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Military side drum

This drum was captured at the Battle of Copenhagen in April 2nd 1801, by Captain John Spearing of the Marines. The Battle of Copenhagen was part of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker's expedition to break up the northern naval alliance of Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Prussia to secure British trade routes through the Baltic sea. It is a military side drum with emblazoned brass shell, wooden counterhoops and 17-in skin heads. The tension rope is missing. There is a vent hole in the shell. The drum is accompanied with a pair of wooden drumsticks.

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  • Decorative elements:Royal Coat of Arms of Denmark-Norway Kingdoms embossed on metal shell.
  • Inscriptions:Engraved on the brass shell: THIS DRUM / was captured at the battle of / COPENHAGEN / 2nd April 1801 / BY / CAPTAIN JOHN SPEARING. / of the Royal Marines and presented by / the representatives of his family / TO / COLONEL JAMES IRWIN WILLES / Commandant of the Portsmouth Division / 15th June 1855|Stamped on side brace: 5 ? B ? No. ? 10
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:211.212.11 Individual double-skin cylindrical drums, one skin used for playing
  • Repository:National Museum of the Royal Navy
  • Measurements:Height: 475mm; Diameter: 440mm; Drumsticks length: 435mm