5th (BC) Field Regiment, RCA Band

The Bandmaster

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia in June 1963, Chief Warrant Officer F. P. (Frank) Eigler began his military career by joining the Royal Westminster Regiment of New Westminster, British Columbia in 1980. A career reservist, he received both his basic training and infantry qualification at this unit before joining the Regimental Band as a trumpet player the following year.
After several years with the "Westies", which culminated with his performance as a member of the Official Military Band for Expo ’86, then Master Corporal Eigler donned Navy Blue and transferred to the Band of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Discovery in Vancouver. Fate, along with his decision to complete his educaton at the University of Victoria (Bachelor of Music, 1991), would cause him to move back and forth between HMCS Malahat in Victoria and HMCS Discovery for a number of years. During this time, however, he also had the privilege of working with the National Band of the Naval Reserve for eleven tours - all of which included annual performances at the famed Nova Scotia International Tattoo, both as part of the National Band and as a member of the internationally composed Fanfare Trumpets. He eventually rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer Second Class, becoming the National Band’s Coxswain in 1998 and serving briefly as the first Naval Reserve Music Trade Advisor.

With the much welcomed reinstatement of the Naden Band in 1997 came the unfortunate demise of the HMCS Malahat Band. Their loss was our gain, however, as CPO2 Eigler was persuaded to come back to the army, becoming Master Warrant Officer Eigler, and promptly taking on the appointment of Band Sergeant Major. With the retirement in May 2002 of Captain Lou Williamson, then Director of Music, MWO Eigler assumed the position as our Bandmaster. He was promoted to his current rank the following year.

Chief Warrant Officer Eigler still maintains an affiliation with the Navy as a member of the local Chief and Petty Officer’s Association Band, and can also be seen and heard as the regular lead trumpet of the Victoria based Don Leppard Jazz Orchestra.