Talk:Drummer (military)

Obsolete: When and why?

When was the last drummer boy commissioned and decommissioned for the US Army? Who was he, and may we create an article on him if we haven't by now?

Why was the profession made obsolete? What was it replaced by? This is valuable information to add to the article. Thanks. --70.179.161.230 (talk) 11:44, 19 January 2013 (UTC)

I have found a number of posts on military forums about the "little drummer boys" of the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879. Eye witness accounts record finding the corpses of boys who had been hung on butcher's hooks and mutilated by the Zulus after the battle. There is considerable doubt about this story as there were only two boy musicians (they were expected to play both drum and bugle) present, and they were both over 16. However, that seems to have ended the practice of sending boys on active service in the British Army. A reliable source is required. It also seems that boy musicians were still being recruited at 14 by the British Army in the 1930s. Again, a proper reference is needed. Alansplodge (talk) 23:39, 20 January 2013 (UTC)

Finally found one in Google books and entered in the article. Alansplodge (talk) 17:43, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

Drummer boy Juan Santamaría?

Our article on Juan Santamaría (August 29, 1831 - April 11, 1856) suggests that he was 25 when he was killed in battle. Alansplodge (talk) 17:49, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

Drummers and Drummer-boys

Were drummer-boys just drummers who happened to be young, or was there a difference in function (and maybe rank?) between adult drummers and drummer-boys?Paul J Williams (talk) 11:18, 14 November 2014 (UTC)

When did Drummer Boys start as a phenomenon?

The article implies that they have always been there, but I know of no evidence prior to the 18th century. Before then, drummers seem to have been adults! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 60.240.68.54 (talk) 12:05, 28 November 2015 (UTC)

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