The rank Drummer, drum signals, other duties etc.

[Mark]

Hi all

Apart from the obvious what exactly was the role of the infantry Drummer during the latter half of Queen Victoria's regin?

Mark

[vivace49]

I too am intrigued by this role as one of my relatives was a drummer with the Grenadier Guards. I would like to know how they were trained. I assume that they didn't go to Knellar Hall but perhaps I am wrong.

[vivace49]

In my research on recruitment I have found that to try to increase the number of recruits in the latter half of the 19th century boys from the age of 15 were encouraged to join up though each regiment was only allowed up to 2 per cent per establishment. They served an apprenticeship until they reached the normal age of enlistment. Nearly 75 per cent of the boys recruited underwent training as musicians (ie drummers and buglers), the remainder as tailors and shoemakers. There was a real effort around this time to make the Army more socially acceptable and to appear to be an honourable and rewarding profession. Local recruiting marches were organised and music is a great crowd puller. I can imagine wonderful marching bands and rows of boy drummers.

[Liz]

Hi all

At least in the early Victorian period, most drummers were adult men NOT boys. This was a continuation of the practice in Napoleonic times. For a lively discussion of the myth of the drummer boy in this earlier era see http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=159770. Many drummers stayed in the role for years, you'll even find the odd memoir such as this one http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/cultures-of-brass/military/diary/text-note.htm.

Drummers often had distinctive uniforms and likewise cavalry drumhorses often had unusual (piebald/skewbald) colouring. The 1868 edition of Chamber's Encyclopedia also records that from 1858, the British cavalry used kettledrums of copper or brass with a parchment lid, while the infantry used brass side drums that were three pounds lighter than earlier drums and tightened with screws instead of straps and ropes.

Drummers formed part of the rank and file but were paid better than privates, reflecting the skilled nature of their job. Drummers in the army had to be able to play as many as 170 different drum signals + music. Some signals were for daily routines such as reveille and taptoo - remember most people didn't carry watches! - while others were for assembling an entire command or summoning specific groups such as sergeants or officers. When it came to drill:
> one stroke with a flam (made by striking both sticks almost but not quite simultaneously on the drumhead) meant turn or face right, and
> two strokes and a flam meant left about.

Key references include Thomas Simes' 1768 The Military Medley and another book circa 1815/17 by Drum-Major Potter of the Coldstream Guards. Until that time (and I suspect well after it) drumming was taught man-to-man. FYI, I'm told that while the notation is different to modern drumming, the basic exercises are the same and you can still buy facsimile editions of Potter's book today including here http://www.beafifer.com/potterdrum.htm.

And your duties didn't end there, at least in the army. As well as carrying and playing the drum, you were expected to carry ammunition/supplies on the battlefield and act as a stretcher bearer. This was still the case in many Commonwealth regiments in WW1. When required, you also had to administer floggings [wield the whip] and literally drum men out of the regiment. Drummers in the marines probably had similar duties, although I'm not across the detail.

Liz

PS. I've edited the title of this topic to reflect the wide range of questions that have come up. Any concerns, please PM me.

[vivace49]

Hi Liz. Thankyou very much for this and pointing us in the direction of google books (I've used Internet Archive before for WW1 books but did not know of google books) Interestingly through gb I was reading The Camp and the Cutter by Edwin Galt last night and on page 124 there was a reference to drummers " the ears of passers by are pained, almost daily , by the shriek of some poor fellow under the lash of a drummer, expiating the offence of drunkenness". So you have answered a question before I have asked it. Well done!
Mary

[grumpy]

My understanding is that 'drummer' was an appointment for a soldier holding the rank of private. A drummer was expected to be proficient on drum, flute ['fife'] and bugle, and usually carried either drum+bugle, or flute+bugle. There were two drummers to each of the eight companies ..... when the army went to 4 companies in 1914, the total of drummers was unchanged.
A drummer earned 1d a day more than a private. He was not rank-and-file, as drummers were excluded from this total in Establishments and counted separately.

Regarding badges, a drummer in full dress scarlet tunic did not need a badge, as his lace and wings ["crown and inch"] made him recognisable from a great distance. This did not stop some units issuing drum badges to drummers for tunic order. On the scarlet frock, a badge was usually worn upper right arm, although, certainly in India, there was really no need as the Indian Pattern frock was laced by most units, probably under unit arrangements, and occasionally in very unusual patterns. This 'tarting up' of the frock was because the tunic was not an India issue, being lined and tightly tailored and expensive.

[Peter]

Mark,

I’ve been researching RA Drummers and Trumpeters in the period 1820 – 1850.

For reasons I don’t understand, most of the detailed material I’ve found relates to late 18th / early 19th century.

Having said that, and I stand to be corrected by the experts, it seems to me from the bits and pieces I’ve come across in the later period that, as a general statement, a great deal of the subsequent ‘role’ of the drummer in the 19th century remained unchanged. For example; the drumming out ritual and the Rogue’s March; some of the late 18th/early 19th century beats are still played today.

Have a look at these:

Drumming, Accroutraments, Calls and Beatings in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars, Written and compiled by
Barry Roy Turnbull-Burchmore
Drummer 2nd (Queens) Royal Regiment of Foot, 2009
http://brtdesignportfolio.com/88th/webs ... CALLS9.pdf.

Drummer. Drummers Of The Pennisular & Napoleonic Wars, Barry Roy Turnbull-Burchmore. http://brtdesignportfolio.com/88th/webs ... Tindex.htm

H.M. Tenth Regiment of Foot Music Company, The Role of the Musicians, http://hm10thregtmusic.tripod.com/id37.htm

Curtis,T, ed, The London Encyclopaedia, or, Universal Dictionary of Science, Art, Literature, and Practical Mechanics, Volume VII, London, Thomas Tegg, 1829, ‘Drum’: p 509. Google Books (Digitised)

[Peter]

A couple of others:

The King’s Royal Yorkers, The Re-created Regiment, 1st Battalion, Drums & Fifes, Duty Drummers, http://royalyorkers.ca/drums.php

(I should have posted Royal Yorkers first. It probably has the most comprehensive list of duties.)

The Signal Hill Tattoo, The Tattoo, (and on drop down menu, select:) The Fife and Drums, http://rnchs.ca/tattoo/band02.html

Baule, SM, Drummers in the British Army During the American Revolution, Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol 86, 2008, Spring, No 345, pp 20 - 33

Yesterday, when I said “as a general statement, a great deal of the subsequent ‘role’ of the drummer in the 19th century remained unchanged”, I should have added: or evolved. An example, albeit RA:

“The (side) drum is …inapplicable to Artillery service, since it can be neither carried about with, nor heard by a Field Battery in movement ….. these drummers should be taught the use of the bugle”. (Select Committee, 15/12/1819)

Subsequently: “one of the drummers of each company of Artillery is to be trained as a trumpeter” (G.O., 21/9/1821)

[Farmer, HG, The Royal Artillery Drums and Fifes (with a Note on the Bugle), Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol XXXVII, 1959, March, No 149, Note 1267, p 46]

In 1848 the bugle was ordered to supersede the side drum as a signaling instrument in the RA.

[Farmer, HG, The Royal Artillery Mounted Band, Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol XXVI, 1948, Summer, No 106, pp 61 & 62]

[Michael2]

I was interested to read the comments about the age of drummers and in checking the ages of drummers that I have researched (some still in progress), I have some as young as 10 years of age. Others are 13, 14 and 15 years old. A few continued through their career as drummers. Some were clearly the sons of soldiers who died or were still with their regiments. This is a very small sample but if I collected drummers, I would not be surprised to see many in the age range of 10-15.

Michael

Examples:

John Baker was born at Chippenham, Wiltshire. He enlisted for unlimited service with the 89th Foot at Trowbridge, Wiltshire on August 3, 1805 aged 13 years as a Drummer.

Edward Buck was born in 1795 at Stroudwater, Gloucestershire. He enlisted with the 1st Foot Guards on the 27th August 1810 at London aged 15 years as a Drummer.

Charles Cox was born in St John's, Westminster, London and attested for the Scots Fusilier Guards at Royal Horse Guards, London, on the 9th December 1853 aged 10 years 8 months. He was appointed Drummer on June 5, 1853.

John Connolly was born in Newfoundland in 1836 and he enlisted with the 92nd in London on 25 October 1850 at the age 14 years 1 month. He was appointed to the Band in July 1853.

John Rennie was born in the Parish of Everton and attested for the 72nd Regiment at Glasgow in the County of Lanark on the 25th of November 1846 at the age of 15 6/12 years. He was appointed Drummer on 24 Oct 1847.

Henry Albert Bailey was born in the Parish of Addelstone in the County of Surrey and joined the 1st Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment at Shorncliffe on July 21, 1892 at the age of 15 years 1 month. He was appointed a drummer on April 3, 1894.

William Spriggs was born in Belgaum, India, in 1849, and enlisted as a drummer at the age of 10 with the 78th.

George Spriggs was born at Aden, Arabia, in about 1843 and enlisted with the 78th Highlanders at Poona as a boy recruit in January 1855, aged 12 years. He was appointed a Drummer in July 1856.

William R. B. Cairns was born in Bombay, India, and enlisted for 12 years service with the 78th at Westminster, London, on November 4, 1868 at the age of 15 years 6 months. His progression from Boy to Drummer (August 14, 1869), Private (April 1, 1871) and then Piper (26th March 1874) are noted in his service papers.

John C. Cairns was born in Bombay, India, enlisted for 12 years service with the 78th at Westminster, London, on November 4, 1868 at the age of 14 years 5 months old and, like his brother, was appointed drummer.

Below is an example of a nice circa 1900 image of a drummer.

[Peter]

Michael,

I’ve been researching three RA ancestors who enlisted as underage drummers at ages 11, 13 and 14 between 1819 and 1853. These may be of interest (Apologies, Moderators, some outside Forum’s declared area of interest):

Colour Sergeant John Murray ….. 50th Foot ….. enlisted 1786 ….. aged 5,

“youngest boy recruit to (TACA's) knowledge ….. beats:”

James Wade ….. 9th Foot ….. served throughout Peninsular Campaign ….. aged 7
(The Army Children Archive, History Matters, TACA Correspondence: Enlistment As a Drummer, Aged Five; & Boy Soldiers and Eighteenth Century Regimental Muster Roll, http://www.archhistory.co.uk/taca/history.html)

Lieutenant General / Major General Joseph Brome ….. RA ….. enlisted 1741 / 1751 ….. aged 8
(Rev War ’75, Military Musicians, “The musicians belonging to the whole army”, http://www.revwar75.com/library/rees/musician1.htm; Greenwich Industrial History, Volume 5, Issue 2, March 2002, Letters, From Barry Bowdidge, http://gihs.gold.ac.uk/gihs24.html)

David Morton ….. RA ….. enlisted 1815 ….. aged 9
(http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/t ... 1164212562)

Quartermaster Sergeant James McKay ….. RA ….. enlisted 1803 ….. aged 11
(“Ubique”, Royal Sappers and Miners, http://www.reubique.com/mckay.htm)

William Lang [Should be: Laing ... per post of 29 Mar 2011] ... RA … enlisted 1853 ... aged 12 … served two years, Crimea
(Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, 1932, XI, No 42, p 48)

You’re probably aware that Drummer Thomas Flinn, 64th Foot, (together with another 15 year old) is the youngest ever winner of the VC. Indian Mutiny, November 28, 1857: “during a charge on the enemy's guns, although wounded himself, he engaged in a hand-to-hand encounter with two of the rebel artillerymen killing them and capturing the artillery piece”.

[fantomark]

My understanding is that 'drummer' was an appointment for a soldier holding the rank of private. A drummer was expected to be proficient on drum, flute ['fife'] and bugle, and usually carried either drum+bugle, or flute+bugle. There were two drummers to each of the eight companies ..... when the army went to 4 companies in 1914, the total of drummers was unchanged.
A drummer earned 1d a day more than a private. He was not rank-and-file, as drummers were excluded from this total in Establishments and counted separately.

Regarding badges, a drummer in full dress scarlet tunic did not need a badge, as his lace and wings ["crown and inch"] made him recognisable from a great distance. This did not stop some units issuing drum badges to drummers for tunic order. On the scarlet frock, a badge was usually worn upper right arm, although, certainly in India, there was really no need as the Indian Pattern frock was laced by most units, probably under unit arrangements, and occasionally in very unusual patterns. This 'tarting up' of the frock was because the tunic was not an India issue, being lined and tightly tailored and expensive.

HI!

I am researching the uniform of a drummer in the Lincolnshire regiments in the 1898 Sudan Campaign.
Do you know if any drum badges were worn on the khaki service dress?

Thanks.

Marco

[heliwest]

If you need to know the definitive story of drummer boys then there is a lot of information in the National Archives at Kew in the WO 32 series. I had not ralised that in 1795 3 experimental regiments were formed to relieve parishes of boys between 10 and 16 (WO 32/6899). This was not a success but recruitment of drummer continued in the normal Victorian way laissez faire way until 1876 when a committee looked into employment of boys in the army. A decree was made that 1% of regimental strength was to be boy musicians and 1/2 % was to be boy tailors and shoemakers. By 1911 they discovered 3,826 boys serving in the army of which 2,984 were musicians.

Certainly in the late Victorian period many joined and were trained up by the drum major, however many drummers were mature men. In Afghanistan the 67th Foot had two drummers per company. The drummer boys were in many cases boys of the regiment who had lost fathers or mothers and it was a form of military outdoor relief. In later times drummers formed a platoon under the drum major and answerable to the adjutant. They should not be confused with the band who came under the band master. Drummer in the infantry played drums, bugles and fifes whereas the band played other instruments.

In modern times the drummers formed the Bn HQ defence platoon and in places such as Northern Ireland they were the Commanding Officers close protection squad. Nowadays they also train as medics but have other skills such as drivers. Bandsmen formed the regimental stretcher bearers.

They wear a drum patch on their service dress and this has been going on a long time and certainly in the Boer War

[fantomark]

Thanks, Heliwest!
Very interesting, and very good background information for my modelling project!

Cheers!

marco

[FROGSMILE]

Key references include Thomas Simes' 1768 The Military Medley and another book circa 1815/17 by Drum-Major Potter of the Coldstream Guards. Until that time (and I suspect well after it) drumming was taught man-to-man. FYI, I'm told that while the notation is different to modern drumming, the basic exercises are the same and you can still buy facsimile editions of Potter's book today including here http://www.beafifer.com/potterdrum.htm.

Interestingly Potter set up a firm manufacturing military musical instruments on his retirement and the company still exists and is run by his kin even now. They are particularly famous for manufacturing bugles.

[robinstanley10]

Peter

Re: your reference (in your post of 16/9/10) to boy trumpeter William Lang (Laing). He is my great-great grandfather and I have some archive material relating to his exploits in the Crimea. There is a famous photograph of him holding a captured Russian trophy at Woolwich during a review of the troops by Queen Victoria - this appeared in the Illustrated London News of 1856. Do you have any material relating to my illustrious relative? Where can I get hold of the reference you quote:(Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, 1932, XI, No 42, p 48) ?
You (and other readers) may also be amused to learn that the actor, Jude Law, is also a great-great grandson of William Laing.
My brother is the sixth generation (going back to General Wolfe) in an unbroken line to serve in the Royal Artillery.
I look forward to hearing from you.