THE waves crashing against the Cornish shore provide a spectacular backdrop.

The crack-crack-crack of SA80 rifles firing provide the soundtrack.

Kneeling, lying down or taking cover in foxholes, Royal Marines in khaki take aim at targets 200 metres away on the slopes of the range at Tregantle Fort.

A fairly typical day’s work for Royal, then. Except that the flash on the shoulder doesn’t read ‘Royal Marines Commando’ but ‘Royal Marines Band Service’.

At this historic fortification, the musicians of the Band of HM Royal Marines Plymouth – based a few miles down the road in HMS Raleigh –are in the throes of their annual military training.

For two weeks each year, the musicians down instruments and head to the ranges under the watchful eyes of green berets (the band has a team of commandos whose sole task is to provide military training).

But why? We don’t put the band in harm’s way. Or do we?

It’s a misconception (shared by the NN team, admittedly) that ‘all’ the RM Band does is strut around looking magnificent, pumping out Rule Britannia and Heart of Oak, or carries casualties in time of war.

And it’s a misconception the musicians themselves are keen to dispel.

“The image of us might be as stretcher-bearers in war, but we can turn our hand to everything,” explained BC/Sgt ‘Taff’ Ingram.

“Thirty musicians went to Kosovo to conduct patrols, drive vehicles, carry out guard duties. During Operation Telic there were 26 of us dug in in the desert with a decontamination team.”

Such duties means that the musicians must be prepared for the front line – hence the need for military training.

Sharpshooting is just one strand of the training; there’s nuclear, biological and chemical warfare and navigational training (sometimes involving camping in the field overnight) to contend with too.

But does musicianship bring anything to the battle? Apparently yes.

“Standing still on parade, concentrating, is what we do – so that does help us on the ranges,” explained BC/Sgt Ingram.

Musn Iain Scullion, a cornet player and violinist, added: “One of the fundamental things about performing is the ability to relax, to calm down – and that counts for firing a weapon as well.

“I’ve really enjoyed it. When I joined the Band there was a lot of information about the operational side of being a musician. Now I’ve done the training I feel ready to do anything if I’m asked to.”

The fact is that the musicians have been called upon frequently in the past quarter century: two bands went to the Falklands, and musicians served in both wars with Iraq.

“Our secondary role is first aid – but there is much more to it than that,” said Musn Linsey Carnegie, normally a French horn player.

“As of yet, I’ve never done it for real, but it’s all part of the job. It’s actually nice to get away from our instruments and do something different.”

And, as far as their instructors are concerned, they do rather well when they ‘get away from their instruments’.

“They shoot a lot better than matelots,” quipped the green beret sergeant training the musicians (he decided anonymity was the better part of valour).