While working on the proposed establishment of RAF Bands, Major Dyson added to the RAF March Past begun by Major Walford Davies. The two men had discussed the march and agreed that it needed a broader middle melody to balance the bright main section. Dyson wrote this and made certain alterations before asking Davies to approve the final version.

After this approval was given, Dyson scored it for band, rehearsed it with the School of Music Band and invited the Director of Personnel, some Air Council Members and Walford Davies to listen to it. The approval this time was official and so it became recognised the March Past of the Royal Air Force. It was unfortunate that by some oversight only Davies was credited as the composer.

Twenty-five years later Sir George Dyson was to write to the then Organising Director of Music and suggest that the March should be attributed to Davies and Dyson’. This suggestion was not acted upon at the time but during the research for the book Music in the Air by Ian Kendrick, the correspondence was found in an old file. The matter was re-examined and following a recommendation by the Principal Director of Music, Wing Commander Eric Banks, The Royal Air Force March Past was officially credited to Davies and Dyson.

Excerpt taken from – Music in the Air by Ian Kendrick (out of print) click link for more information.

http://www.musicintheair.org.uk/raf-music-services/music-book.html