The tradition of sounding a bugle or drum at various stages of a soldier’s day originated in the British Army. In the military camp at the start of the day a wake-up bugle call called ‘Réveille’ from the French word “réveiller” – to wake up – would be played. At various times of the day inspections would be made of each sentry post and a bugle call played at each post.
The tradition of the final bugle call of the day signalling the end of the soldier’s day dates back to the 17th century when the British Army was on campaign in the Netherlands. There was already a Dutch custom in existance called “Taptoe”. This was a signal at the end of the day to shut off the beer barrel taps and the name comes from the Dutch “Doe den tap toe” – “turn the tap off”. From that time the British Army adopted a routine of also sounding drum beats as the officer on duty made his rounds in the evening to check sentry posts and to call off-duty soldiers out of the pub and back to their billets. When the bugle call of ‘Last Post’ was sounded at the final sentry post inspection this was the final warning that everyone should be back in their billets.
The ‘Last Post’ bugle call is used at military funerals, memorials and times of Remembrance. It symbolises the ‘end of the soldier’s day’ in so far as the dead soldier has finished his duty and can rest in peace.