I've been playing "Over the top: WW1" recently on Steam and this reminded me of it. Playing bagpipes while everyone around you is getting shot and blown up. Love the humour in that game lol

7th grade me asked teacher "Did they shoot at the drummer boys too?" and without hesitating she says "YES!" I'm sure she's right, but she had a gleeful face which made me think she was happy to answer regardless of its truthfulness.

William J. Johnston (July 12, 1850 – September 16, 1941) was a drummer boy in Company D of the 3rd Vermont Infantry during the American Civil War. When his division was routed during the Seven Days Battles during the Peninsula Campaign of June to July 1862, he was the only drummer to come away with his instrument. His superiors considered this a meritorious feat, given that the regiment's other soldiers had thrown away their guns and equipment to lighten their loads as they retreated. As a result, he received the Medal of Honor in 1863; at age 13, he remains the youngest recipient of the award.

This is basically the plot of Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

You reckon any savants came up with a legendary melody from all the emotions mid-battle?

My favorite is that the “clown song” is originally an Austro-Hungarian marching song called “entrance of the gladiators”

And up in to WW1 they would have bands playing during battles. So there is a very good chance that someone had to charge a machine gun nest while the fucking clown song was playing.

12 year olds!?