A Brief History of Military Tattoo’s

On 21st June 1880 the first ‘Grand Military Tournament & Assault at Arms’ was staged at the Royal Agricultural Hall*, Islington. This event began as a series of competitions between the Regular and Auxiliary soldiers of the Victorian Army. Held annually in Islington until 1905, the event gradually evolved from purely competitive displays to include Massed Bands, Musical Rides and Musical Drives as well as Historic Pageants and Battles. The “Tournament” as it was affectionately known is widely regarded as the first of the ‘modern tattoo’s’.

In May 1906 the newly renamed ‘Royal Naval & Military Tournament’ moved to Olympia in West London. The Tournament remained at Olympia until after the Second World War when it moved for the final time to Earls Court. Many of the Acts that have gone on to entertain crowds at Military Tattoo’s around the world can trace their origins to the Tournament which finally marched into the History Books on 2nd August 1999.

Military Tattoo’s, Fate’s and Tournament’s were held across the empire in the latter part of the 19 th Century and the early parts of the 20 th Century. Most garrison towns staged some sort of event during the summer months. The largest of all Military Tattoo’s was held at Aldershot between the First and Second World War’s.

The first being held on Cove Common in 1922 before moving to Rushmoor Arena in 1923. Each performance began with community singing before the main performance at dusk. The show’s included displays of Massed Bands, Historical Re-enactments, Spectacular Fireworks and displays of Modern Warfare. The Tattoo’s at Aldershot continued until 1939 with audiences of up to 500,000 spectators. Sadly Tattoo’s didn’t return to Aldershot after the war years.

In 1950, however a new Tattoo was born in Edinburgh. Performed on the Castle Esplanade as the centrepiece of the Edinburgh Festival, the Tattoo is quite unique. Over the years, a successful formula has been developed including the Massed Pipes & Drums, Highland Dancers and Massed bands. The Edinburgh Tattoo now attracts visitors from around the world and is broadcast in many countries.

SSAFA Searchlight Tattoo’s were also staged throughout the 1950’s. These shows were performed to large audiences at the White City Stadium in Shepherd’s Bush, West London. Searchlight Tattoo’s were staged in a number of Garrison Towns following the Second World War including Colchester, Tidworth and Cardiff.

As well as British Tattoo’s many successful Tattoo’s have been staged across Europe. The Dutch National Tattoo has been held annually in the Netherlands since 1954 and the Berlin Tattoo was staged by the British Army until the 1990’s. More Tattoo’s have been developed in recent years including The Birmingham International Tattoo, Swedish and Norwegian Tattoo’s as well as Nova Scotia and Virginia.

*The Royal Agricultural Hall is now known as the Business Design Centre