Pembroke Imperials

The Pembroke Imperials were organized in 1965 by the Pembroke VFW Post, under the direction of William McSharry, Norman Robadeau and Joseph Metzger.

They drew members from small towns all over the South Shore area of Massachusetts. They gained prestige with their big band sound under the guidance of horn instructor Jim Wedge.

The corps joined the Eastern Massachusetts Drum and Bugle Corps Circuit for the 1966 competition season as a Class C unit. They qualified for the Class C Finals that first season and were moved up to Class AII the following year. In 1968 they won the Eastern Massachusetts Circuit Class AII Championship.

The Imperials entered Class A competition in 1969. In 1970 a performance at the World Open placed the corps well into the top 20.

They were the American Legion State Champions in 1971, '72 and '73, VFW State Champions in 1974, Mayflower State Circuit Champions in 1972, 1973 and 1974. Their highest DCI finish was 17th in Open Class Prelims.

Under the Direction of Arthur Richards in 1973 they won the VFW National Championship in New Orleans, also winning the Silver Drum Trophy. That same year saw the corps having to withdraw from one competition because 50 members came down with food poisoning after dining at a local hamburger specialty house.

In 1977 The corps took on a new look and show direction, securing Mike Moxley and Peter Emmons of Blue Devils fame as instructors. The corps competed most of the season but disbanded just prior to DCI Nationals due to the high cost of national competition.

The Imperial Juniors existed until 1982 and even became the new Imperials, but their existence came to an end in 1982.

The Pembroke Imperials was in the process of re-organization in 2002.

[A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, 2002; DCW, 1/03, p.4, inter alia]

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