical tradition that was so prevalent in Canada during the 19th century. We hope that our efforts will help to rekindle people's interest in Canada's history and inspire them to take part in its ongoing traditions.


If you are interested in becoming a Fife and Drum Corps volunteer, contact Drum Major Peter Alexander at Fort George at 905-468-6617.