Corps History

Two of America’s Preeminent Fife and Drum Corps – the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums and the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps Share Common Roots and Legacy

The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums made its first performance by two fifers and two drummers on July 4, 1958. During the 1960’s the CW Corps became one of the preeminent fife and drum corps in America, playing traditional historic music and wearing Revolutionary War uniforms. Over the years the CW Corps, which celebrates its 60^th anniversary in 2018, has become an iconic symbol of Colonial Williamsburg itself. 

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CWF&D Comes of Age: 1963 – 1967

During 1963, the Corps continued to perform at regular Militia musters and special events. In July the Corps traveled to Agawam, Massachusetts, to enter the Fife, Drum and Bugle Association Muster, sending 19 members of the Senior Corps and 14 members of the Junior Corps.  The Corps also returned to Deep River for the second time for the 90^th Deep River Ancient Muster and to the Southeastern States Ancient Muster for the fourth, and last, time.

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The Early Fifes

John Harbour believes that sometime during the spring of 1958 Bill Geiger sent his assistant Bob Reveille to the Harbour house with a half dozen fifes.  The fifes were marked “Geo. Cloos, Crosby Model, Key of Bb, Penzel-Mueller, New York”. Harbour describes the fifes as follows:

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CWF&D 1968 to 1971

In the spring of 1968, Herb Watson joined the staff full time as the Administrator to take over the duties of George Kusel.  Watson had joined the Band of Musick in 1967. He was studying music at Old Dominion University in Norfolk and played in a recorder ensemble with Charles Hardin, who was a member of the Band of Musick.  Hardin had introduced him to George Carroll. Herb’s innumerable duties over the years included administrator, music arranger and instructor. He remembers “there was a lot of administration when I started.” One of his most difficult duties was scheduling. As the number of performances grew over the years he had to keep track of all the scheduling while striving to assign jobs fairly. 

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CWF&D Gets a New Leader – John C. Moon

After Bill Geiger’s death in 1970, Earl Soles was appointed Director of Craft Shops. When George Carroll resigned in 1971, Soles, as supervisor of the Corps, was faced with a potential crisis of leadership for the Corps.  Carroll’s replacement would be hard to find but the search began immediately.  

Continue reading “Chapter 9”