Before the 20th century few cavalry regiments deigned to own a Quick March, regarding such jaunty infantry-style quicksteps as beneath the dignity of the mounted arm. Although with the passing of time - and the horses - Quick Marches became accepted. 

Around 1881 all regiments, cavalry and infantry, were instructed to submit details of their Regimental Marches to War Office so that they could (for the first time) be officially approved. Only Slow Marches were submitted by the cavalry. Many of these had already been in use for generations; some were based on traditional melodies; some were borrowed from the world of Opera; others had been specially written by long-forgotten Bandmasters, no doubt on the orders of contemporary Commanding Officers.

"The Black Horse" Regimental March : Lord Devonshire had raised a Horse Troop of his own in support of the new King ( William ), this Troop was to eventually come to be known as the 7th ( Princess Royals') Dragoon Guards. In 1720 during the Regiments peak they acquired the nickname 'The Black Horse'. Unfortunately there is no information about the origin of the Slow March of the 7th (Princess Royals) Dragoon Guards. Its earliest appearance in print dates from 1897 when a pianoforte arrangement was published in The Black Horse Gazette for October of that year. It was then entitled simply "Seventh Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal's) Regimental March", but according to tradition it was not unnaturally known by all ranks as "The Black Horse March".


LIY Band at annual camp in 1903


An LYC Veteran (Trumpet Lance Corporal) c1900, "Once a Yeoman, always a Yeoman!"


LYC Bandsmen c1898.

PAOLYC Trumpet Major William Rouse c1897
Trumpet Major Rouse is seen here on duty for the Lord Major of Leicester. The PAOLYC Band wore a different Busby to that of the fighting Squadrons of the Regiment. The Banner on the Trumpet would be the Coat of Arms of the Squadron Leader, Commanding Officer's or Colonels of the Regiment unless the whole Corps of Trumpeters was issued with one Coat of Arms in particular, i.e. if the Colonel of the Regiment or local individual had produced an entire set of Trumpet banners which does still happen, even today. It is most likely to be the Lord Mayor of Leicesters own Coat of Arms.

(Thank you, to Mr & Mrs J Rouse of Seaford in East Essex for the picture of Mr Rouse's Grandfather and information.)

Henry Nicholson  junior (b.1825- d.1907)
Pictured above c1895, made his first public appearance in 1836, when he took his place with his father’s Duke of Rutland’s Band for a concert held on the Wharf Street Cricket Ground. From an early age Henry showed his musical talent both as a player and a composer, writing, in celebration of the Queen’s visit to the town in 1843, a march
that was later to be adapted as the Regimental March of the Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry.


Henry is buried in the Nicholson Family Grave at Welford Road Cemetery in Leicester.

In 1844, the year that Henry joined Jullien’s famous orchestra in London, he promoted the first of what were to become annual concerts in Leicester. These concerts, which became a tradition that lasted for almost half a century brought many famous musicians to the town including the singer Adelina Patti and Charles Hallé, whose piano playing on his first visit to the town in 1868 caused such a sensation.

Two years later Henry played in the first English performance of Mendelssohn’s
Elijah at Birmingham Town Hall. Conducted by the composer, Nicholson used the opportunity to get the maestro to sign his flute case. He continued this custom, collecting many famous musicians' autographs over the next half century, including, on his visit to Leicester in 1903, that of the American ‘March King’, John Philip Sousa, who signed just below the name of Kubelik. Sadly the case is now lost.

18 (approx) members of the PAOLYC Mounted Band in full review order, 1885. The LYC Drum Horse is seen at the front.

PAOLYC Drum Horse (drum banners not worn), the mounted band was present at the Duke of Cambridge's' visit to the Midlands in 1885. A Squadron of the PAOLYC can be seen in the right background facing toward the tent and can also be seen in the picture below that are to the close right of the drum horse. The picture below shows the rest of the band behind the Drum Horse.