What did drummer boys do in the first world war?

[Jones]

I am doing my history homework on family members in world war one and i have been told that one of them was a drummer boy. I have tried looking at loads of websites for information on it but I got not find any on information on drummer boys in the first world war.
Please help!

[geoffrey]

They had certain beats they would play to let the troops know what orders had been given - the same way a bugle was used to sound charges...

[Yolanda]

Well I can't say exactlywhat your family member did ...but in the First World War most regiments realised quite early that they did not need a drummer...or band..to beat the step for them as they went into battle.  This was a different type of war.

Most Band platoons or companies attached to a regiment were then trained as corpsmen (medics).  So they did the ceremonial role..as a band...when they regiment was outof the line...but in battle...acted as medics...