The humble bugle is object of the month at Cornwall’s Regimental Museum in Bodmin.

First introduced to the British Army in the 1760s, the bugle was used both in the field of battle and to inform soldier and officer alike of the time of day.

The bugle became an important symbol of the Light Infantry regiments, who favoured it over the traditional military drum due to its advantages on the battlefield.

Where drums are heavy and unwieldy, the bugle can be easily carried, and the call of a bugle travels further than the sound of a drumbeat.

For these reasons the bugle became the main symbol of light companies, featuring heavily in the insignia of Light Infantry regiments throughout history - including the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.

The Commanding Officer’s Bugle is one of many musical instruments that can be found in Cornwall’s Regimental Museum, but this ornate example has a special significance, decorated intricately with scrolls depicting the Battle Honours of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry regiment.

At one time the bugle belonged to Joe Kendall, the former museum attendant at Cornwall’s Regimental Museum, who had been a Commanding Officer’s Bugler while serving in the military. Sadly, Joe passed away in 2008, but has the unique honour of playing the bugle at his own funeral – a recording he made of himself sounding the ‘Last Post’ was played during the ceremony.