Military drums

[1] In early medieval Europe, the Byzantine Empire made use of military drums to indicate marching and rowing cadence,[2] as well as a psychological weapon on the battlefield since the End of Antiquity.

[3] However, in Western Europe, military drums were little observed until the time of the Crusades[4] (p. 19) [5] Western European armies likely first encountered drums used by Byzantine and Islamic military forces, the latter who used primarily their traditional kettledrums, and in battle found that the sound would particularly affect Crusaders' horses, who had not previously encountered them.

By the early 13th century, Crusading armies began to adopt military drums and brought back the practice to the West.

Key signals by multiple or single drummers included general, call, prepare, march, assemble, advance, retreat, etc.

The unsuitability of such musical instruments for modern warfare was quickly realised and in September 1914 the drums were withdrawn, and the drummers transferred to other duties.