Conquest Regalia

The origin of the Drum Major's Sash goes back to the ancient battlefield role of a military drummer; in particular, the senior drummer or "Sergeant Drummer". The Sergeant Drummer had a leather carrying sling for the drum which featured loops of either cloth or metal (as seen in the photo on right) to hold the drumsticks when not in use.   In the ninteenth century, the appointment of Drum Major was established. It was at this time the Sergeant Drummer's carrying sling was retained to mark the appointment and started becoming more elaborate. Devices, livery and achievements were affixed to the sling until it become more ceremonial than functional.   Today, sashes worn by drum majors of military bands are walking museums of regimental history. Still featured on every proper sash are the drumsticks, now in miniature, mounted upon a shield or casing the crest on each side.   (Pictured at right: Keepsake replica of Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association's World Drumming Championship Sash).

 

Photo Gallery

Please feel free to browse photos of previous sash work done by Conquest Regalia! Click on the thumbnail below to start the presentation. Press the <ESC> key to exit.

The answer to this question starts and ends with your imagination. The most basic sash would feature the name of your band, ornamental sticks and a crest. But why stop there? Here are some examples of what you might typically see for different types of organizations:

 

Regimental Sash (UK/Canada/Commonwealth) - The sash will be generally be the same color as the sleeve facings on the uniform. Nearest the shoulder is the royal crown and cypher. Following that is a large title scroll, regimental crest and devices. Below that will be the battle honours of the regiment listed out on scrolls. Some regiments also fill out the background and remainder of the sash with additional embellishments such as acanthus leaves, thistles or shamrocks.

 

Military Sash (USA) - US military drum major sashes include American patriotic symbols such as the Seal of the United States of America. Like their counterparts in UK military bands, there is a crest for either the branch of service or particular division. These sashes also contain battle honor scrolls. The color of the sash is usually keeping in tradition with the colors of the branch of service -- Navy and Air Force use blue sashes, Marine Corps typically uses red.

 

Civilian Bands (High Schools, Colleges, Pipes & Drums, Flute Bands, Corps of Drums, Fifes & Dums) - These bands enjoy a great deal of variety and artistic freedom in the design of their drum major sashes. It is not uncommon to see the band name in large lettering or on a scroll with year of establishment and a crest. Competing bands usually list their major achievements in the same manner as battle honours. You might also see a scroll mentioning the benefactor who donated the sash to the band.

 

Personal Sash and Trophy Sash

Why not create a sash to award as a prize at a band tournament or highland games? Or perhaps a sash to recognize the achievements of an individual Drum Major?

 

The possibilities are ENDLESS.

When you order your sash, a member of Conquest Regalia will contact you within 24 hours to start the design process.

 

You do not need to have any artwork ready but this certainly helps. If you wish to replicate existing metal badges, patches or have photos of other sashes you like, please send them to us!

 

We will generate the concept artwork based off the initial consultation and send it to you for your final approval. Once that happens, we start construction of the sash!

 

Delivery time is typically 4 to 6 weeks from this point. You are receiving a quality handmade item with painstaking attention to detail. Done in the traditional manner, your sash will look just as authentic as historical pieces worn by regimental bands. This is not rapidly-produced machine embroidery that tends to look flat and lifeless.