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David-Smith

A veteran interview with

David Smith

David Smith joined the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards on the 14th of September 1976. It’s a date he remembers well because David admits that the army, and in particular the band, gave him a purpose and confidence to his life.

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About David Smith

David joined the military band at 16 as a trumpet player, enlisting in the Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in 1976. He took up the clarinet and joined the band in Germany, where they faced some local hostility. In 1979, he became a ‘Kneller Boy,’ recalling fond memories of performances, including playing for Princess Margaret before a Summer Concert.

David describes the various jobs band members had to undertake at Kneller Hall and later returned to Germany, where he briefly took up the Saxophone. He reflects on the challenges of the military’s promotion system, often referred to as the ‘dead man’s shoes’ system, and eventually left the band to join the police.

In 1995, David joined the Army Medical Services and was still invited to perform with the band on several occasions. He played extensively in the Gulf and former Soviet countries, which he believes helped strengthen diplomatic ties, particularly with nations like Jordan. David feels the band played a vital role in promoting British industries and easing international tensions and personally helped with his confidence.

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Reviewed by:
Kitty Wright

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Home | Veterans | David Smith

A veteran interview with

David Smith

David-Smith

David Smith joined the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards on the 14th of September 1976. It’s a date he remembers well because David admits that the army, and in particular the band, gave him a purpose and confidence to his life.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Smith, David. A Veteran Interview with David Smith. Interview by Unknown. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/david-smith/. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
APA Style:
Smith, D. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with David Smith [Interview by Unknown]. Legasee. Retrieved January 15, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/david-smith/
Chicago Style:
Smith, David. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with David Smith. Interview by Unknown. Legasee. Accessed January 15, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/david-smith/
Harvard Style:
Smith, D. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with David Smith. [Interviewed by Unknown]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/david-smith/ (Accessed: 15 January 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Smith, D. A Veteran Interview with David Smith [Internet]. Interview by Unknown. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2026 Jan 15]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/david-smith/
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