John Henry Amers

Flight Lieutenant John Henry Amers (1866-1946) was conductor of the RAF Band from 1920 to 1931 and older brother of Captain H. G. Amers He joined The Band Of The 16th Lancers at the age of 16, he served with this regiment and later the 2nd Life Guards where he entered Kneller Hall as a student bandmaster. In 1901 he was appointed bandmaster of the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment; in 1914 he became bandmaster of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and in 1918, he transferred to the Royal Air Force. He then served at Blandford, Hastings and Shorncliffe before travelling to France to take charge of No. 1 A.S.D (No.1 (Northern) Aircraft Supply Depot) Orchestra and concert party. He toured with them through France, Belgium and Germany, before returning to the School of Music. He was granted a permanent commission (from Stores Branch) as a Director Of Music and Flying Officer, retaining his seniority on 20th Nov 1920. In 1922 Amers secured the first of many recording contracts for the Central band. It was for the Columbia Gramophone Company and on 24th May the musicians were spread around the recording studio all facing a single central microphone. With no possibility of editing, the slightest mistake or technical hitch meant a fresh start, but the severe time limits of the early records enabled the session to finish within the day.