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163rd Infantry Band, 41st Division, A.E.F. After World War I Canceled the Olympics
“The Montana Band” Allied Troops Held Their Own Games

Fred A. Draper, a member of the 163rd Infantry and Blake Stilwell/ Military.com
Montana Army Lodge No. 1, was the leader of this Band The Olympic Games were canceled for the first time
comprised of members from the 163rd Infantry. The Band ever in 1916 due to the war. After WWI ended, the Allied
originally was called the Second Montana Infantry Band. powers decided they would host their own international
They became known as the “Montana Band.” sporting competition in Paris. The Inter-Allied Games
were a replacement for the Olympics. The YMCA funded
a special stadium, which held 20,000 people. The Allied
troops came together in the spirit of friendly competition.
The Inter-Allied Games included the Tug of War and
Hand Grenade Toss. The Games were held in Paris
starting on June 22, 1919.

American troops nearly swept the competition in
Pershing Stadium, both in individual sports and in the
overall medal counts. Between June 22 and July 6, 1919,
In addition to the aforementioned events, baseball came
from the Americans and Canadians in North America,
and a rugby event came from Commonwealth countries.
Of course, the universal Olympic-style track and field
games were also included. The old favorites were also
there, including boxing, wrestling, and swimming. The
United States racked up 18 winners and 17 runners-up.
France, the closest competitor, brought home just one
winner and two runners-up. The gold medalist of the
The “Montana Band” was so well-liked that from among hand grenade throwing competition was an American
soldier, Fred Thompson - a chaplain.
nearly four hundred American bands in France, they were
selected for the concert music at the “Inter-Allied Games”
held in Paris on the 4th of July 1918. They were the only
band accorded the honor of a special invitation to play
before the Supreme War Council at Versailles. They made
such an impression that the Montana Band received a
special invitation to play at the French athletic games
that followed in Paris. They were compared to the Garde
Republicine Band, the most famous band in France. In a
letter to the commanding General of the 41st Division,
the Chairman of the Central Athletic Committee stated:
“The band has been the big hit of Paris and have done
themselves proud.” The Montana Band received a diploma
from the Mayor of Versailles and one from the French
Minister of War.

Armistice Day Parade, Butte Montana

Montana Freemason Page 35 April/May 2020 Volume 96 No.3