The History

It can be said that it was in Boston Massachusetts on Thursday 16th April 2009 that Piper Terence Daniel McGovern piped for General the Lord Charles Guthrie, President of the Army Benevolent Fund, and it was at this time that the concept of the British Army Benevolent Fund America (BABFA) Pipes, Drums & Bugles Band became reality.

That milestone was to be quickly followed by Piper Jonathan Blum who piped for General David Petraeus at a Veterans Tribute Dinner at Harvard University a mere couple of days later.

All true, but the real foundation of the “BABFA Band” lay in the unequivocal and selfless support given to BABFA at the very beginning by American re-enactors and musician members of “OxForce” in the beautiful farmlands of Northeastern Connecticut. It was in October of 2008 as Major Stephen Cain MBE was plodding his way on the first Remembrance March from USMA West Point to the State House atop Boston Common – some 225 miles – that “OxForce” stepped in from nowhere with Piper support, encouragement, and countless mugs of great tea!

Thus started the now-to-be annual tradition of the 225-mile march in Remembrance of comrades, and a true desire to celebrate and publish the aims of BABFA in the traditional way of the British Army – by the unrivalled music and drill of the marching bands.

“May Our Comrades Be Our Cause”

There are three stated aims for BABFA, and it is from these that our motto is born. It is both the letter and the spirit of this motto that shall guide our membership and activities in the future. These aims are:

• To raise national awareness of the British Army Benevolent Fund within America;
  
• To raise funds for BABFA within the USA;
  
• To stress by our words, attitudes and actions the traditional and unbreakable alliance of the US and British (Commonwealth) forces currently tested in Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Joint projects with allied comrades in support of this “sharing of common pain” shall demonstrate BABFA commitment to this vital alliance.

Who are The BABFA Pipes, Drums and Bugles?

• We are skilled musicians - many with a link to the UK - who seek to help our comrades;
  
• We are volunteers prepared to give the equivalent of a weekend a month in support of BABFA and the aims;
  
• We are volunteer musicians keen to be part of the smartest and most accomplished marching corps.

Interested? Then please apply to Drum Major C.L. “Ox” Gara at OxGara@BABFA.org - the leader of ‘OxForce'; an American veteran and one of the true founders of the BABFA Pipes, Drums and Bugles.

Visit the BABFA home page