The B.B.C. Wireless Military Band

The B.B.C Wireless Military Band, later renamed the B.B.C Military Band ran from September 1927 until 1943, with a repertoire largely made up of orchestral works. It had a staff arranger Gerrard Williams and was conducted by Walton O'Donnell, succeeded in 1937 by his brother, Major P.S.G. O'Donnell. ( It is possible that this change of conductor led to the dropping of the word Wireless from the band name) The band proved immensely popular and had original pieces written for it by, amongst others, Alan Bush and Gustav Holst. The B.B.C decided to axe the band in the 1940s and despite much protests it gave its final performance at 9.40 pm on Tuesday, 16 March 1943.