"Megaphones in the Field!" Topic

Does anyone know of a source of information about their use by military forces in the field? The period I'm interested in is c1900 but help for any period would be a start.

The only reference I have come across is in Mike Chapple, The Gurkhas, London, Osprey 1994, colour plate C2, which shows a British lieutenant 4 GR with 'a megaphone on a lanyard.' but with no further explanation as to their use.

Was their use common, was it restricted to India?

Has anyone come across references to their use in the British or any other armies (or navies)?

I am aware of large 'garrison' megaphones used to amplify bugle calls – I am looking for information about hand held instruments used in the field.

Thanks

I would guess that they would be mainly used in 'crowd control' situations where the army had been asked to give 'aid to the civil'.

Never heard of their use on the battlefield!

They were a common piece of kit used by RA/RHA Gun Position Officers for relaying fire orders from the Battery/Troop command post to the gun crews. Replaced by electrical tannoys during (or possibly by) WW2.

Thanks for the responses… any more out there?