Flags and drums (1 Viewer)

[thebritfarmer]

First off I apologise for my ignorance.

History has never been my strong point, I never really found it all that interesting during school.

I have noticed that some of the wars (ACW, FIW, Napoleonic...there are others as well that I am not familar with, just that these stand out in my mind)

Is there a reason that a unit would go to battle with drums and flags? Seems a bit daft to me. Why would they make themselves noticable? Surely it can't just be patriosim?

I know during WWII that London used to have blackouts so enemy bombers would find it harder to bomb them.

Who would have the task of carrying the flag and playing the drums?


Thanks for any help

Scott

 

[aujj65]

First off I apologise for my ignorance.

History has never been my strong point, I never really found it all that interesting during school.

I have noticed that some of the wars (ACW, FIW, Napoleonic...there are others as well that I am not familar with, just that these stand out in my mind)

Is there a reason that a unit would go to battle with drums and flags? Seems a bit daft to me. Why would they make themselves noticable? Surely it can't just be patriosim?

I know during WWII that London used to have blackouts so enemy bombers would find it harder to bomb them.

Who would have the task of carrying the flag and playing the drums?


Thanks for any help

Scott

Hi Scott,

Flags are usually carried by Ensigns (Junior Officers) and they are the Regiment! Used as a focus point to ‘follow the colours’ into battle and also as a rallying point. Normally sited in the centre of the unit of men so all could see. Drummers and other musicians were used as medical orderlies, to carry the wounded and dead to the rear, but the primary function was to relay orders by the beat of the drum or bugle calls.

A rather simplistic overview but I hope it is of some help.

Jeff

 

[PolarBear]

Here is a site you will enjoy on British Regimental Drums & Colours of the FIW and AWI:

http://www.fifedrum.org/crfd/BD_1.htm

Randy

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Hi!
Remember that the drums are an important communication tool. The drummers in the company beat not only reveille and retreat, but all of the other important calls...dinner, church service, punishment parley, ect. Drummers were also often used when the men are drilled for keeping time and pace of march. There was a count required for each movement of the manual to keep time and for keeping facing movment sharp. An example in the 1764 drill (British) might be from Shoulder to order...four counts or beats of the drum.
As far as the use of Coulours and musik in a combat enviroment...remember that this is the period before smokeless powder and in certain weather conditions the field could be shrouded in smoke...the 'Fog of War' so to speak. The bright colours on the uniforms, flags and the sound of the drums can be used as rallying points in this reduced visability enviroment.
Hope some of this helps,
Ken

 

[Peter Reuss]

I suspect that flags went out of fashion when weapons that could shoot you as soon as they could see you were invented.

There was a reason to hold your fire until you saw the whites of their eyes! In the ARW, wouldn't a flagbearer at 200 yards be relatively safe given the accuracy of muskets? Because of that, they could be used to help keep order.

 

[jazzeum]

Pete,

I would agree with you but I believe the British were still doing this in the mid 19th Century and in the case of India leading their troops into the enemy's line.

Also, at El Alamein bagpipes were still being used.

 

[Wraith]

Also, at El Alamein bagpipes were still being used.

Allied Terror Weapon.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Many thanks for your replies, it does make sense to me now with those explanations.

I guess I was attributing modern warfare to days of old as it were.


What a great forum.........thanks again !!!!!

Scott