[ All Rights Reserved. ]

INFANTRY TRAINING.

1905.

LONDON:

Printed for His Majesty’s Stationery Office ,
BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST MARTIN’S LANE,
Printers in Ordinary to His Majesty .

And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from
WYMAN AND SONS, Ltd., Fetter Lane, E.C. , or
OLIVER AND BOYD, Edinburgh ; or
E. PONSONBY, 116, Grafton Street, Dublin .

Price One Shilling

EWD Ward

Secretary, Army Council .

War Office,

1st February, 1905.

Part IV., S. 163 (1), line 2, for “defence” read “attack.”

As A.F.B 214 need not in future be kept up, Part V., S. 181 (6), Returns is cancelled.

Officers, Warrant officers, Non-commissioned officers, &c.

COMMANDING OFFICER
SECOND IN COMMAND
ADJUTANT
COMPANY COMMANDER
SENIOR SUBALTERN
JUNIOR SUBALTERN
QUARTERMASTER
THE KING’S COLOUR
THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR
SERJEANT-MAJOR
STAFF SERJEANT
SECTION COMMANDER
SQUAD COMMANDER
PRIVATE, FRONT RANK
PRIVATE, REAR RANK
PIONEER SERJEANT
PIONEER
BAND MASTER
BAND SERJEANT
BANDSMAN
SERJEANT-DRUMMER
DRUMMER
SIGNALLER

ORIGINAL FORMATION		Front Rank
		Rear Rank
FINAL FORMATION		Front Rank
		Rear Rank

General Definitions.

PART I.

TRAINING OF THE RECRUIT.

1. Preliminary remarks.

1. The object of the recruits course of training at the depôt is to fit the soldier to take his place in the ranks of his company on joining his battalion.

For this purpose the recruit must be developed by physical exercises, and be trained in squad drill, rifle and firing exercises, in the estimation of ranges, and in skirmishing.

2. Syllabus of Training.

The following syllabus for the training of the recruit at the depôt is given as a guide, but it need not be rigidly adhered to:—

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I.

Syllabus of Training.

60 days of 4 hours each.

Note. —The course of instruction of the recruit in musketry training, rifle exercises, bayonet fighting, and physical training will be found in “The Appendix to Training Manuals.”

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II.

Instructions.

1. Recruits will be formed for instructional purposes in squads, the maximum number of men in each squad should not exceed twenty.

2. The squad instructors will be most carefully selected. They must be energetic, thoroughly well trained in the art of instruction, and intelligent. They will remain with the same squad throughout the period of training, and will carry out the whole of the instruction, in physical training, drill, rifle and firing exercises, and skirmishing, except as noted in above table.

3. Training in drill, physical exercises, rifle and firing exercises, and skirmishing, is to be as varied as possible; the work for each morning or afternoon should include more than one of these subjects.

4. Equipment will be issued on joining, but will not be worn on parade for the first month. Riffles will be issued as soon as the commanding officer directs, certainly not later than the first fortnight.

5. Marching will be carried out at the discretion of the commanding officer, and, as a rule, in connection with skirmishing practices.

6. At the conclusion of a recruit’s course the officer commanding the regimental district will inspect the recruits in all the branches of instruction. In conjunction with a medical officer he will examine all men considered too weak or awkward to join battalions, and submit a detailed report to the general officer commanding, with a recommendation as to whether such men be retained at the depôt for further instruction, or discharged.

7. The system of the training of the recruit is intended to develop gradually his mental and physical powers, officers commanding will, therefore, be held responsible that the principles of training herein laid down are complied with, and that [26] instruction in musketry and skirmishing is not curtailed in favour of less essential practices.

8. The following directions in connection with the progress of the recruit are given for guidance of instructors and supervising officers:—

Doubling: this should not exceed—

At the end of the First Month.

Horizontal bar. —He should be able to pull to the chest twice, hands reversed, without assistance.

Parallel bars. —He should be able to press up six times running.

At the end of the Second Month.

Horizontal bar. —He should be able to pull to the chest at least six times, hands reversed.

Parallel bars. —He should be able to press up at least ten times.

Jumping. —Correct style of taking off (with either foot) and alighting is required. This is of more importance, up to this time, than great height or width of jump.

At the end of the Third Month.

Horizontal bar. —He should be able to pull to the chest at least ten times, hands reversed.

Parallel bars. —He should be able to press up at least fourteen times.

Jumping. —He should be able to jump a height of at least three feet.

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III.

Lectures by Squad Instructors.

[ To be invariably attended by an officer. ]

First Fortnight.

1. Barrack room duties. Cleanliness and smartness expected from the soldier. Dress and clothing. Local orders. Good name of the regiment.

2. Fitting equipment. Laying down kits. Conduct in town. Position of provost; duty to obey and support him.

3. Names, rank, and position of officers. Saluting. Manner of making a complaint. Reporting sick and hospital rules. Church parade and behaviour in church.

4. Lectures are to be given to recruits on the fact that their prospects of civil employment in after life depends entirely on their conduct whilst in the army, and that no man can be registered for employment who is not discharged with a good character, and that preference will be given to such as have exemplary or very good ones, while for police or post office employment an additional certificate of absolute sobriety is necessary.

Second Fortnight.

1. The rifle. Names and use of its different parts. Cleaning and care of rifle.

2. Marching order, &c.

3. Hints on marching; boots, socks, clean feet, treatment of blisters. Drinking on the march. Falling out. Instances of long marching and endurance on part of the regiment.

Third Fortnight.

Skirmishing and marching.

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Fourth Fortnight.

Skirmishing and use of the rifle.

Fifth Fortnight.

Skirmishing, and duties on guard,

Sixth Fortnight.

Recapitulation of previous instruction.

During the lecture hour, some time should be allowed for catechism on preceding week’s instruction.

The lectures on the principles of skirmishing and marching should always, if possible, be illustrated by incidents taken from actual warfare.

The Recruit on joining his Company.

A recruit after a course of three months’ training at the depôt should be sufficiently trained to be able to take his place in the ranks of his company, but until he has acquired a thorough knowledge of musketry, and can handle his rifle with skill and confidence under all conditions and in all positions, his daily instruction in musketry will be continued.

The following will be the course:—

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SQUAD DRILL.

3. Method of Instruction of the Recruit.

1. When once the various motions have been learnt, it will be the exception and not the rule, especially with auxiliary forces, to instruct recruits by numbers.

2. The instructor muse be clear, firm, and concise in giving his directions. He must be patient, making allowance for the different capacity of the men whom he is training; and always bearing in mind that careful individual instruction is the best means of developing the intelligence, and therefore the foundation of military efficiency.

3. The instructor, who will invariably carry a whistle and, if the squad is receiving rifle instruction, a rifle, will teach as much as possible by illustration, either performing the movements himself, or causing them to be performed by a smart recruit, placed facing the squad. He will be careful, in order to stimulate the intelligence and interest of the recruits, to explain clearly, in simple terms, the reason of every movement and formation, and its application in the field.

4. Instructors should be encouraged, in giving the details of the different movements, to use their own words. So long as the instruction is clearly understood by the men it is quite immaterial whether the phrasing of this manual is adhered to.

5. When first taught his positions, the recruit should be properly placed by the instructor; when more advanced, he should not be touched, but made to correct himself when admonished. He should not be kept too long at any one exercise. Squad drill should be intermixed with instruction in the handling of the rifle and with physical training, and close order drill with skirmishing.

6. Short and frequent drills are preferable to long lessons, which exhaust the attention both of the instructor and recruit. Recruits should be advanced progressively from one exercise to another, and should not be kept back by men of inferior capacity, who should be moved into a less advanced squad.

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4. Words of Command.

1. Every command must be distinctly pronounced and sufficiently loud to be heard by all concerned.

2. Every command that consists of one word must be preceded by a caution. The caution, or cautionary part of a command, must be given deliberately and distinctly; the last or executive part, which, in general, should consist of only one word or syllable, must be given sharply; as A pause will invariably be made between the caution and the executive word.

3. When the last word of a caution is the signal for any preparatory movement, it will be given as an executive word, and separated from the rest of the command by a pause; thus, as though there were two separate commands, each with its caution and executive word.

4. When the men are in motion, executive words must be completed as they are commencing the pace which will bring them to the spot on which the command has to be executed. The caution, therefore, must be commenced accordingly.

5. Young officers and non-commissioned officers will be frequently practised in giving words of command. They should always, even when on fatigue duty, bear in mind the obligation of setting an example of soldierly smartness to those beneath them. Slovenly and indistinct words of command result in slackness and hesitation on the part of the men.

6. The cautions and commands in this manual are, as a rule, given with regard to one flank only, but the same principle applies equally to movements to the other flank, which should also be practised.

In squad drill the words printed in italics in the margin are the commands to be given by the instructor.

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Squad drill, with Intervals.

5. Formation of squads.

1. A few men will be placed in single rank at arm’s length apart; while so formed, they will be termed a squad with intervals .

2. If necessary, the squad may consist of two ranks, in which case the men in the rear rank will cover the intervals between the men in the front rank, so that in marching they may take their own points, as directed in S. 13 .

3. Recruits will, in the first instance, be placed by the instructor without any dressing; when they have learned to dress, as directed in S. 8 , they will be taught to fall in, as above described, and then to dress and to correct their intervals. After they have been instructed as far as S. 23 , they may fall in as directed in S. 24 .

4. Recruits formed into a squad will be directed to observe the relative places they hold with each other; while resting between the exercises they will be permitted to fall out and move about; they will be instructed on the words Fall in to fall in as they stood at first. This should be constantly practised.

Recruits will be instructed singly as well as together in all exercises as far as S. 23 .

6. Position of Attention.

The exact squareness of the shoulders and body to the front is the first principle of the position of Attention . The arms should hang easily from the shoulder, elbows to the rear; the fingers together, slightly bent, and their tips touching the thigh lightly, behind the seam of the trousers; the hips drawn back, and the chest advanced, but without constraint. The heels must be in line and closed; the knees well braced back; the toes turned out so that the feet may form an angle of 45 degrees; [32] the weight of the body on the fore part of the feet. The head is to be held erect, but not thrown back; the chin to be slightly drawn in; and the eyes looking straight to the front.

7. Standing at ease.

When the recruit falls in for instruction he will be taught to place himself in the position above described.

No deviation from the position of Stand at ease will be permitted unless the command Stand—easy is given, when the men will be permitted to move their limbs, but without quitting their ground, so that on coming to Attention there will be no loss of dressing.

When there is no special reason for ordering Stand at ease before Stand—easy , the order to Stand—easy will be given without it. On the caution Squad being given to men standing easy, every soldier will at once assume the position of standing at ease.

8. Dressing a squad with intervals.

A line will similarly be dressed by the left.

9. Turnings.

10. Saluting.

( A ) Saluting to the front.

Caution.— Salute, by numbers.

Caution.— Salute, judging the time.

( B ) Saluting to the side.

Cautions. — Right (or Left ) hand salute .

The salute will always be with the hand further from the person saluted.

The procedure will be as described in ( A ), except that as the hand is brought to the salute, the head will be turned towards the person saluted.

Recruits should be practised in marching two or three together, saluting points being placed on either side. When several men are together, the man nearest to the point will give the time.

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When a soldier passes an officer he will salute on the third pace before reaching him, and will lower the hand on the third pace after passing him; if carrying a cane he will place it smartly under the disengaged arm, cutting away the hand before saluting.

A soldier, if sitting when an officer approaches, will rise, stand at attention, and salute; if two or more men are sitting or standing about, the senior non-commissioned officer or oldest soldier will call the whole to Attention and alone will salute.

When a soldier addresses an officer, he will halt two paces from him, and salute as in ( A ). He will also salute before withdrawing.

When appearing before an officer in a room, he will salute without removing his cap.

A soldier, without his cap, or when carrying anything that prevents him from saluting, will, if standing still, come to attention as an officer passes; if walking, he will turn his head smartly towards the officer in passing him.

A soldier, when riding a bicycle, will turn his head smartly towards an officer in passing him.

Warrant and non-commissioned officers who wear the sword will always salute with the right hand.

Marching.

11. Length of pace, and time.

1. Length of pace. —In slow and quick time the length of a pace is 30 inches. In stepping out , it is 33 inches, in double time , 40, in stepping short , 21, and in the side step , 15 inches.

When a soldier takes a side pace to clear or cover another, as in forming fours, S. 40, the pace will be 30 inches.

2. Time. —In slow time , 75 paces are taken in a minute. In quick time , 120 paces, equal to 100 yards in a minute, or 3 miles 720 yards in an hour. In double time , 180 paces, equal to 200 yards a minute. The time of the side step is the same as for the quick step .

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Distances of 100 and 200 yards will be marked on the drill ground, and non-commissioned officers and men practised in keeping correct time, and length of pace.

Marching in slow time will be practised only when required for ceremonial purposes.

12. The drum, and pace stick.

No recruit, or squad of recruits, is to be taught to march without the constant use of the drum, and pace stick.

The drum will first beat the time in which the men are to march, when the squad is halted; then, from time to time, when it is in motion. While the drum is beating, at the halt, the men will give their attention to the time; when it ceases, the instructor will put the squad in motion.

In order to ascertain whether the time is beaten correctly, a pendulum should be used.

The length of the pace in marching will be corrected with the pace stick, the accuracy of which should occasionally be tested by measurement.

13. Position in marching.

In marching, the soldier must maintain the position of the head and body, as directed in S. 6 , with the weight on the fore part of the feet. He must be well balanced on his limbs. In slow time his arms and hands must be kept steady by his sides, care being taken that the hand does not partake of the movement of the leg, and the toes must be pointed downwards. In quick time his arms will swing naturally from the shoulder, the right arm swinging forward with the left leg, and the left arm with the right leg. The hand must not be swung in advance of the leading foot, across the body, nor be raised higher than the waistbelt. The movement of the leg must spring from the haunch, and be free and natural.

Both knees must be kept straight, except while the leg is being carried from the rear to the front, when the knee must [37] necessarily be a little bent, to enable the foot to clear the ground. The foot must be carried straight to the front, and, without being drawn back, placed firmly on the ground, but so as not to jerk or shake the body.

Although several recruits may be drilled together in a squad with intervals, they must act independently, precisely as if they were being instructed singly. They will thus learn to march in a straight line, and to take a correct pace, both as regards length and time, without reference to the other men of the squad.

Before the squad is put in motion, the instructor will take care that the men are square individually and in correct line with each other. Each recruit must be taught to take a point straight to his front, by fixing his eyes upon some distant object, and then observing some nearer point in the same straight line, such as a stone, tuft of grass, or other object.

14. The Quick March.

15. The Halt.

16. Stepping Out.

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This step is used when a slight increase of speed, without an alteration of cadence, is required; on the command Quick—March the usual pace will be resumed.

17. Stepping short.

18. Marking time.

At the halt, the word of command will be Quick, Mark—Time .

19. Stepping back.

The step back should not exceed four paces.

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20. Changing step.

This may be required when any part of a squad, or a single soldier, is stepping with a different foot from the rest.

To change step when marking time, two successive beats will be made with the same foot.

21. The Double March.

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The recruit will be taught to mark time in double time, the hands being raised and the fists clenched as when marching in double time, but the arms kept steady. From the halt, the word of command will be Double, Mark—Time.

22. The Side step.

Caution.— Right (or Left ) close .

Soldiers should not usually be moved to a flank by the side step more than twelve paces.

23. Turning when on the march.

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2. A soldier will always turn to the right on the left foot; and to the left on the right foot. If the word Turn is not given as the proper foot is coming to the ground, the soldier will move on one pace and then turn.

3. Making a half turn to the right, or left. —Recruits will also be practised in making a half turn to the right or left on the words Right or Left—Incline , and then moving on (without checking their pace) in a diagonal direction, taking up fresh points, at once, to march on, and turning in the original direction on the word Left or Right—Incline .

4. Turning about. —On the command About turn , recruits will also be taught to turn about, which must be done by each man on his own ground, in three paces, without losing the time. Having completed the turn about, the soldier will at once move forward, the fourth pace being a full pace of 30 inches.

Squad drill, in single rank.

24. Formation of the squad in single rank.

At this stage of the instruction a few recruits will be formed in single rank, each man being allowed a space of 30 inches. The accuracy of the spacing should be frequently tested by the instructor.

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25. Dressing when halted.

When soldiers are on the alignment they have to occupy, and it is necessary to correct their dressing, the command Right (or Left )— Dress will be given, on which each man will look towards the flank by which he is ordered to dress with a smart turn of the head, as described in S. 8 . Each man will then move up or back to his place successively, commencing with the man nearest the named flank, carrying his body backward or forward with the feet, moving to his dressing with short quick steps, without bending backward or forward. His shoulders must be kept perfectly square, and the position of Attention , retained throughout.

The instructor should invariably fix upon some object on which to dress his line.

It will be found useful to accustom men to dress on an alignment oblique to any well-defined adjacent line.

26. Turnings.

The recruit will next practice in single rank, judging the time, without any pause between the motions, the turnings he has been taught by numbers.

27. Marching in Squad.

Before a squad is ordered to march, the directing flank or man must be indicated by the caution, By the right , By the left , or By No.- . During the march, the shoulders must be kept perfectly square to the front, the body steady, eyes off the ground. Each man will preserve his position in the general alignment by an occasional glance towards the directing man.

The squad will first be taught to march straight to the front, by the right, by the left, or by any man. It will then be practised in all the varieties of step in quick time, and in marking time, after which it will be exercised in double time.

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The recruit will be practised in changing the pace, without halting, from quick to double, on the command Double—March , and from double to quick. In breaking from double into quick time, on the command Quick—March , the arms will be dropped to their usual position.

The instructor will ensure that the recruit on the flank, or the named number, according to the caution, selects two distant points to march on, and before approaching the first takes another in advance on the same line, and so on. By occasionally remaining halted in rear of the directing man, and fixing his eyes on the distant objects, the instructor can ascertain if the squad is marching in the original direction.

When a soldier finds himself a little behind, or before, the other men of his squad, he must be taught to recover his place in the rank gradually, and not to rush to it.

28. The Diagonal March. ( Plate I , Fig. 1.)

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The Diagonal March.

[45]

The diagonal march may, if necessary, be taught from the halt.

If the diagonal march has been properly performed, the squad when halted, or after the words Left—Incline , will be found to be in a line parallel to its original position.

The diagonal march will also be practised in double time.

29. Changing Direction. ( Plate I , Fig. 2.)

2. The squad will also practise forming at any angle.

3. When it is intended to move forward in the new direction after forming, the words At the Halt will be omitted, the men will mark time when formed, and the word Forward will follow.

4. On the March. —On the command Right—Form , the right-hand man will turn in the required direction, and mark time, while the remainder will make a partial turn, and move by the shortest line to their places on the new alignment. As each man arrives in his place he will mark time and take up his dressing independently.

As soon as the squad is formed, the command Forward will be given.

5. If it is desired to form at the halt when on the march, on the command At the Halt—Right—Form , the right-hand man will turn in the required direction and then halt; the remainder will act as in 1.

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30. Marching as in file.

31. Changing direction as in file.

If a squad is ordered to halt, mark time, or step short, when a part of the men only have wheeled into the new direction, the remainder should be instructed to cover off, if required, by the diagonal march, on the command, Rear Files—Cover .

32. Men marching as in file forming up into squad.

( Plate I , Fig. 3.)

2. If it is intended to halt at the place where the movement is commenced, the caution At the Halt will be given, and the leading man will halt instead of marking time, the remainder doing the same as they reach their places, and taking up their dressing.

33. Marching with arms.

Squads with arms will be practised in the different marches, and variations of step, described in the foregoing sections. During these practices, the closest attention must be paid to the position of each individual recruit.

The disengaged arm will be allowed to swing naturally, except [48] when doubling with arms at the slope, when it will be bent as in the double march S. 21 .

When men parade with arms they will invariably fall in at the Order , each man occupying 30 inches, and Stand at Ease .

Coming to Attention. —The squad, when standing easy, will stand at ease on the caution Squad , and will come to attention and slope arms on the command Slope—Arms ; it will order arms from the Slope , stand at ease, and stand easy, on the command Stand—Easy .

Squad drill, in two ranks.

34. Formation of a squad in two ranks.

The squad will now be formed for drill in two ranks. The men will take their places in succession, commencing from the flank on which they are ordered to form, and each occupying a space of 30 inches. Each man of the rear rank will be placed 60 inches from the man in front of him, measuring from heel to heel, and will cover him correctly, the two men thus placed forming a File . The squad will be numbered from right to left; when it consists of an uneven number of men, the third man from the left of the front rank will be a Blank (or incomplete) File , that is, he will have no rear rank man.

If the squad is required to drill with intervals, it will be numbered from the right, and will then receive the command Odd numbers of the front rank two paces forward, even numbers of the rear rank two paces step back—March .

To re-form the squad, on the command Reform Ranks—March , the odd numbers of the front rank will step back two paces, and the even numbers of the rear rank step forward two paces.

35. Dressing.

The front rank will dress as described in S. 25 . The rear rank men will continue looking to their front, and will cover and correct their distances, as the men of the front rank take up their dressing.

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36. Marching in squad, and in file.

A squad in two ranks will be practised in the marches and variations of step taught in single rank.

Blank File. —A blank file will always be with the leading rank. He will move up into his place on the words About Turn at the halt, or will step out to take his place in the leading rank when the squad is turned about on the march.

Covering and Distance. —While marching in line, the men of the rear rank must accurately preserve their covering and distance.

Marching in file. —Marching and changing direction in file will be practised as laid down in S. 30 and S. 31 , care being taken that the men in the rear rank dress correctly by the men of the front rank.

37. Changing Ranks.

When a squad turns about, the ranks are thereby changed, i.e. , the former rear rank becomes the front rank, the former front rank the rear rank.

The exception is when it is required to fall back for a short distance only, with a view of again turning in the original direction. The command About—Turn is then preceded by the caution The Squad will Retire . The squad will turn in the original direction on the command The Squad will Advance, About—Turn .

38. The Diagonal March.

The diagonal march will be practised in two ranks, in the manner described in S. 28 . In addition to the instructions there given, the men in the rear rank must be cautioned to preserve their relative positions with the men of the front rank, in order that they may cover correctly when they are halted in line.

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39. Changing direction, and forming up.

A squad will change direction or form up according to the instructions laid down in S. 29 and S. 32 . The rear rank will not turn on the caution, but in forming will conform to the movements of the front rank.

40. The formation of fours. ( Plate II. )

Fours are the ordinary marching formation of infantry, and the greatest attention should be paid to training the recruit to keep the prescribed distance from the man in front. Order, comfort, and the reduction of fatigue, depend on the maintenance of exact distance by the sections of fours.

Test of marching. —The test of marching in fours is the position of the men when they turn into line. If there are no gaps or irregularities in the line, and the squad occupies the same frontage as before it formed fours, the marching is good. This test should be frequently applied during the instruction of recruits, and the slightest carelessness as regards the maintenance of the exact distance should be checked at once.

It must be explained to the men that odd numbers are right files, and even numbers left files.

In order that the left four may always be complete, the file on the left of a squad will invariably move back, and the second file from the left always stand fast in forming fours.

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Formation of Fours.

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2. Forming Fours to the Right (or Left ).

If it is required to remain in fours, the word of command will be In Fours . Left (or Right )— Turn .

A squad moving to a flank in fours, on receiving the command Right (or Left )— Turn , will turn in the required direction and form two-deep without any further word of command. On receiving an order to incline to the right or left, the squad will remain in fours.

3. On the march. —A squad marching in line, or by the diagonal march, will be taught to form fours precisely as when forming from the halt; the right files marking time two paces whilst the left files are moving to their places. Should the word Right or Left or Right or Left Incline follow, the squad will turn in the direction ordered.

4. When in file. —Fours will be formed by the left files, moving forward or back into their position in Fours , right files if on the move marking time two paces.

5. When moving in fours, the squad may be turned in any direction, diagonal or otherwise.

6. When moving in fours, the squad may be ordered to form two-deep; on the command, Form—Two-deep , the left files will step up or fall back into their places in two-deep formation, the right files marking time two paces.

7. When from line a squad is turned to the right or left in fours, if to the right the left will direct, and if to the left the right will direct without any further word of command, and each section of fours will dress by that flank.

8. A squad moving to a flank in fours by the diagonal march, will form two-deep on being turned into line.

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41. Fours changing direction, and forming squad.

1. Changing direction. —A squad moving in fours, will change direction to the right, in the same manner as in file: each four wheeling successively round the same point as described in S. 31 .

If the squad be ordered to halt, or mark time, when a part of the fours only have wheeled, the remainder will be instructed to cover off, if required, by the diagonal march, on the command Rear fours—Cover .

2. Forming squad. —When a squad moving in fours is ordered to form squad either on the right or left, it will re-form two-deep, and then proceed as in S. 32 , the men taking up their proper places as they come up to the alignment.

42. Passage of a Defile.

If a squad in line has to pass a defile, it will be formed into fours, or turned into file, either to a flank or inwards, and pass the defile in this formation, line being reformed as soon as the defile is passed.

43. Obstacles.

When a stream, ditch, or bank is to be crossed it will be generally found best to increase rather than diminish the front, by causing the men to gradually open out before they arrive at the obstacle. If an obstacle such as a tree or a bush has to be passed, the men concerned will drop back, clear the obstacle, and then resume their original formation.

44. Dismissing with or without arms.

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SKIRMISHING.

45. General Rules.

1. Skirmishing implies extended order, in which each individual acts and thinks for himself, and makes use of all his powers, mental and physical, to attain a common object. It is absolutely essential, then, that in this part of his training, the intelligence of each recruit should be developed by every possible means, and that a spirit of independent action, subject to the control and general directions of the section and squad commanders, should be sedulously encouraged.

2. Even after the soldier has acquired the habit of prompt obedience to the word of command, and of concentrating his whole attention on the work in hand, and has learnt to march and shoot, he will, notwithstanding, be insufficiently trained for service unless he can use his wits as well as his physical strength, and is a skilful, active, and resourceful skirmisher.

3. Skirmishing is the all important formation in warfare against a well-armed enemy. The instruction of the recruit in such exercises must therefore, be considered as one of the most important portions of his training, and should receive very careful attention. It should commence as soon as he is sufficiently advanced to be able to carry out movements in two ranks and to perform correctly the various motions required to fire the rifle, and should be continued throughout his training.

46. Course of Training.

The course of instruction of the recruit in skirmishing will be divided into two parts:—

(i) Preliminary Training. —This, which should be as brief as possible, may be carried out on level ground; it will include instruction in the methods of extending and closing, advancing and retiring, wheeling and changing direction, &c., and in the use of signals.

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(ii) Practical Skirmishing. —This will take the form of simple exercises, such as advancing or retiring, &c., over broken ground. During this period the recruit should be individually instructed in the use of cover, the elementary lessons in the application of fire, and the practical methods of carrying out the principles learnt during preliminary training.

47. Preliminary Training.

1. In order that the recruit may be accustomed to use his intelligence and initiative from the commencement of his training as a skirmisher, it will be explained to him that skirmishing is a tactical exercise and not a drill, that the object of it is to teach him the practical methods of advancing and retiring, the use of cover, and the application of fire, &c.; and that mechanical precision in performing the various movements is not to be aimed at.

2. A squad of recruits with arms will be formed up under a capable instructor, who should be a skilful skirmisher; he will train the individual recruit in the method of extending, &c., S. 46 (i).

3. Skirmishers will move in single rank at the trail. Correct dressing and keeping step are to be dispensed with. When halted each man will turn towards the direction of the supposed enemy, and will either lie down or will take up such a position behind natural cover as will afford him sufficient protection, and enable him to use his rifle with effect. At preliminary training on the parade ground, recruits may stand easy instead of lying down when the squad halts.

4. In all skirmishing exercises the instructor will point out the position of the enemy, and he will see that the squad acts throughout with reference to that position.

5. Although words of command are given for preliminary drill purposes, it is to be distinctly understood that in skirmishing all orders, as far as is possible, are to be conveyed by [56] signal. During the preliminary training the words of command may be used, but they are invariably to be preceded by the whistle sound, and to be accompanied by the corresponding signal, S. 49 . The instructor will ensure that every man looks to him on the sound of the whistle. He will give neither command nor signal until they do so, as it is of great importance that in the field all should at once look to the commander on the whistle sounding.

48. Method of Extending and Closing, &c.

1. Extending from line. —On the command To —— paces—Extend , if on the move, the front rank man of the centre file will continue to advance, the remaining files will turn outwards and will extend at the double, each man breaking into quick time and advancing in the original direction on reaching his position. The rear rank men will form on the left of their front rank men. Arms will be carried at the short trail until there is sufficient room to trail. If it is desired to extend to one flank, the command To the Right (or Left ) will precede the above command, when the extension will be performed on the same principle as from the centre. If the squad is halted, the extension will be carried out by the front rank man of the centre or flank file lying down, whilst the remainder will turn in the required direction and extend as above in double time, each man halting and lying down as soon as he has got his extension. (When on the barrack square recruits may be permitted to stand at ease instead of lying down.)

2. Extending from column of fours. —On the command To the Right (or Left ) to —— paces—Extend , the whole will form two deep. If the extension is to the right, the left man of the leading file will continue to advance, the other man of the file extending, whilst the remainder will make a partial [57] turn in the required direction, and will double into their position, breaking into quick time, and continuing the advance in the original direction as soon as they have done so. If the extension is to the right, the left man of each file will form on the left of the other man of the same file, and vice versâ . If, when working with two squads, it is desired to extend outwards, one squad should be ordered to extend to the right and the other to the left.

3. Should it be required to form in a direction obliquely to the line of advance, the command Half (or Quarter ), Right (or Left ) will precede the command in 1 or 2.

4. If it is desired to increase or decrease the extension, the command will be To —— paces—Extend (or Close ), when the men will extend or close on the centre, unless one flank is named.

5. Skirmishers will be practised in inclining and in changing direction. The change of direction should be carried out without checking the pace, skirmishers gaining their position at the double.

6. In all movements in extended order the centre will direct unless otherwise ordered; the point on which the centre man is to move should be clearly pointed out.

7. On the command, or signal, Close , squads will close in quick time on their centre file, which will halt, if the squad is not already halted. The men of the original rear rank forming up in rear of their original front rank men, each man halting and standing at ease as he resumes his position in line.

49. Signals and Whistle Blasts and War Calls.

1. All movements of skirmishers will be controlled by the whistle and signal, for which purpose the following whistle blasts and signals have been adopted:—

2. The whistle will be used—

3. On a short blast being blown on the whistle, skirmishers will turn towards their commander and will remain looking at him until he gives the executive signal.

4. War bugle calls. —Charge. Alarm.

No other calls are to be used. For the Cease Fire the whistle only is to be used.

50. Practical Skirmishing.

1. As soon as the preliminary training is completed, the practical application of the principles inculcated will be taught on broken ground. Without constant practice over undulating, [60] wooded, hilly, mountainous, or rocky country, men can never become efficient skirmishers.

2. Skirmishers must always be on the alert for the appearance of the enemy, as well as for orders, whistle, or signal. To this end, therefore, silence and attention must be as strictly maintained as in close order, and although uniformity of action is not to be demanded, each man should move with the utmost smartness and alacrity.

3. Neither on the move nor at the halt need a regular line be preserved, nor should too much attention be paid to exact maintenance of intervals between men.

4. Frequent opportunities will be taken of impressing on the recruit that troops are formed as skirmishers in order that they may not present a favourable target to the enemy’s fire, and may be enabled to take full advantage of cover.

5. Advances may be made by rushes, at the double, in quick time, or even by crawling, but the pace and method will depend on whether the skirmishing line is under cover or not, on the volume of the fire to which they are supposed to be exposed, and on the distance from the enemy.

6. Orders are to be conveyed either by signal, S. 49 , or else passed along the line of skirmishers, S. 54 .

51. Cover.

1. The paramount importance of concealment must be impressed on all ranks. Anyone showing himself may betray the fact that a position is occupied; or that an outflanking movement is in progress. Officers and non-commissioned officers must be careful to set an example in this respect, and see that it is followed by the men.

2. The recruit should be trained to look for a covered line of advance, and to select such halting places as will shelter him from the view and fire of the enemy. He should move as nearly as possible in a direct line forward, so as not to mask the fire of his comrades.

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3. Cover to be efficient must fulfil the following conditions:—

4. It is more advantageous to fire from the side of cover than over it, for though the exposure is in both cases practically identical, a soldier when firing over cover is more visible than when firing round it, and therefore offers a better mark for the enemy’s aim; in addition, his movements when preparing to do so are more likely to catch the eye. On the other hand, better view and command of ground are obtained when firing over cover.

5. Cover gives protection in proportion to the closeness with which the soldier’s body is brought to it. Bullets which just pass over the top of cover, particularly if their angle of descent is abrupt, search ground within a very few feet.

6. Whenever possible, fire should be delivered from the lowest part of the right side of any obstacle. For example, the soldier should lie down at the foot of a tree and fire to the right of it; or when behind a boulder, he should fire round the lower edge of it, and not over the top.

Men must necessarily fire over a continuous wall, bank, ditch, high grass, crops, or similar features.

In this case, until the rifle is brought to the firing position only the portion of the head from the eyes upwards should be visible above the cover.

7. When teaching the use of cover, the instructor will explain that the first principle is so to adapt the position to it that the rifle can be fired with the minimum of exposure. He will then state the advantages and disadvantages of various kinds of cover, and will point out that a firer behind a rock or stone wall may be wounded by splinters; that a certain thickness of [62] earth or brick is necessary to resist a bullet; that a tree affords only moderate protection; that an isolated tree, bush or hedgerow should be avoided as it will probably draw fire; that even the smallest fold of ground gives cover from view and protection from fire, &c. Finally, he will, so far as cover is available, practically show how each can best be utilised.

The men will observe his position both from behind and from the front, and the instructor will emphasise the danger of undue exposure. Each man will then be directed to take cover, and his actions and position criticised by the instructor from the enemy’s point of view as well as from behind.

8. If a skirmisher finds that there is no cover near his line of advance, or that the cover which exists is already occupied, he must throw himself down in the open, and lie as flat as possible.

9. Skirmishers must never expose themselves on the sky-line, or against a background which would show them up; they must never in any circumstances crowd together.

10. It will be found of great value during instruction to make each individual man skirmish independently over a piece of unknown ground against the rest of the squad, and to invite their criticism on his action.

11. In training skirmishers it is by no means sufficient to point out mistakes, but, in every case, the correct method of action, and the reasons for it, should be carefully and patiently explained, and the exercise repeated.

52. Blank Ammunition.

Blank ammunition should occasionally be used, and the enemy should be represented by either another squad, or a few men; light canvas, paper, or wooden targets, in the form of men kneeling, cavalry, a gun, &c., &c.; or a line of old helmets or khaki hats.

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53. Fire Effect.

1. In skirmishing the unit of fire will usually be the section or squad.

2. The squad leader will be careful that no man who cannot see the mark fires.

3. The instructor should constantly inspect the recruits when firing from behind cover, direct them to correct their positions, and make certain that they recognise the target at which they have been ordered to aim.

It will be explained to the recruits that—

54. Reporting and passing Orders.

Skirmishers should be taught to report to their leaders anything they may observe of the dispositions of their enemy, to call their attention to all signals and to the movements of other units, and to pass orders, messages or information along the line in a clear and intelligible manner, without shouting.

55. Intervals.

The intervals between skirmishers depend on the nature of the ground, and on the character of the operation, and on the volume of fire it is sought to bring to bear on the enemy. They may vary considerably; but it should be clearly recognised that over-extension results in loss of control, and in diminishing the volume of fire. In close country and woods, and whenever counter-attack is probable, over-extension is very dangerous.

It is essential, therefore, before extending, that the length of front to be occupied should be carefully considered; and the commander of a party of skirmishers must always be able to give a reason for the interval at which his men are extended.

56. Reinforcing.

It is inevitable in the heat of battle that battalions, companies, sections, and even squads will become mixed up. It is of very great importance to accustom the men to such conditions, [65] and to make them understand that if they use their intelligence and their eyes, confusion may be readily reduced to order. The squad should be practised in reinforcing to the front. For this purpose two squads may be extended in two lines. On the word or signal Reinforce , the rear squad will advance as directed by the commander, and will carry forward the leading line of skirmishers, the intervals of which it will occupy, no regard being paid to the order in which the men may place themselves. But great attention should be paid to the following:—

Squads should also be practised in reinforcing on either flank. On the word or signal Reinforce the squad in rear will advance as directed by its commander, and prolong the leading line to the right or left.

57. Assembly after Dispersal.

The squad will be dispersed, and the men taught to assemble on their commander on the command Assemble , forming at the double in two ranks in their original position on his right.

58. Inspection of Skirmishers.

In testing the efficiency of a section of skirmishers, officers will carefully avoid a stereotyped catechism. Question and [66] answer in the exact words of the manual result in a mere parrot-like knowledge, of no value in the field. Skirmishers should be questioned during a series of exercises on broken ground, and their replies should either be in the form of practical illustrations; for example, occupation of cover, approach of a position, crossing a sky-line, &c., &c.; or of explanations as to how they would act, or what they would report, in circumstances that might arise out of the exercise in progress. Furthermore, in attack and defence, in order to prevent the inspection becoming a repetition of operations already rehearsed, the officer will direct where the targets are to be placed, or give instructions to the men representing the enemy; and in all exercises—attack, reconnaissance, retirement, or defence—he will set the task for the squad to carry out.

THE TRAINING OF THE COMPANY.

59. Preliminary Remarks.

1. The Recruit. —When the recruit has been thoroughly instructed in the elements of drill and skirmishing, he will take his place in the ranks of his company.

2. The Company as the School of Instruction. —The company, from its size and organisation, is the best school of instruction in all field duties, and in it both officers and non-commissioned officers will be trained to accept responsibility, and to use initiative with judgment. It is the largest unit that can be directly controlled under fire by one man, and is the most important link in the chain of co-operation in battle. The training of the company exerts an influence on the efficiency of infantry on service which it is impossible to overrate; it is to be carried out by its own officers and non-commissioned officers, without undue interference on the part of their superiors.

The battalion commander is responsible that the company commanders are thoroughly instructed, and he supervises, but should not lay down, the methods which they employ to train their companies. The company commanders, assisted by their subalterns and non-commissioned officers, are directly responsible for the efficiency of the rank and file, and their advancement in the service will depend on their success.

3. Organisation of the Company. —A company is permanently [68] divided into two half-companies, the right and left, each under a subaltern, when available. Each half-company is permanently divided into two sections, each under a non-commissioned officer. They will be numbered from one to four.

A section is permanently divided into two squads, each under a non-commissioned officer or selected private. They will be numbered from one to eight.

This organisation will be maintained both in barracks and in the field. The men will thus acquire the spirit of true comradeship, and learn to repose confidence in each other; while the non-commissioned officers will be accustomed to command, and to act when necessary on their own judgment. By such means the fighting value of the company will be fully developed; and its proper direction and command under hostile fire, when superior control becomes impossible, be maintained.

4. Duty of Officer Commanding a Battalion. —It is the duty of the commanding officer to see that all ranks are thoroughly trained in field duties, that co-operation in action is ensured, and that the self-reliance and good-will of officers and non-commissioned officers is so carefully cultivated as to render them zealous and intelligent assistants, in peace as well as on service, and not mere passive executants of definite orders. This can only be accomplished by giving the company commanders a free hand, and ample opportunities of exercising their men. In other words the battalion commander does not lead in the field one unit. His duty is to direct and supervise the action of eight independent tactical units.

5. Object of Company Drill. —The object of company drill is:—First, to enable the company, when it takes its place in the battalion, to carry out any movement or formation the commanding officer may prescribe, whether laid down in this manual, or improvised to meet the circumstances of the moment, without hesitation or confusion. Second, to render the company capable of independent action when detached from the battalion.

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Positions of Commanders, etc.,in a Company.

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Positions of Commanders, etc., in Company Column.

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A Company Fallen in for Inspection by its Commander.

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Drill.

60. General Rules.

1. The company may be formed as follows:—

Company column is the normal formation for a company when acting alone or at an interval from other companies.

Formation into and from column of half-companies is carried out in the same manner as into and from company column, the words column of half-companies being substituted for company column .

In line the left squad commander of the half-company on the right is the centre of the company.

2. Position and duties of the leaders. (i) The company commander.—When the company is acting alone or at an interval from other companies, the company commander will place himself where he can best exercise supervision.

In the absence of the company commander, his place will be taken by the next in rank; a similar rule will be followed within the half-company, section, and squad.

(ii) The subalterns.—When the company is in line, each half-company commander will, as a rule, be three paces in rear of the centre of his half-company. (Plate III, Fig. 1.)

When in column of half-companies he will be three paces in front of the centre of his half company. (Plate III, Fig. 2.)

When in column of fours he will retain his position as in line.

When in company column he will, as a rule, be two paces from the centre of his half-company on the directing flank. (Plate IV.)

(iii) Section commanders will be two paces in front of the [73] centre of their sections in company column; in all other formations they will retain the positions shown in Plate III, Fig. 1. Squad commanders will be on the flanks of their squads as shown in Plate III, Fig. 1.

The drummers will be two paces in rear of the first and seventh squads respectively unless the company is acting independently, when one drummer always goes with the company commander; the pioneer will be two paces in rear of the fifth squad. The signallers will be two paces in rear of the second, fourth, sixth and eighth squads.

In fours or file, the squad commanders will be on the directing flank of the leading and rear fours or files of their section. The remaining supernumeraries will retain their places.

Super-numeraries will conform to all orders given to the company as regards the carrying of their arms, with the exception that they fix bayonets only when escorting the colours, or when the men fix bayonets for attack or defence, and order arms when the men fire in close order.

Squad commanders will conform to the movements of the men.

No change in the command of sections or squads will take place except by the direct order of the captain.

3. Changes of formation can usually be carried out:—

The principle is the same in all cases, but the words of command differ slightly.

When movements are to be performed as in (i) and (ii), the command will be preceded by the caution AT THE HALT , unless the section of formation stands fast as in Section 64 (i). As soon as movements as in (iii) and (iv) are completed, the command FORWARD will be given.

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In the following detail the cautions and commands are given only for the movements in the form in which they are generally used, but this does not preclude the use of the other forms detailed in (i) (ii) (iii) and (iv) when applicable.

4. Movements will be carried out in quick time unless ordered at the double, in which case the command DOUBLE—MARCH will be used instead of QUICK—MARCH .

5. The commander of the company gives the executive command when the whole company, or the whole company except the section of formation, is required to act; when sections act independently they receive the executive commands from their own commanders.

6. All movements and formations in fours can also be performed in file.

7. A company should be frequently exercised in close order over hilly, wooded, and broken ground, and should be constantly turned about, in order that every man may be equally competent to act in either rank.

8. Before any movement in close order is carried out, arms will be sloped by word of command. [5] Arms will be retained at the slope until the command Order Arms , Stand at Ease , or Stand Easy is given.

9. Great pains must be taken to accustom the men to remedy quickly, of their own accord, any derangement in the order in which they fell in on parade. Sections will not be re-numbered when a change of formation alters their relative position.

10. Squad commanders, marching on the directing flanks of half-companies, or sections, must always cover each other; they are responsible that the correct distance is maintained. When the column is formed at the halt, they should take up their covering immediately the word Halt is given.

11. Except at ceremonial drill, the men will take up their own dressing in all formations.

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12. Unless otherwise ordered, men moving to the right in fours or file will march by the left, and when moving to the left, by the right. A company column or column of half-companies will dress and march by the left unless otherwise ordered. In all other formations the flank by which men are to dress and march will be named.

13. The cautions and words of command printed in CAPITALS are given by the company commander, those in italics by the subordinate leaders.

61. Inspection and telling-off.

The company will fall in by the left for inspection on its private parade ground as in Plate V. The company commander will give the order Tell off by Sections , when the section commanders will number off their commands from the leading section. On the command Tell off by Squads , the squad commanders will number off their squads consecutively from No. 1, the right squad of the leading section, to No. 8, the left squad of the rear section.

Fix—Bayonets.

The inspecting officer will pass down the ranks to see that the appointments, clothing, &c., are clean, and in good order.

Unfix—Bayonets. For Inspection. Port—Arms.

The officer will inspect the breech action, and here and there examine a barrel by looking down it, the men acting as laid down in the Rifle Exercises, [6] S. 12 . On the completion of the inspection the right squad commanders will close their squads on to the left squads.

The company will then be proved as follows:—

By Sections—Number. [76]

Form—Fours. Form—Two-Deep.

The company will be turned about and proved as above. When proved, it will be again turned about.

If the company is to drill in battalion it will then be marched to the battalion place of assembly.

62. The formation of fours.

In forming fours, the men will move as in Squad Drill, S. 40 .

On the word Right ( or Left ) the subalterns and supernumeraries will turn in the required direction, and the squad commanders will place themselves on the directing flank on the leading and rear sections of fours of their sections.

63. Changing ranks.

When the company turns about the ranks are thereby changed, as in Squad Drill, S. 37 , but sections are not to be retold off. The commander will gain his position by moving round the outer flank. Super-numeraries will conform, passing through the ranks by the outer flanks of their sections, the squad commanders making way by placing themselves between the men of the files on their right and left; at the halt this will be done by taking a pace to the rear and a pace outwards; if on the march by checking the pace slightly and taking a pace outwards.

Ranks will not be changed, when it is required to fall back for a short distance only, with a view of turning again in the original direction; in this case the order ABOUT TURN will be preceded by the caution, THE COMPANY WILL RETIRE , and the commanders and supernumeraries retain their positions. To turn in the original direction the command will be, THE COMPANY WILL ADVANCE, ABOUT TURN .

64. A company column forming into line.

1. When it is required to increase the frontage from company column to company in line, the caution, if the column is halted, [77] will be ON THE LEFT ( or RIGHT ), FORM COMPANY ; on the command REMAINDER LEFT ( or RIGHT ) INCLINE, QUICK—MARCH , the leading section will stand fast, the sections in rear will move into line with the leading section in quick time, being inclined to the right (or left), and halted by their section commanders when in line with the leading section. If on the march, unless the caution AT THE HALT is given, the sections in rear will be ordered by the company commander to move up in double time, and will be successively ordered to incline to the right (or left), and to quick march by their section commanders on reaching their position in company.

2. A company column may form line to a flank on the company commander’s command SECTIONS RIGHT ( or LEFT ) FORM, QUICK—MARCH , when the men will act as in Squad Drill, S. 29 (3); this will be followed by the command FORWARD, BY THE RIGHT ( or LEFT ), as soon as the formation is complete.

3. A company column moving in fours may form column of fours on the right or left section. On the company commander’s command RIGHT ( or LEFT ) SECTION TO THE FRONT, REMAINDER RIGHT ( or LEFT ) WHEEL , the named section will continue to move forward, the remaining sections will wheel to the right (or left), and, on reaching the line of advance of the leading section, will wheel to the left (or right) and follow it in column of fours.

4. A company column moving in fours may form line facing the same direction on the command ON THE RIGHT ( or LEFT ) FORM SECTIONS , followed by the command FORWARD, BY THE RIGHT ( or LEFT ) as soon as the formation is complete, sections acting as in Squad Drill, S. 32 .

5. In forming line from company column, section commanders will take post in rear of their sections as soon as the movement is commenced, moving by the outer flank, or in rear, of their sections.

65. Marching in line.

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2. When the company is turned about, the squad commanders, on the command ABOUT TURN , will turn about and take two paces forward, and align themselves with the leading rank.

66. A company in line forming to the right or left.

67. A company in line, or moving in fours, forming company column.

2. From company in line on the march. —If when on the march it is desired to form company column from company in line, the command will be COMPANY COLUMN ON THE RIGHT ( or LEFT ), REMAINDER RIGHT ( or LEFT ) TURN , when the sections will act as in para. 1.

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When a company in line on the march is required to form company column at the halt, the caution AT THE HALT will precede the caution in para. 2. The section on which the formation is to be made will advance two paces and then halt, the remaining sections will mark time two paces and then be led by the squad commanders nearest the section of formation into their positions in column, and will then be halted, and turned to the left or right, by order of their commanders.

3. A company in line forming company column to a flank. —A company in line may move to a flank in company column, on the principles laid down in Squad Drill, S. 29 (3). The command is, SECTIONS RIGHT ( or LEFT ) FORM, QUICK—MARCH , followed by FORWARD , as soon as the formation is complete.

4. A company in fours forming company column. —A company moving in fours may form company column in fours on the right or left of the leading section. On the command of the company commander, COMPANY COLUMN ON THE LEADING SECTION, REMAINDER RIGHT ( or LEFT ) INCLINE, DOUBLE—MARCH , the leading section will continue to advance, the remaining sections will incline to the right (or left), and will double to their positions in company column, each section, as soon as its leading file is at section interval from, and in line with, the leading file of the section on its left or right, being successively ordered to left (or right incline) and quick march by its commander. The section on which the formation is made will direct, unless otherwise ordered.

A company moving in fours will form forward into company column, on the company commander’s order, ON THE RIGHT ( or LEFT ) FORM SECTIONS , followed by the command FORWARD when the formation is complete, sections will act as in Squad Drill, S. 41 (2).

5. In forming company column from company in line, section commanders will take post in front of their sections as soon as the movement is commenced, moving by the outer flank, or in rear, of their sections.

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68. When marching in fours or file, forming up into line.

These formations will be made as described in Squad Drill, S. 41 (2), on the command ON THE RIGHT ( or LEFT ), FORM COMPANY , followed by FORWARD BY THE LEFT ( or RIGHT ), as soon as the formation is completed. Should a company, marching to the right in fours, be ordered to form company on the right, or vice versâ , thereby changing ranks, the officers and section commanders will at once gain their positions as in S. 63 .

69. A column changing direction.

A company column will change direction by successive formation of sections, round the same point on the principles laid down in Squad Drill, S. 29 (4), the caution, CHANGE DIRECTION RIGHT ( or LEFT ), being given by the company commander, and the command Right (or Left ) Form—Forward by the Left being given successively by each section commander.

70. Movements in line (or lines) of sections.

This formation affords many advantages when moving through a wooded or broken country, when exposed to distant artillery fire, or preparatory to extension into a line or lines of skirmishers.

The advance may be made in line of half-companies or in one or more lines of sections. These bodies may move in line, in column, in fours, or in file. The intervals and distance may vary according to circumstances.

The line may be formed as follows:—The company commander having assembled the half-company and section commanders, will inform them of the number of lines and the relative position of their commands; he will then issue his instructions and assign an objective. The half-company or section commanders will move their commands into position on the company commander’s order MOVE .

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Half-companies or sections will then be moved off by their commanders by the shortest route, each unit as it reaches its position, halting. If two lines are to be formed, the requisite distance will be obtained by advancing the first line.

This formation may also be carried out on the command LINE OF SECTIONS AT — PACES INTERVAL , or LINES OF SECTIONS ON NOS. — AT — PACES INTERVAL, AT — PACES DISTANCE . If in line, sections will move outwards to obtain the necessary interval; if in column the even numbered sections will move to the left and the odd numbered sections to the right. A section of direction will be named.

The subalterns will place themselves where they can best direct and superintend the movements of their half-companies.

Whilst advancing in this formation, half-companies and sections may decrease or exceed the named intervals in order to take advantage of cover, or to avoid obstacles. But they should regain them as soon as possible, and the greatest attention should be paid to the maintenance of direction, a matter of much difficulty in close country, on mountains, and in woods.

Changes of position and direction should be practised in the above formations, the orders being conveyed by signal, S. 49 ; the unit on which the formation is made, and each unit in succession on reaching its new position will halt until the whole has conformed to the new direction, interval or distance, when the line will continue the advance.

In all formations of this character, scouts will cover the movement and protect the flanks. The company commander will either give the necessary directions, or in default of orders from him, half-company commanders will send out scouts, using their own discretion as to numbers.

71. Drill in single rank.

All the movements in company drill should be practised in single rank, and it will generally be found convenient to form two companies, one from each rank, or the right half-company [82] becoming No. 1 company, the left No. 2. It will be unnecessary to form new sections and squads.

This exercise is also of great use in training the subalterns to habits of independent action, and should therefore be frequently practised.

72. Fire action.

1. Fire action is the aim of all manœuvres in war, and should therefore be the climax of all manœuvres in peace. For this purpose drill and fire action should be combined on all parades. Thus, after a change of position or direction, or when marching in fours, the company commander should point out some objective, moving or stationary, and order the company or any portion of it to open fire, extending if necessary. The half-company commanders may repeat the orders, but the section commanders should give the executive commands. This practice will not only give a meaning to many movements, which they would otherwise lack, but will exercise all ranks in judging distance, extending, and opening fire with rapidity. The whistle should be used to control the fire, S. 49 .

2. The company should also be exercised in meeting sudden rushes, such as charges by cavalry, savage swordsmen, or fanatics, S. 85 . This practice should be carried out on every description of ground, especially in woods. Warning may be given by some pre-arranged signal.

3. When the company is moving in line (or lines) of sections, the fire-tactics best adapted to meet sudden attacks by cavalry or swordsmen, may be practised with very great benefit to the efficiency of all ranks. The half-companies or sections should be left to their own commanders, who will move them to favourable ground, securing, if possible, a clear field of fire, adopt suitable formations, and regulate the firing; habits of quick decision and alertness, as well as an eye for ground, will thus be cultivated.

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73. When dispersed, re-assembling.

The commander will place the left squad commander of No. 1 section with sloped arms on the left of the alignment on which he intends the company to form. The left squad commanders of the remaining sections will cover off at column distance. On the command ASSEMBLE , the men will fall in on the right of these squad commanders, ordering arms, taking up their dressing and standing at ease.

74. Dismissing.

The officers having been ordered to fall out, a company will be dismissed as in Squad Drill, S. 44 .

75. Inspection in close order drill.

1. The inspection of the company in close order formations is carried out with a view of testing the readiness of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and squad leaders in changing from one formation to another, and adapting formations to the ground; in utilising the fire of their commands in the most effective manner; in controlling the fire; in giving clear and concise orders; and in maintaining direction, interval, and distance. Particular attention should be directed to the following:

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SKIRMISHING.

76. General Remarks.

The training of the company in skirmishing will be confined to tactical exercises on broken ground, and will be carried out in accordance with the principles laid down in 45–57 .

The commander should decide whether ground should be crossed by simultaneous rushes; by rushing man by man; by crawling in succession, or independently; or in quick time.

Occasions may arise when a strict adherence to the directions laid down in Part I, for extending, changing direction, &c., would be undesirable.

Company training should embrace a variety of rough and ready expedients, calculated to enable a fighting front to be shown with the least possible delay in any required direction:—

For instance, a company marching north in fours is required to suddenly extend facing north-west; or troops lying down firing are required to rapidly line a bank to their right, to forestall its occupation by an enemy; or a company advancing in extended order arrives at an impassable obstacle of limited extent, or perhaps encounters water which can only be crossed by a bridge, and the commander wishes to avoid closing and re-extending.

To meet contingencies, the following methods are suggested. Other expedients should be improvised by commanders in order to educate their men to meet a particular exigency:—

In the latter case the intervals between men are immaterial.

This method may also be used for extending from behind cover, such as a wall, bank, &c., into the open under fire; or for crossing a bridge when under fire; or when it is desired not to attract attention.

Men may also be extended in prolongation of any alignment on the above principles.

This method may be practised without fixed points, an approximate interval right and left of the centre man being indicated to the two flank men.

Attack Practice.

77. General Rules.

1. A well-armed enemy can only be driven from a strong position by partly enveloping his front, or by overwhelming him with a heavier and more accurate fire than his own at decisive range, and eventually charging with the bayonet.

To reach a decisive range under heavy fire is, however, a long and difficult operation. The advance will be covered by scouts, S. 132 ; when these can move forward no further, they will lie [86] still until absorbed by the first line of skirmishers, which in turn will gradually be reinforced by lines in rear as it becomes necessary to increase the volume of fire, until a strong firing line is established. Further advance can usually be effected only when the advance of one body is covered by the fire of the remainder, and when the ground is gained by a few men at a time, or by successive rushes from point to point. How these advances are to be made must be left to the intelligence of the leaders.

2. In this practice, the following rules will be observed:—

3. When two or more sections are advancing in a general line, and it is assumed to be no longer possible, owing to the intensity of the enemy’s fire, to advance in this formation, the advance will be conducted by alternate rushes. The commander of the section indicated, without rising or exposing himself, will warn the squad of his intention to advance, and will himself lead the way. When the commander halts, the section will at once conform to his movements and reopen fire.

The section behind, which has been firing in order to cover the advance of the leading squad, will now rush forward, pass beyond, or align itself with, the leading section, halt, and open fire.

4. Bayonets will be fixed before the final advance from the fire position.

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78. Position of the commanders.

Section and squad commanders will place themselves where they can best carry out their duties. In open ground, when the line is halted, and when the enemy’s fire is heavy, it is not possible for them to move about. In such circumstances the commanders must lie down, either on the flank or among the men.

79. Casualties.

Officers, non-commissioned officers, and squad leaders, should frequently be ordered to fall out, and the men allowed to carry on the practice without interference, in accordance with the instructions originally issued.

80. Instructions for commanders.

1. So far as possible, all orders are to be communicated by signal. A well-trained squad, except when passing orders or reports, should work in absolute silence.

2. Commanders should not expose themselves unnecessarily.

3. Each leader who receives an order either by signal or word of command will acknowledge it by a salute with the hand.

4. Commanders must be prepared to instantly assume the duties of their immediate superiors who may be disabled.

5. Section commander.

6. Squad commander.

81. Duty of the Skirmisher.

It should be impressed upon the men that combined action is always more likely to be successful than isolated efforts, because skirmishers who are fighting under the control of their leaders, and are beside their own comrades, feel much more [90] confidence, and co-operate more effectively, than when each man advances, retires, or halts as seems best to himself.

It is to be recognised, however, that when the section is extended at wide intervals, and also when it is under heavy fire, section, and even squad commanders cannot always exercise direct control. Hence the men must learn to act independently and must be taught their duty, first by clear explanations, then by practice, accompanied by constant questioning, until every individual knows exactly what is expected of him when left to himself, viz.:—

82. Defence Practice.

1. The chief points to be attended to in the occupation of a post or position are: first, that each skirmisher can command the ground over which the enemy is expected to advance, and is so placed that he can use his rifle effectively; second, invisibility and cover from fire; third, that natural rests are properly utilised or artificial rests provided; fourth, that ranges have been ascertained and are known to everyone; and fifth, that all cover which the enemy could utilise is cleared away from the front and flanks; and sixth, that each man has ample ammunition.

2. The company should be practised in changing its position, creeping or crawling under cover to do so; also in delivering counter attacks, by some covered line of approach, against the [91] flanks of an attacking party. The flanks of a company on the defensive must always be watched by scouts.

83. Reconnaissance Practice.

The squad may be practised in forming a chain of groups of scouts to feel the way for a larger body, and in working as a patrol sent out to obtain information of the enemy or the ground.

It is impossible to lay down precise rules for these most important duties.

All that can be said is that the intervals would be far greater than is usual in the Attack Practice ; and that much more latitude should be granted to the men.

In reconnoitring the enemy or the ground the men should be made to understand clearly the nature of the information required.

84. Retirements.

Retirements in face of the enemy must be conducted with the greatest circumspection. In retiring under fire, skirmishers, if well in hand, may move from cover to cover at the quickest possible pace, a few men, preferably the most active, being left behind for a short time at each halt to cover the retirement of the remainder. Sections will also be taught to retire alternately, affording each other mutual support by taking up successive fire positions; a section, after delivering its fire, will retire as rapidly as possible beyond the other section which will then open fire. If, however, the men are at all shaken, as when an attack has failed, the retirement must be in quick time; and all ranks should exert themselves to the utmost to ensure that it is carried out, notwithstanding losses, with steadiness and precision. A rapid retreat, in such conditions, is not only a fruitful source of panic, but a very great encouragement to the enemy. A steady, deliberate movement, on the other hand, carried out in silence and good order, pulls the men together and imposes respect and caution on the enemy.

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85. Meeting an attack by cavalry.

1. It should be impressed upon the men that on open ground foot soldiers have little to fear from individual troopers, provided that they keep cool, and have plenty of ammunition; and that on broken ground the advantage is altogether on their side.

2. Charges of cavalry against the front can usually be met by rapid fire without changing the formation. If for any particular reason, a close formation is deemed advisable, the men of the section will close upon their leader, and fix bayonets, the word of command being Cavalry, Close . It is to be remembered, however, that close formations may give the enemy’s artillery the opportunity which his cavalry have been seeking to create.

3. An attack by cavalry in flank should be checked by the fire of the supports, but may, if necessary, be met by the section nearest the threatened flank changing direction in the quickest possible time, each man closing independently on the file nearest the point from which the cavalry is approaching, and fixing bayonets. This will be carried out on the command Cavalry Right (Half-right, Left, &c.) . In reforming, the men will be ordered to cease fire, or unload and unfix bayonets, and the men will resume their former order, moving by the shortest line.

4. It is when ammunition is running short, when troops are retiring under a heavy fire, when the flanks of a line of skirmishers are not protected by other troops in rear, or in fog, dust, or heavy rain, that cavalry will find their opportunity.

No hard and fast rules can be laid down as to the action of skirmishers in such circumstances. Everything will depend on the nerve and resourcefulness of the leaders and of the men, who should be taught that swordsmen moving at speed can inflict but little damage on men who throw themselves down on the ground as the horsemen close on them. It may be laid down, moreover, that a sound system of scouting will do much to reduce the danger of surprise, and that in a thick atmosphere, which renders the enemy’s artillery useless, squads, and larger bodies also, may safely move in close order.

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86. Scouting.

1. It is an invariable rule that all bodies of infantry in the field should feel the way, and at the same time protect themselves from surprise, by means of scouts, who should be pushed out several hundred yards in advance and to the flanks. In skirmishing practice the scouts will examine all ground which might be held by the enemy, and report, usually by signal, all clear or otherwise. They will receive instructions from their commanders as to their action when they discover the enemy, and they must be careful to expose themselves as little as possible.

2. The day’s work will be rendered more interesting, and the men receive useful training in scouting, if ambushes are laid, and counter-attacks delivered.

3. In every company of infantry at least one man per squad, in addition to one non-commissioned officer in each half-company, should receive a special training as scouts.

4. Scouts are to be selected for their activity, intelligence, and eyesight. They must be good shots and judges of distance, expert skirmishers, and be able to communicate by semaphore. The special training should be such as to cultivate these qualities, to develop an eye for country, and to teach what to observe and how to report it.

87. Duties of Scouts.

1. In attack.

2. In defence.

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3. As Ground Scouts.

4. Reconnaissance.

5. In night operations. —To precede the advance.

6. Special purposes. —For special purposes, the scouts of several companies may be combined in one body under a selected officer or officers.

88. Training of Scouts.

1. The training of scouts will, as a rule, be carried out by a selected officer in each company.

2. Scouts should be able to find their way across country both by day and night. They should be able to read a map, and to work by sun and compass, by observation of landmarks, and by the direction of watersheds and streams.

3. They should be constantly practised in transmitting information by semaphore, by written message, and by word of mouth.

4. They should be trained to cover long distances at the double, and also to climb steep hills.

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5. Scouts will generally work in pairs or in groups of four, including a non-commissioned officer or selected group leader.

6. Scouts must remember that the less they are seen or heard the better. They are not intended, except in special cases, for fighting purposes; and, as a rule, they should not fire except to defend themselves, or possibly to prevent the enemy’s scouts from obtaining information.

7. Scouts must always be careful to keep touch with the troops they are covering.

89. The Inspection in Skirmishing.

1. The inspection will invariably take the form of a tactical exercise based on a scheme, set by the inspecting officer, in which an enemy will be represented by another unit.

2. The inspecting officer will pay particular attention to the following:—

90. SHELTER TRENCH EXERCISE.

Full information on the subject of extemporised cover in the field is contained in Part I of the Manual of Military Engineering .

Instruction of Troops. —Troops should be practised in the use [96] of the pick and shovel, until they can excavate without difficulty the tasks mentioned below. Men unaccustomed to digging should, if possible, be trained at first in sand or very light soil, until they are accustomed to handling the shovel. When the troops practise entrenching, the task set them should require not less than four hours’ actual work, according to the nature of the soil ( M.M.E. , Section IV).

It will be well to arrange for a portion of the working party with a cart to draw the tools and convey them to the site of the trenches, so that no time may be lost in beginning work.

Tools. —1. Each man will usually require a pick and a shovel, but it may sometimes be desirable to allot two men to each task, in which case the front rank man will carry the pick and the rear rank man the shovel.

2. The tools will, as a rule, be placed in heaps on the ground, picks in one heap, shovels in another. The working party, with arms slung, will pass between the heaps in single file, each man taking a pick in his left hand and a shovel in his right as he passes the heaps. Tools should be carried at the trail, point of the pick down, and the hollow of the shovel towards the thigh.

3. It is important that soldiers should be taught to handle their tools without noise. In the event of a working party turning into file (or about), the handles of the tools will before turning be brought into a vertical position by lowering the iron part of the pick, and raising the iron part of the shovel, resuming the trail when the turn is complete. When marching in file, the handles will incline outwards.

4. Extension. —Working parties will be extended by one of the following methods:—

5. The men will, without word of command, turn about and take 4 paces to their rear, ground arms, take off their accoutrements, and lie down until ordered to begin work.

6. To avoid accidents every man must commence digging on the left of his task, and work from left to right.

Filling in trenches.

Trenches should never be filled in on the day on which they have been made, but a fatigue party should be sent out later for the special purpose of levelling them. Defaulters might be employed on this duty. In one hour a man should be expected to fill in about 40 cubic feet.

BATTALION, BRIGADE, AND DIVISION DRILL.

BATTALION DRILL.

91. General Rules.

1. Object of battalion drill. —The instruction of the soldier is brought to a conclusion in the ranks of the company. It is necessary, however, that the companies should be drilled in battalion in order that the officers commanding companies may learn to work in unison.

2. Application of company drill. —Battalion movements are carried out by combination of companies, moving as described in Company Drill.

3. Mounted officers. —The commanding officer, the second in command, and the adjutant will be mounted.

When the battalion is acting independently, the commanding officer, accompanied by the adjutant, who will act as his orderly officer, will place himself where he can best exercise supervision.

When the battalion is in brigade in column or quarter [99] column the commanding officer will be ten paces in advance of the centre of the leading company, the adjutant being one-and-a-half horse’s lengths in rear, and half a horse’s length to the right of the commanding officer.

In all movements the second in command will be responsible for the direction and covering; he (and the serjeant-major, if no ammunition carts are present) will generally assist the commanding officer. If a third field officer be present he should generally assist the second in command, unless detailed by the commanding officer for any other purpose.

When a battalion is on the move, the second in command will place himself in a position from which he can best superintend the direction of the advance and the covering of the squad commanders on the directing flanks.

4. Ranks will be changed as in Company Drill, S. 63 .

5. Except where laid down, the double march is not to be used by companies during the interior movements of a battalion, unless ordered by the commanding officer.

6. If companies move into column or quarter column from both flanks they will pass each other left arm to left arm.

7. In order to practise the battalion in brigade movements, and to give the field officers experience in handling several companies, the battalion will occasionally be divided into two battalions, each of four companies, or of eight companies in single rank.

8. In action, in high wind, and at all times when indistinctly heard, the commanding officer should indicate his orders by signal, where possible (S. 49 ); such signals should be repeated by as many officers and non-commissioned officers as may be necessary to ensure the transmission of the order.

In battalion movements the orders given by the commanding officer are printed in CAPITALS; those by officers commanding companies in italics . The cautions may be applied to either the right or the left flank although only the former is referred to.

9. Where cautions and commands are given for formations [100] to, or from, one flank only, the same rule applies when forming to, or from the other flank, which will also be practised.

10. Fire action should be practised as directed in S. 72 , para. 1.

11. The principles laid down in company drill, S. 60 (3), (4) and (5), apply equally to battalion drill.

12. Companies will be told off again when a change of formation alters their relative position.

92. Formations.

1. The following formations will be employed in battalion drill:—

Against an enemy armed with the breech-loader, close order formations in battalion and brigade are applicable only for assembly, for marches and during the preparatory stages of the fight.

2. Attacks by savages armed with spears and swords must, [101] however, usually be met in close order; and for this purpose, in addition to the formations mentioned in para. 1, the following will be practised, but only by troops which are likely to be called upon to take part in such warfare:—

93. A battalion in quarter column. Plate VI.

The companies of a battalion, after having been inspected on their private parades or in column, will form up in quarter column as shown in Plate VI. On the commanding officer’s order TELL OFF BY COMPANIES , the companies will be numbered from the leading company. When the companies are numbered, the commanding officer will divide the battalion thus:—

If the number of companies is uneven, the right half-battalion will be stronger by one company than the left.

Unless otherwise ordered a battalion in quarter column will assemble and move by the left.

The machine guns, drums and band, mules, wagons and stretcher bearers will usually be on the outer flank of the battalion, as when in column, see Plate VII (cyclist sections, if present, will be in rear of machine guns).

The second in command will be four paces from the centre of the directing flank of the leading half-battalion.

If a third field officer be present, he will be four paces from the centre of the directing flank of the rear half-battalion.

The position of the company commanders and serjeant-major are shown in Plate VI.

When ranks are changed, the second in command will gain his position by moving round in rear of the battalion. Company commanders will move in rear of their companies. Company officers and section commanders and supernumeraries will act as in S. 63 .

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A Battalion in Quarter Column.

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94. Movements in quarter column.

95. A quarter column wheeling.

2. A quarter column moving in fours will wheel as in 1, the leading fours of each company wheeling in the same manner as the leading company in 1, the sections of fours in rear making a partial turn outwards and following round after the leading fours, the leading squad commanders changing to the inner flank if not there already.

96. A battalion at the halt opening to column from quarter column.

When halted in column the second in command will be four paces from the centre of the directing flank of the leading half-battalion; a third field officer, if present, will be four paces from the centre of the directing flank of the rear half battalion.

The position of the company officers and section commanders will be as when in company; the machine guns, drums and band, &c., will be on the outer flank, see Plate VII.

A Battalion in Column.

2. A battalion in column will move either in fours or by the [106] diagonal march, on the same principles and on the same words of command as from quarter column. S. 94 .

97. A battalion in column on the march closing to quarter column.

3. Should it be necessary to form quarter column from column from the halt, the command in 1 will be followed by the words, REMAINDER, QUICK—MARCH , when the leading company will stand fast, the remainder will act on the same principle as in 1.

4. Quarter column will usually be formed on the leading company.

98. A battalion in column or quarter column advancing in fours, or vice versâ.

If companies are to advance in fours simultaneously, the battalion commander will give the command FORM FOURS, RIGHT, COMPANIES, LEFT—WHEEL .

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2. Column from column of fours on the march. —If the column is to be reformed immediately on clearing the defile, the caution will be IN SUCCESSION ON THE LEFT FORM COMPANIES , on which the company commanders will act as in S. 68 , each company successively forming into column.

Column may also be formed when the whole has cleared the defile, on the battalion commander’s order ON THE LEFT FORM COMPANIES, FORWARD , companies acting as in S. 68 .

3. Column of fours from quarter column from the halt. —The battalion commander will give the caution IN SUCCESSION ADVANCE IN FOURS FROM THE RIGHT OF COMPANIES , on which the commander of the leading company will give the command Form fours, right, left wheel, Quick—march , each company in rear being moved off in a similar manner as soon as its front is clear. If on the march the quarter column must be halted before defiling.

4. Quarter column from column of fours on the march. —Quarter column will be formed from column of fours by first forming column as in 2, and then forming quarter column as in S. 97 (2).

5. Column or quarter column from column of fours on the march. —A battalion moving in fours may form quarter column or column on the leading company facing at right angles to the line of advance, on the caution AT THE HALT, FACING RIGHT, COLUMN ( or QUARTER COLUMN ) ON THE LEADING COMPANY , on which the leading company will be at once halted and turned to its right by its commander, the remaining companies forming in rear of it.

Note. —When in column of fours on the march, drums and band will be twenty paces in front of the leading company; mules will follow in rear of the companies to which they are attached; machine guns, stretcher bearers, carts and wagons will be in rear of the battalion; the whole in the above order. Cyclist section, if present, will precede the machine guns. The second in command will usually be in rear of the battalion. [108] The adjutant will accompany the commanding officer, who will be between the band and the leading company. The serjeant-major will be in front of the leading company.

99. A battalion in column changing direction.

100. Movements in line, or lines, of company columns from column or quarter column.

1. These are of very great importance, as particularly applicable to the vicinity of the battlefield, and should therefore be practised on broken ground. They enable full advantage to be taken of cover afforded by folds in the ground, &c., and admit of rapid extension into lines of skirmishers.

2. One, two, or three lines may be formed, at varying distances and intervals, with a different number of companies in each, if desired.

3. The battalion forms a line, or lines, of company columns, preparatory to advancing to the attack, or when exposed to distant artillery fire. The precision of such movements will depend almost entirely on the clearness and completeness of the explanations and orders given by the commanding officer. The commanding officer will usually assemble the company commanders, and will inform them of the number of lines to be formed, and the relative positions of their companies; he will then issue his instructions and assign an objective. Companies will be moved into their positions on the battalion commanders order MOVE .

This formation may also be carried out on the command LINE OF COMPANY COLUMNS AT —— PACES INTERVAL , or LINES OF COMPANY COLUMNS ON NOS. ——; AT —— PACES INTERVAL, AT —— PACES [109] DISTANCE . In the case of one line, the right companies will move to the right and the left companies to the left of the leading company; in the case of two or more lines, companies will similarly move to the right or left of the named company in front of them. Distances will be usually be obtained by advancing the leading line or lines. In moving into position company column will be formed on the march as soon as space is available S. 67 (4).

4. A company of direction will be named, and an objective pointed out on which the line (or lines) will march.

5. Changes of direction during such movements should be practised, and fire should be opened on some named object.

6. Attention must be paid to the maintenance of direction, interval, and distance, and there must be no increase or decrease of the original frontage assigned to the battalion. In broken ground companies may deviate to one flank or the other to avoid obstacles or to take advantage of cover, and they may change their formations in order to adapt them to the ground; but they must resume their intervals as soon as the ground permits.

7. The duties of the second in command during these movements will be assigned by the commanding officer.

8. The machine guns, band, ammunition carts, &c., will follow in rear of the battalion, unless they receive other orders.

9. The battalion should also be constantly practised in various formations of a similar nature to those described in this section, cautions being extemporised for the purpose.

10. In all formations of this character scouts will cover the movement and protect the flanks.

101. When dispersed, re-assembling.

Each company will be assembled by its commander, and will then be moved into any formation ordered by the commanding officer. This should be frequently practised. On the signal to [110] close, a company on which the battalion is to be formed will be indicated by the commander. Each company commander will then assemble his company and move it into its position.

102. Inspection of a battalion.

(a) In close order.

1. A regular battalion will be inspected in some of the movements prescribed for savage warfare, particular attention being paid to fire discipline when in close order. The inspection of a regular battalion in close order formations will be more searching than for a battalion of auxiliary forces. A few movements in lines of columns, preparatory to a. tactical exercise, will be a sufficient test of the drill of one of these latter battalions.

2. In close order movements particular attention should be directed to the following:—

(b) In attack and defence.

3. The inspection will invariably take the form of a tactical scheme, set by the inspecting officer and given out on the ground, in which the enemy will be represented by another battalion or part of a battalion, or by a company or section with flags.

4 The inspecting officer will pay particular attention to the following:—

BRIGADE AND DIVISION DRILL.

103. General Rules.

1. Movements in brigade and division are practised in order to accustom the battalions to assemble rapidly and without confusion; and to train them to march in mass, without losing distance or interval.

2. The brigade or division commander may give his orders verbally, but on service and at manœuvres orders may be written, and the object of every important movement or formation should invariably be explained to the battalion commanders, and, in case of a division, to the brigadiers.

3. Instructions given by the commander of a parade will be passed by commanding and mounted officers, who are responsible that they are distinctly conveyed to, and understood by, the next unit.

On receiving their instructions, commanding officers will give all necessary orders and be prepared to march off their battalions together on the signal or order of the brigadier. The cautions and commands given by commanding officers will be as in Battalion Drill.

When the progress of an order is interrupted, commanding officers will conform, as quickly as possible, to the movement they see in execution.

4. Intervals and distances of thirty paces between battalions and brigades, and sixty between divisions, will be preserved in all formations, unless otherwise ordered.

5. A battalion will always be named to direct, the remaining battalions preserving their intervals from that battalion.

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6. In brigade and division drill, battalions will be in quarter column unless otherwise ordered.

7. In all interior movements of a brigade, battalions will move to their places by the shortest lines, moving, when possible, by the diagonal march.

8. Division drill. —The principles laid down for brigade drill are equally applicable to division drill.

104. A brigade wheeling from mass into line of battalions and vice versâ.

A brigade can be wheeled into line of battalions from mass and vice versâ , by the battalions wheeling as in Battalion Drill, 95 .

The above movements may be performed either at the halt or on the move.

105. A mass deploying into line of battalions and vice versâ.

The battalion which is the point of formation stands fast. The remaining battalions will be moved by their commanding officers by the shortest line to the spot where their inner flank will rest, this spot being marked by the second in command.

If the deployment is in an oblique direction, the battalion of formation will be formed on the required alignment by its commanding officer, in accordance with the instructions of the brigadier. The deployment will then be carried out as already described.

Mass will be formed from line of battalions in a similar manner.

In forming mass on a central battalion, the battalions on the right and left will pass into mass left arm to left arm.

A line of battalions changing position.

A line of battalions will change position on a flank battalion as follows:—The battalion of formation will be wheeled into [113] the required alignment, the others forming on it, the seconds in command marking the spots where the inner flanks will rest.

106. Marching in line of battalions either in column or quarter column.

When a brigade marches in line of battalions, a battalion of direction will be named. The remaining battalions will march by their inner flanks, the seconds in command riding on the flank next to the regulating battalion, and notifying to the commanding officers whether interval is being correctly kept or not. Signals should be agreed on for this purpose; the commanding officer should watch for them, and direct the movement of the battalion accordingly.

When it is necessary to advance in echelon of battalions, intervals will be preserved on the principles described in 117 .

FORMATIONS APPLICABLE TO SAVAGE WARFARE.

107. General Rules.

1. The following formations, i.e. , line, echelon, and square, are suitable against attacks of ill-armed savages. They will occasionally be practised, but only by troops likely to take part in such warfare.

2. The battalion forms or deploys into line, echelon or square in order to come into action, and these movements must therefore be executed as rapidly as is compatible with steadiness. The main object is to develop a broad front of fire, and enable every man to use his rifle with effect.

3. When a movement is to be executed as rapidly as possible, the commanding officer will order it to be performed at the double.

4. The combination of fire-tactics and drill movements is of the greatest importance in savage warfare, and should be constantly practised; the fire unit will usually be the section.

5. Company commanders will employ whatever description of fire the circumstances may require.

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108. A battalion in line.

1. Arrangement of companies. —Each company will be in line, as in Company Drill, the captains will be three paces in front of the centre of their companies; when firing, three paces in rear.

2. Correction of intervals. —After forming into line the intervals will be corrected by the company commanders. The right centre company, or in deployment the first formed company, of the battalion should remain unmoved.

3. A battalion in line moves and dresses by the centre unless otherwise ordered.

4. The battalion in line will be formed up on the same principle as in Plate IX Ceremonial, with the exception that the second in command will be six paces in rear of the centre of the battalion, and the adjutant will accompany the commanding officer.

5. In deployments into line, or in changing position, the second in command will mark the inner flank, and the adjutant the outer flank of the battalion; in deployments outwards the second in command will mark the left, and the adjutant the right flank of the battalion.

109. A quarter column or column deploying into line.

Deployments will be made on the leading company of a battalion.

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2. To both flanks. —The deployment will be made on the principle above described. The command will be DEPLOY OUTWARDS, ONE COMPANY ( or TWO , or MORE COMPANIES ) TO THE RIGHT, REMAINDER FORM FOURS, OUTWARDS. QUICK—MARCH. The company or companies, next in succession from the front, will move to the named flank.

3. In an oblique direction. —On the battalion commander’s caution, QUARTER ( HALF or THREE QUARTERS ) RIGHT preceding the caution in 1 or 2, the Company of Formation Will Be Formed on the required alignment by its commander in accordance with the instructions of the commanding officer. The deployment will then be carried out as already described.

4. On the March. —A battalion may be ordered to deploy while advancing towards an intended alignment, on the command as in 1, 2, or 3, the leading company being halted and, if necessary, formed in the required direction by its commander when the remainder have formed fours and turned towards their position in line.

A battalion moving in column or quarter column to a flank in fours may deploy in the direction towards which it is moving. On the caution, FACING RIGHT, DEPLOY , the company on the right will be halted by its commander and turned to its right, the remaining companies will continue to move forward and will deploy into line as in 1. This movement may also be performed in an oblique direction as in 3.

5. To ensure the alignment being kept clear, companies will be formed or halted four paces in rear of it.

110. Marching in line.

2. Marching with changed ranks. —The second in command, on the words ABOUT TURN , will pass through the ranks in order to superintend the direction, the files opposite him making way by covering the files on their right and left, after turning about.

111. A line changing position, from the halt, on a flank company.

112. A battalion in line forming column or quarter column.

2. If it is desired to form at an angle to the alignment, the [117] caution QUARTER ( or HALF or THREE-QUARTERS ) RIGHT will precede the caution in 1, on which the company will be formed in the required direction by order of its commander, the remainder then receiving the executive command to form fours and turn in the required direction.

3. If it is desired to form by the right, the words BY THE RIGHT should follow the words COLUMN OR QUARTER COLUMN .

113. A line passing obstacles, or moving over broken ground.

A line will pass obstacles by the commander of the company encountering the obstacle forming his company into company column or column of fours. In broken ground, or in line movements of any length the whole battalion may break into fours. The command will be FORM FOURS, RIGHT, COMPANIES LEFT WHEEL, NO. — WILL DIRECT . The squad commanders, if not already there, will change to that flank of the fours which is nearer the company of direction. The second in command will lead the battalion on the directing flank of company of direction.

A line may be reformed on the command ON THE LEFT, FORM COMPANIES, FORWARD , when companies will act as in S. 68 .

114. A line forming column to the right or left.

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A column forming into line to the right or left.

3. The movements in 1 and 2 may also be performed at the halt.

115. A line advancing in column.

116. A quarter column on the march forming line to a flank.

117. Echelon movements, from line, column or quarter column.

In certain circumstances it may be desirable to advance or retire in echelon from any named company or companies. The commanding officer will give instructions as to the number of [119] companies to be formed in echelon, and the distance or distances to be preserved between them; and on his caution ADVANCE ( or ABOUT TURN, ADVANCE ) IN ECHELON AT — PACES DISTANCE FROM THE RIGHT , or No. — or Nos. — —, the named company or companies will advance by order of their commanders, and the remainder, if necessary, will be moved into their places by the shortest route, and will march by the inner flank.

A battalion in column or quarter column suddenly threatened will be required to develop a maximum fire with the least possible delay; this will be accomplished by forming echelon. On the command ECHELON TO THE RIGHT, REMAINDER FORM FOURS RIGHT, DOUBLE—MARCH , the leading company will stand fast; the remainder will move in echelon direct to a flank, being halted and turned to the front by their commander on reaching their position.

Echelon may also be formed outwards on the command ECHELON OUTWARDS, REMAINDER FORM FOURS OUTWARDS, DOUBLE—MARCH , left or even-numbered companies forming to the left, and right or odd-numbered companies forming to the right, the leading company standing fast.

Echelon may be formed on a centre company on the command ECHELON FROM NO. —, COMPANIES IN FRONT TO THE RIGHT, COMPANIES IN REAR TO THE LEFT, FORM FOURS OUTWARDS, DOUBLE—MARCH .

Line or column will be reformed on the same principles, the caution being LINE ON NO. — , or COLUMN or QUARTER COLUMN ON NO. — , on which the named company if in movement, will be halted.

118. Meeting an attack by cavalry or swordsmen.

When a battalion in line is threatened by cavalry or swordsmen in force, it may sometimes be desirable to dress back the threatened flank and to dress up the unmenaced flank, the battalion commander giving the order BACK, NO. —, UP, NO. — .

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119. Formation of Squares.

1. In savage warfare, it may often be necessary to form a square two deep. This can be formed from line on the two centre companies, the companies further to the flanks forming the side faces, and the flank companies the rear face, all, except the companies nearest the two centre companies, moving into position by fours. On the caution ON THE TWO CENTRE COMPANIES FORM—SQUARE , the commanders of the two centre companies will take post for firing. Nos. 3 and 6 will turn about, and at the halt right and left form at the double, and turn about by order of their commanders. The remaining companies, by order of their commanders, will form fours inwards, and the commanders of the two centre companies will order their companies to fix bayonets. Nos. 2, 7 will then be moved at the double to the points where their flanks will rest in square, on the left or right form up at the halt, turn about. Nos. 1 and 8 will halt and turn to the left and right respectively to form the rear face. The company officers and supernumeraries who are outside will pass into the square. Each company as it reaches its position will be ordered to fix bayonets. The company commanders will give orders as to firing, subject to directions from the commanding officer.

If there are an odd number of companies, that next to the right flank company should double inside the square, form column of half-companies, and fix bayonets.

Line may be reformed by reversing the above movements. On the command REFORM—LINE , the company commanders will give the order to unfix bayonets, and form or march their companies on to the original alignment at the double; Nos. 3 and 6 receiving the word Left and Right Form respectively, the remainder forming fours.

2. Square will be formed from column as follows:—On the word FORM—SQUARE , the leading company, if on the march will be halted, and bayonets will be fixed. The remainder will be [121] moved at the double by order of their commanders, and those which are to form the side faces will be formed successively to the right and left, the last company forming the rear face. Each company as it reaches its position will be ordered to fix bayonets. If there is an uneven number of companies in the battalion, the rear company but one will form company column on the march, halt inside the square and fix bayonets.

Column will be reformed by reversing the above movements. On the caution FORM COLUMN , bayonets will be unfixed, and the companies forming the side faces will be turned about by their commanders. The company in rear will then step off at the double by word of its commander, while the commander of the next company will give the word Right—Form, Double—March ; the remaining companies will move off in succession. If the number of companies be uneven, the rear company but one, which will turn about with the side faces, will follow the rear company and re-form company on the march. The second in command will mark the point where the flank of the last company of the column will rest, and when the company reaches this point, its commander will order it to halt and turn about. The remaining companies will be halted and turned about at company distance from the company preceding.

3. A square may be moved in any direction, the commanding officer indicating the direction in which the square is to move. On the command THE SQUARE WILL ADVANCE—SLOPE ARMS, SIDE FACES, FORM—FOURS INWARDS the officer or officers commanding the company, or companies, facing in the opposite direction, will turn it, or them, about. The flank to direct should be named before the order QUICK MARCH is given. On the command BATTALION—HALT , the side faces will turn outwards and the company or companies which are to form the rear face will turn about.

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BRIGADE DRILL.

120. Deployments.

Lines of battalions in quarter column or in column, at any interval, will deploy into line, each battalion in succession following the procedure in S. 109 , and commencing its deployment on reaching a point thirty paces from the mounted officer on the outer flank of the battalion next to it in line.

If a brigade in mass is to deploy into line, the leading battalion will deploy at once; the remaining battalions will move by the shortest lines to the points where their inner flanks are to rest in the line, and will then deploy in the usual manner.

121. Marching in line.

When a brigade is required to march in line, each battalion will march by its centre. A mounted officer of each battalion, not directing, will ride on the inner flank to ensure that the correct interval is maintained.

122. A brigade in line advancing in columns, or quarter columns.

Line of columns or of quarter columns will be formed as in S. 112 .

123. A brigade forming square.

For the protection of a convoy, or wounded men, it may be necessary to form brigade square. The angles of a square are its weak points; in order, therefore, to obtain the greatest amount of resistance to resolute savages, the flanks of battalions should not meet at an angle. The square may move in any direction on the same principles as a battalion square.

INFANTRY IN ATTACK AND DEFENCE.

124. General Principles.

1. It is impossible to lay down a fixed and unvarying system of attack or defence. Although such system might appear capable of modification to meet different conditions, yet constant practice in a stereotyped formation inevitably leads to want of elasticity, accustoms all ranks to work by rule rather than by the exercise of their wits, and cramps both initiative and intelligence. In peace exercises, where blank cartridges take the place of bullets, the inherent and paralysing defects of a normal system may easily escape notice; in war they betray themselves in waste of life and failure.

It is therefore strictly forbidden either to formulate or to practise a normal form of either attack or defence. To the training of the troops in movements before the enemy, general principles and broad rules alone are applicable; and the practical knowledge of these principles and rules can only be instilled by intelligent instruction and constantly diversified exercises on broken ground.

2. In no two military operations is the situation exactly the same. The character of the ground, the extent of the co-operation of the other arms, the strength and moral of the opposing [124] forces, their physical condition, and the objects they wish to achieve must always differ.

3. The attitude originally assumed by either, or both, of the opposing forces, may be reversed during an engagement. A vigorous counter-attack by an army offering battle in a defensive position may throw the adversary on the defensive; or an assailant may fight a delaying or retaining action in one part of the field, while in another part his action may be essentially offensive; but these and other variations in a combat resolve themselves in every case into attack and defence.

4. Since the conditions of modern warfare render decentralisation of command in action an absolute necessity, no good results are to be expected unless the subordinate leaders have been trained to use their intelligence, and unless they have been given ample opportunities of acting on their own judgment in attack and defence, and have constantly, in peace practices, been called upon to consider the necessity of departing from their original orders.

Nor can the results be good if commanding officers fail to realise the very limited extent to which they are able to exert their powers of command under fire, and if, in peace, they attempt to exercise a personal control which would be impossible in action. They should be most careful, therefore, to act in peace practices exactly as they would in war, and abstain from all interference which would be impracticable under fire.

5. During the combat, as at all other times, the commander of every body of troops is responsible for the local protection of his command against surprise.

6. Ample information, both before and during an engagement, is so exceedingly important that methodical and complete arrangements should be made to obtain it. Nothing should be left to chance. All available means should be employed. In every command some simple method of collecting and transmitting reports should be established and the system should have been practised beforehand.

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125. Position and Duties of Leaders in Action.

1. The difficulties of command are much increased by the fact that the leader can no longer personally control and direct all ranks by word of mouth, and that even under long range fire the mounted officers must often dismount.

2. During the fight, the commander of a considerable body of infantry can only influence the course of the action by the employment of his reserve. Nevertheless, the influence of the commander, if exerted in the proper manner, viz., by means of clear, comprehensive, and concise orders, framed after careful reconnaissance, made known to all the subordinate leaders, and providing for the combined and simultaneous action of his whole force, will be very great.

3. The commander’s position will, as a rule, be selected so that he can obtain an extensive view. It should be sufficiently central to facilitate the receipt of reports and the issue of orders. The subordinate leaders will take post where they can best exercise supervision over their commands, watch the enemy, and receive and transmit orders.

4. Keeping in view the paramount importance of decentralisation of command, it is essential that superior officers, including battalion commanders, should never trespass on the proper sphere of action of their subordinates. Personal example has undoubtedly an extraordinary influence, especially under heavy fire, and there are times when every other consideration must be sacrificed to leading or steadying the troops. But any attempt to exercise personal control over all portions of the force must inevitably lead to the neglect of other duties, such as feeding the firing line at the right place and time, protecting the flanks, meeting counter-attacks, reporting to, or communicating with, the superior commander, and maintaining connection with adjoining units. Moreover, all unnecessary changes of position by an officer commanding any considerable body of troops are to be deprecated, as interfering with the timely reception and transmission of reports and orders.

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5. No great success can be expected in war, nor is it possible to develop the powers of judgment in peace, unless each leader is allowed ample latitude in choosing the means that he considers best adapted for dealing with tactical situations. It is only when his methods are manifestly wrong that there should be interference; and it is always to be remembered, in peace practice, that while negligence, forgetfulness, and disobedience call for the severest censure, errors of judgment should be treated differently. It is through mistakes, pointed out and explained by competent authority, that future error is avoided and a capacity for correct and rapid decision is developed.

On the other hand, independence which neglects the object indicated in the orders of the superior, disregards the importance of co-operation, and imperils, without reason, the unity of command, must be firmly repressed.

126. Fire Action.

1. The attainment of superiority of fire is a necessary preliminary to the achievement of decisive success. Fire superiority may be obtained, other factors being equal, by superiority of numbers, better leadership, more perfect armament, greater accuracy of fire; better use of cover; surprise.

Troops should, as a general principle, seek to secure superiority of fire by accuracy rather than rapidity, but as rapid fire can produce great results in a short space of time, circumstances will often occur which will justify the large expenditure of ammunition which its employment demands.

2. An intelligent distribution of fire is of the first importance. For example, concentration of fire is of great value, and when there is a choice of targets, preference should be given to that which, at the moment, is of the greatest tactical importance.

The great ranging power of the rifle will also frequently afford opportunities of concentrating fire from a wide frontage on to important localities, and of directing an effective oblique or enfilade fire against portions of the enemy’s line.

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Even when the enemy is invisible he may be subjected to considerable loss by directing fire so as to sweep the ground of which he is known to be in possession.

3. The longer the range the greater will be the volume of fire necessary to produce effect, and the more important will be an accurate knowledge of the distance.

4. Economy of ammunition should be effected not by limiting fire when needed, but by judiciously timing its use, and by reserving it altogether if no advantage is to be gained. Pauses in fire are necessary both for the purpose of maintaining control, and for the regulation of expenditure of ammunition; moreover, sudden bursts of fire will produce greater results than slow continuous fire.

5. The control of fire is in the hands of the company commanders and their subordinates. To the company commander, as a general rule, must be left the choice of the moment of opening fire, but to the half-company, section and squad leaders, who will be in the firing line, must be left the choice of targets. They should always bear in mind, however, that if an exceptionally favourable target presents itself fire should at once be opened, notwithstanding the fact that no orders have been received. The only exception to this rule is when orders have been given that fire is to be withheld until the enemy comes within a certain range.

127. Fire Discipline.

Fire discipline means strict attention to the signals and orders of the commander, combined with intelligent observation of the enemy. It ensures the careful adjustment of the sight, deliberate aim, economy of ammunition, and prompt cessation of fire when the target disappears, or the leader sounds his whistle.

It requires of the men endurance of the enemy’s fire, even when no reply is possible; and, when superior control no longer exists, a cool and intelligent use of the rifle.

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128. Ranges.

The extreme width of the area of ground struck by the bullets of an effective shrapnel is about 25 yards.

The limit of the forward effect of shrapnel at effective range on level ground is about 300 yards.

The radius of the explosion of a high explosive shell is about 25 yards.

THE ATTACK.

Nature of an Offensive Action.

The normal type of an offensive battle is a methodical progression from point to point, each successive capture weakening the enemy’s hold on his main position, and paving the way for a further advance; and each successive advance being deliberately prepared and systematically carried out.

129. Distribution of Infantry in the Attack.

1. Infantry, whether in the holding or in the main attack, is formed into three bodies, distributed in depth:—

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2. The General Reserve should only in very special circumstances fall short of a quarter of the body to which it belongs.

On the other hand, the leading body of infantry should be as small as possible, and, exclusive of the supports, should seldom exceed a quarter of the whole.

130. Preliminary Measures.

1. While the commander, under cover of the advanced guard, is reconnoitring the position, the infantry of the main body will receive orders from him to occupy a position of assembly ( i.e. , a position out of range, and if possible, out of sight), and will assume a preparatory formation.

2. As a general rule, a portion of the force will be told off to hold the enemy, another portion to deliver the decisive attack, and sometimes a third portion to distract the enemy’s attention by feints.

3. It is generally essential that attacks should be delivered against front and flank simultaneously.

The moral effect of a flank attack is so great that the main effort will usually be made against the flank.

4. It is advisable that the arrangements for the flank attack should be made as soon as the enemy’s position has been reconnoitred, and the force detailed for the operation moved off [130] to a position of assembly whence it can move directly on the objective.

Surprise is so important an element in outflanking attacks, that every advantage should be taken of the ground to conceal the movement to this position of assembly even if the march be somewhat lengthened. The scouts should be instructed to be more than usually careful to keep out of sight.

5. The orders for the attack will usually be issued when the troops are in the position of assembly; more rarely when they are in column of route. In both cases the procedure will be the same. The subordinate commanders will be called up and receive their instructions; and the force told off into three distinct bodies, as laid down in S. 129 .

6. The modern conditions which obtain on the battlefield tend to prolong the duration of an action, and it may be several days before either side can gain a substantial advantage over its adversary. In such cases arrangements will have to be made for strengthening localities gained, sending up ammunition, food, and water to the firing line, and for replacing exhausted troops during the night.

131. Issue of Orders.

1. Before assuming formation for attack every commander will carefully explain to his subordinates what their particular task is.

The officer commanding will draw attention to any positions or peculiarities of ground he intends to turn to account during the advance, indicate the arrangements to be made for a covering fire, and prescribe, when necessary, which portion of the force is to direct. He will point out any ground which might favour counter-attack.

2. Verbal explanations should, if possible, be given when the enemy’s position first comes within view, and the commanders of [131] all ranks given an opportunity of being shown their objectives, of scrutinising the ground, and explaining the situation to their subordinates.

3. When the objectives cannot be seen from the spot where the troops receive their orders, or where, from the character of the intervening country the objectives cannot be clearly seen through the advance, or when detours to avoid impassable ground have to be made, the direction of the attack should be distinctly stated by reference to a map when possible, and the compass bearing of it given. Staff officers, or others acquainted with the ground may also be employed to guide the columns.

4. For further instructions on this subject see “Combined Training,” S. 115 .

5. It is important that a complete system of signalling between all parts of an attacking force, in addition to other methods of communication, should be arranged, S. 124 (6).

132. Duties of the several bodies.

1. Scouts, Firing Line and Supports. —The duties of the scouts are detailed in S. 87 .

When scouts can advance no farther they will lie still until absorbed by the advancing firing line.

The duties of the firing line are to gain ground to the front, and, if checked by a superior fire, to hold on until reinforced.

The supports reinforce the firing line as soon as the latter can make no further progress.

It is undesirable that all the supports should be thrown into the firing line simultaneously. It will very often happen that only certain portions of the firing line are hard pressed or unable to advance, whilst during the advance to decisive range a crowd of men in the firing line is always to be avoided. On the other [132] hand, in certain conditions, especially on very open ground, to hold back at the outset portions of the force allotted to the firing line may result in their not being able to go forward at all when required to reinforce, or in serious losses when doing so.

2. The Reserves. —The reserves provide the reinforcements required to bring the firing line up to its maximum density of one rifle per yard, and to maintain it at such until a superiority of fire over the defence has been gained; a portion of the reserves should be held in hand, if possible, to furnish the further reinforcements and impetus necessary to deliver the assault, S. 137 .

The reserves will also cover the advance of the firing line by long range fire, wherever the ground will admit of it; when opportunity occurs they bring an outflanking fire on the enemy’s position; they protect the flanks against counter-attack; and, in addition, may be called on to supply a fresh firing line after a successful assault, should the enemy take up a second position.

3. The General Reserves. —This force, which is under the direct control of the commander of the whole force, is to be employed to meet eventualities; it should be prepared to meet counter-attacks, and in the case of success to march rapidly to the front to take up the pursuit; in the case of a reverse the general reserves may serve as a rallying point, but before deciding to hold back such portion of his force for this purpose, the commander must consider whether he cannot achieve success by employing the whole of his available force in breaking down the defence.

A commander can only exercise a direct influence on his command so long as he retains at his disposal a portion of his force with which to meet the varying contingencies of an engagement. If he keeps in his own hands a strong reserve, he will have it in his power to take instant advantage of any mistake the enemy may commit, to restore the battle should the leading troops meet with a serious check, to meet a counter-attack, or, in case of need, to provide the additional strength required to drive the attack home.

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133. Infantry Formations with Regard to Fire.

1. Beyond distant ranges formations in lines of columns are generally convenient for infantry about to attack.

At long ranges infantry in large deep columns offer a better target to hostile fire than when in line. But troops in lines of small columns are less vulnerable than when in line, as they are able to take more advantage of the ground.

At effective ranges troops in any formation except lines of skirmishers will suffer heavy losses.

At decisive ranges the extended line must be considerably reinforced in order to bring an effective fire to bear against the defence, for no advance can be made within this zone until the enemy’s fire is greatly shaken.

2. It may be concluded, then, that infantry attacking a well armed enemy across open ground will, in the initial stages of the attack, be in lines of company columns, which, as effective ranges are approached, will give way to lines of skirmishers widely extended; and that as decisive ranges are approached and it becomes necessary to break down the enemy’s fire, to enable any further advance to be made without undue loss, the firing line will have to be reinforced until eventually, in order to obtain the maximum fire effect and thus establish a superiority of fire, it contains as many men as can use their rifles effectively.

134. Fire.

1. As a general principle troops should, if possible, not be launched to the decisive attack unless their movements can be covered by the fire action of other bodies specially told off for this purpose, and posted in such a position that they can watch the progress of the attack. The fire of such bodies will necessarily be delivered at long range. The firing line, however, should endeavour before opening fire to advance as close to the enemy’s position as possible consistent with not suffering undue losses. The actual distance at which fire should be [134] opened must depend on the effect of the enemy’s fire. Minor losses may be accepted, but sooner or later, according as the ground is favourable or unfavourable, the severity of the enemy’s fire will render a reply imperative.

2. To enable the attack to be prosecuted it is clear that from this moment the hostile fire must be met by fire of greater power, its intensity and duration being dependent on the effect produced. Moreover, from this point forward movement will, as a rule, be contingent on the mutual fire support afforded to one another by neighbouring bodies, and on the effects produced by the covering fire brought to bear on the enemy’s line whenever the ground admits of such action, by supports, reserves and the troops specially told off for this purpose.

Covering fire should be delivered so as to strike the enemy, disturb his aim, and compel him to seek shelter when the assailant is exposed or in difficulties. In such circumstances intensity of fire is of the first importance; but fire should be reserved when the assailant’s progress is satisfactory, or when he is under cover.

3. It has been stated that the assailant in a decisive attack should, except in the case of troops detailed for covering fire, reserve his fire for those ranges at which fire action is likely to be most effective, but in certain circumstances it may be advantageous to commence firing at long range.

For example:—

4. Long range fire requires a large expenditure of ammunition, and it is necessary, if it is to produce a corresponding effect, and if waste of cartridges is to be avoided, that it should be carefully controlled and concentrated, and that the distance should be accurately ascertained; or if this is not possible, that a considerable depth of ground should be evenly swept by fire by the use of combined sights.

135. Co-operation between Artillery and Infantry in the Attack.

1. Both in attack and defence the most intimate co-operation between the artillery and infantry must be aimed at, if the latter are to derive the full advantage of the support of the former. In the preliminary stages of the attack the advance of the infantry will draw the fire of the defence and thus find a target for the artillery, whilst the fire of the latter, combined with that of other covering bodies, will enable the firing line to approach in extended order towards the enemy’s position without undue loss.

2. In the subsequent fire action the artillery and infantry must co-operate in shaking the fire of the defence so as to admit of the further advances of the firing line, which should take advantage of the slackening of the fire of the defence, caused by the fire of the quick firing artillery covering the advance, to push in closer to the enemy’s position.

3. At the crisis of the engagement, preparatory to the assault, the artillery and infantry must combine to bring the heaviest possible fire to bear against the point or points against which it is proposed to drive home the attack, in order that a superiority of fire over the defence may be rapidly established; and at no other time is the close co-operation so important, if the full effect of the two arms is to be obtained.

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136. The Decisive Attack.

The procedure of the troops engaged in the decisive attack is governed by the following principles:—

1. Success largely depends on the close and intelligent co-operation of all parts of the force engaged, and the attacks delivered by different portions of the force should as a rule be simultaneous, for this purpose communication between them must be carefully maintained.

2. The main object of the attack is to attain a superiority of fire by establishing the strongest possible firing line, on good fire positions within decisive range of each objective, preparatory, if necessary, to capturing it by an assault. Whether the objective be the defenders main position, or an advanced position, the attack will be conducted on the same principle.

3. To reach decisive range with as little loss as possible, the advance, which will be covered by the fire of the artillery and reserves, should be rapid and energetic, and be made in successive lines of skirmishers widely extended and preceded by scouts; the firing line should avoid opening fire until either the defenders, or their position, can be clearly distinguished, if the results are to justify the delay and expenditure of ammunition entailed; when once this point is reached, the first line of skirmishers should be reinforced in order that the fire may be effective, S. 134 (2).

The further advance will now be a matter of the greatest difficulty, for the reinforced firing line will offer a considerable target to the defenders, and that at decisive range; it will only be possible to approach closer to the enemy when the movement of one portion of the firing line is supported by the fire of the remainder, but whether the advance to the next fire positions is to be made by alternate rushes of complete portions of the firing line, or by pushing forward a few extended men as from a fresh starting point, covered by the fire of the rest, and gradually reinforcing them, thus building up a fresh firing [137] line, must depend on varying circumstances such as the nature of the ground and the volume of the enemy’s fire, and the choice of method must therefore be left to subordinate commanders, who alone will possess any control at this stage of the fight.

4. On open ground and at effective ranges long lines of men rising simultaneously, and making even short rushes forward, will generally suffer heavier losses than small bodies suddenly moving forward, as the latter surprise the enemy, and thus for a time avoid his aimed fire. The rush should be continued only as long as the surprise lasts. The closer the ranges, the shorter should be the rushes.

5. It is by no means necessary that the firing line should be everywhere of the same density. It is from covered positions that fire is most effective; and it is at these points, therefore, that force should be concentrated.

6. The firing line, which will be continually strengthened by successive reinforcements, will thus fight its way forward until the immediate objective is enveloped, or partially enveloped, at the closest range by a strong firing line, which, in combination with the artillery will bring as powerful a fire as possible to bear against the defence, in order to rapidly establish a superiority of fire preparatory to the assault.

7. Positions affording cover in advance of the enemy’s main position, which may be seized or occupied, should, if necessary, be put in a state of defence; here the troops will re-form and a further advance made by repeating the process of attack against the next objective, as from a fresh starting point.

137. The Assault.

As soon as it becomes evident that superiority of fire has been attained, which is generally made known by movements to the rear along the enemy’s line, or by the decreasing accuracy and volume of his fire, the troops detailed to drive home the attack will close in on the firing line, and carry it forward to the assault.

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The signal for this decisive movement should, as a rule, come from the senior officers present, and be sounded on the bugle. But the method of advance must be left to the company officers, for at such short range it is not possible to transmit the necessary orders all along the line.

During the delivery of the assault on the enemy’s position, the men will cheer, bugles be sounded, and the pipes played.

If the assault is successful, the attacking troops should pursue the enemy with their fire and re-form for a further advance.

138. Rallying and Redistribution.

After each successful assault, the task of rallying the men, and of forming a defensive line until the advance can be resumed, will generally fall to the subordinate leaders. This will be much facilitated if there are bodies in rear, well in hand, which can be sent forward to carry on the attack, and, as may sometimes be possible, rush the enemy’s second position before he has recovered from the loss of the first.

All important points won should be at once placed in a state of defence, with a view to serving as supporting points for a fresh advance, S. 136 (7), and “Combined Training,” S. 122 .

139. Holding Attacks.

1. In order to prevent the enemy from reinforcing that portion of his line against which it is intended to drive home the decisive attack, other portions of his line, and particularly that portion near which his reserves are believed to be, must be threatened or held by a display of force. In order to mislead the enemy as to the direction of the main attack, and to prevent him, when the crisis of the fight approaches, from thinning those portions of the line which are only threatened, and meeting the decisive attack with nearly his whole strength, the troops engaged in the holding attack must act with vigour when the attack develops, and be prepared to convert their demonstration into a real attack as soon as the right moment arrives.

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2. These troops must therefore be in sufficient strength to enable them to advance against the enemy’s position with a good chance of success. As a rule, it will be advisable in the preliminary stages of the action to extend the firing-line at wide intervals, to keep the reinforcing lines well back, and, owing to the danger of a counter-attack, not to permit the firing-line, unless the ground is peculiarly favourable, to advance within decisive range, S. 145 (2). Sudden outbursts of heavy fire at different points, and the use of machine guns, will give effect to demonstrations.

140. Feints.

Feints are in their nature much like holding attacks, but are usually carried out by small forces which have little offensive power. The feint should not be made prematurely, otherwise its true character will become apparent to the enemy too soon.

The endeavour of the commander of a party told off to feint will be to divert the enemy’s attention from the locality whence the decisive attack will be launched. He should be allowed great independence in action.

141. Flank Attacks.

Troops told off to outflank the enemy will generally act on identically the same lines as those detailed to assail the front, for, as a rule, flank attacks are locally frontal attacks. The very fact that he is being attacked simultaneously from two different directions, that his line of retreat is threatened, and that a part of his force is exposed to enfilade fire, must have a most serious effect on the enemy’s moral , and consequently on the accuracy of his aim, and the promptitude of his manœuvres; whilst the new front will probably not be so strong naturally as the main front. The flank of a position should, therefore, be the object of particular attention. If the force detailed for an outflanking movement actually succeeds in placing itself [140] in prolongation of the enemy’s line, before he can change position, or while he is in the act of changing position, a surprise will have been effected, and if the opportunity is utilised with due vigour, an immediate and overwhelming success should be the result.

142. Surprises.

If the enemy is surprised, it is of the utmost importance to reach decisive range as rapidly as possible, and to increase the demoralisation which the surprise will have already produced by pressing forward to close quarters with the greatest energy. In such conditions, the deliberate advance from cover to cover, and the gradual building up, by means of successive reinforcements, of a powerful firing-line, should be discarded, and the firing-line be strong from the very first. Nevertheless, it will still be necessary to retain a portion of the attacking force in reserve to meet counter-attacks and unforeseen contingencies.

143. Local flanking fire.

The incidents of a battle and the nature of the ground constantly offer opportunities, even to troops engaged in a frontal attack, for bringing an enfilade or oblique fire to bear upon part of the enemy’s line, thus facilitating the advance of other portions of the attacking force, or even causing the evacuation of some important post. Commanders of all ranks, therefore, however small the parties they command, must always be on the look-out for such opportunities of lightening the task of their comrades.

144. Formations.

1. The preparatory formation of infantry is line, or lines, of battalions in lines of company columns at varying intervals and distances.

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2. After leaving the position of assembly, formations will be regulated by commanders in conformity with the rules laid down in S. 133 .

3. The firing line will, except in the preparatory stages of the attack, be in skirmishing order, though in the final stages of the attack, preparatory to the assault, the men may be as close to one another as will admit of them using their rifles effectively. In open ground the bodies in rear will also be in skirmishing order; but during a protracted fight, when the firing-line is making slow progress, officers commanding bodies in rear of the firing-line should utilise all cover, closing them sufficiently to enable them to execute any manœuvre that may be ordered without confusion or delay.

4. In wooded or close country, or when there is no chance of coming under unexpected fire, the bodies in rear of the firing-line may move in lines of company columns.

5. These bodies should move in as compact a formation as the nature of the ground allows; but the importance of a rapid extension to the front should always be held in view. Battalions or companies echeloned to the rear in order to protect a flank should adopt a formation which will enable them to change direction in order to meet cavalry or counter-attack with the utmost rapidity.

145. Frontage.

1. The frontage occupied in attacking, having regard to the fact that the position should be enveloped, must as a rule be greater than that of the defence. It is unnecessary, however, that the attacking force should be in equal strength along the whole front. Those portions of the position against which the main attack is not directed should be engaged by a holding attack, and the flank which is not to be seriously attacked may be observed or merely threatened by a feint. Troops engaged in holding attacks and feints should try to deceive the enemy as to their real strength. They may occupy, therefore, [142] a comparatively wider front than the troops detailed for the decisive attack.

2. Troops engaged in a decisive attack must follow a different procedure. The object is to establish the strongest possible firing-line at decisive range from the position, S. 153 (1).

Against a weak enemy, however, or an enemy holding an exposed position, or when the advance is covered by a very superior artillery fire, the frontage allotted to a battalion may be greater than under normal conditions. But it is always to be borne in mind that troops extended at very wide intervals are peculiarly susceptible to counter-attack, and that their attack is certain to lose in vigour and resolution.

3. In the case of a company, or small force, attacking independently the men need not be so close as in the case of larger forces.

146. Distances.

1. The distances between the several bodies in which troops are distributed for attack depend upon the nature of the ground, and the weapons of the enemy, and they must be fixed by the officers in immediate command.

2. The scouts should be sufficiently far in advance of, and on the exposed flanks of, the firing-line, to protect it from surprise. In close or undulating country it will be necessary to provide for connecting links in order that there may be no danger of touch with the advanced scouts being lost, and of reports, verbal or by signal, failing to reach the commanders of the firing-line. In wooded country the distance may be decreased.

3. In close country, and in wood-fighting, the distances between the several bodies into which an attacking force is divided should seldom exceed 200 yards. In open ground greater distances are necessary, except against a badly-armed enemy.

4. The distance of the general reserve should be usually greater than that between the other bodies in order that it may not be prematurely drawn into the fight.

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5. The general rule is that the troops in rear should be brought closer to the firing-line, the nearer the moment for the assault approaches.

147. Intervals.

An arbitrary rule as regards intervals is undesirable. Each portion of the force engaged will generally be told off to attack a particular section of the enemy’s line, and the frontage to be occupied by each left to the discretion of their commanding officers. It is essential that there should be a clear understanding as to responsbility for searching, and, if necessary, clearing, all dangerous ground which lies between units. This should be notified in the orders for attack.

148. Direction and Pace.

1. Each unit should be given a point to move on. Nevertheless, in moving through woods, or over ground so close that it is impracticable to fix a point to march upon, a unit of direction, which should march by compass bearing, or by some well-defined landmark, such as a road or stream, is the only means of avoiding confusion and delay, S. 131 (3).

2. A change in the direction of the line of march is effected by giving a fresh point or points to move on.

3. When once a firing-line has been formed, a change of direction under fire will be effected either as described in S. 48 , or by forming a new firing-line in the required direction from the troops in rear, the old firing-line being withdrawn.

4. Undue rapidity tends to exhaust the men, and thus impair the accuracy of their fire. During the earlier stages of the attack, the ordinary pace should, therefore, be maintained.

5. When the defender’s fire begins to tell seriously the advance must be continued according to circumstances as laid down in S. 136 (3).

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149. Machine Guns.

1. The effective use of a machine gun depends on the promptitude of its commander in utilising opportunities which are, as a rule, very brief.

2. Machine guns form an integral part of the battalion to which they belong, and will, as a rule, be employed under the orders of its commander. This should not, however, prevent general officers commanding brigades from detaching machine guns from their battalions, especially in the case of reserve battalions, and employing them either massed or in groups should the tactical situation so demand. It must be remembered, however, that when massed their position will be more easily discovered, and they will form a large and vulnerable target for the enemy’s fire.

3. Machine guns may be employed with advantage in the attack in the following conditions:—

4. The machine gun commander must be fully acquainted with the orders given to the infantry he is acting with and with all subsequent orders issued. It is his business to watch his infantry, and conform to their movements and keep touch generally. He should be allowed great liberty of action.

5. Especial care must be exercised to bring the gun into action without exposing it, and to screen it when in action. Machine guns should generally be used singly, though occasions may occur when it may be advisable to use them in pairs.

THE COMPANY IN ATTACK.

150. General Rules.

1. In executing an attack independently, the company commander will employ his four sections in accordance with the principles laid down in the preceding pages. He will see that his advance is protected by scouts; and after as thorough a reconnaissance as his means permit, he will carefully explain to the subordinate leaders and men the object to be attained and the plan of action, and will make certain that all understand what is expected of them. He will tell off the company into firing-line and support, arrange, if possible, for outflanking the enemy, keep a small reserve in his own hand, and act generally in the same manner as the commander of a considerable force.

2. In executing an attack in conjunction with the remainder of the battalion, the company commander must explain to his [146] subordinates and men the orders he has received, and the method in which he intends to carry them out. During the advance he should place himself where he can best watch the firing-line and the enemy, and at the same time issue orders to his support. His duties in action are as follows:—

3. When two or more officers are present with a company, one will always be with the firing line.

4. Half-company commanders in the firing line will place themselves where they can best supervise the skirmishers. Their duties in action are as follows:—

5. The frontage occupied by a company acting independently depends on the nature of the operation. There may be a considerable gap between the frontal and the flank attacks; and a portion of the company, extended at wide intervals, may be told off merely to hold the enemy, while the remainder, at closer intervals, make the decisive attack.

The rule that a strong firing-line should be established in a good fire-position at a decisive range must always be observed by the portion of the company which is told off for the decisive attack; and although the men need not be so close as in the case of larger forces, still, to dislodge an enemy of nearly equal strength, the firing-line, at decisive range, should not be weaker than one rifle to every two or three yards of front.

6. When the company is acting in concert with the remainder of the battalion, its frontage, as a rule, will be assigned by the battalion commander.

7. The company commander must always be guided by circumstances in deciding on the strength of his firing-line, and on the formation of the remainder. The general procedure will be to gradually reinforce the scouts, when they are checked by the enemy’s fire, and thus build up a firing line, which, at decisive range, shall be strong enough to gain superiority over the enemy’s fire. This procedure is, however, by no means to be regarded as invariable. It might be desirable, for instance, to deploy the whole company at once in the firing line.

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S. 153 (3). This may sometimes be advisable on open ground without cover, when less loss would be incurred than by gradually reinforcing a weaker firing-line.

8. In order that tactical unity may be maintained as long as possible, it will usually be advisable that complete squads or sections be extended on the first advance, further reinforcements being furnished by the other squads of the same sections, or other sections of the same half company.

THE BATTALION IN ATTACK.

151. General Rules.

1. The battalion commander is practically in the same position as the commander of a brigade, with the exception that he has under him eight small units instead of four large units.

2. Nevertheless, so limited are his powers of personal control upon the field of battle, that success, as a rule, will depend on the clearness and comprehensiveness of the order which commits his companies to the attack, as well as on the manner in which he has trained his company leaders. It is of importance, therefore, that the battalion should never be hurried into action; but that time should be taken for a survey of the ground, for the issue of orders, and for the instructions to be given by the company leaders to their subordinates and the men.

3. A battalion, whether acting alone or forming part of a larger force engaged in an attack, will be sub-divided into three bodies, viz., firing-line, supports and reserves, on the same principle as laid down in S. 129 . The firing-line, which in the first instance will not exceed a quarter of the whole battalion, will usually be furnished by the same companies as the supports, whilst the reserves will be supplied by the remainder, and be under the direct control of the battalion commander.

When the battalion forms part of a larger force, the commander will employ his reserves in strengthening such portions [149] of his firing-line as most require reinforcement, the whole battalion, as a rule, being eventually absorbed into the firing-line.

4. When the battalion is acting independently, the commanding officer will act on the same principles as the commander of a larger force. He will detail certain companies for the flank attack, and others if necessary, for a holding attack, or for a feint. He will make arrangements from the companies of the reserve for the protection of the flanks against counter-attack, and if the ground permits, for covering the advance by long-range fire. He will retain a portion of his battalion as a general reserve at his own disposal; and select a portion of the enemy’s line against which the decisive attack will be pressed home.

He will assign a portion of the objective to each company that forms part of the firing-line; but it should seldom be necessary for him, if his company leaders are well trained, to indicate the formation to be adopted.

5. The battalion, on reaching the zone of distant fire, will form lines of company columns, preceded, and, if necessary, flanked by scouts.

6. It is impossible to lay down any rule as to the number of companies in the firing-line. But it is always advisable, when the battalion first forms for attack, whether it is acting alone or with others, to put in no more than are actually required at the moment; the remainder being kept well in hand, but in such formations as will enable them to take advantage of cover, and avoid unnecessary loss.

Before the enemy’s exact position is ascertained, the advance must be cautious and deliberate, and it is dangerous in such circumstances to place several companies alongside one another on a broad frontage.

152. Orders.

The orders issued to a battalion will differ in degree but not in principle from those given to a larger force, S. 131 ; as a rule [150] they will be issued verbally, but in any case they should be personally explained by the commanding officer when the position comes into view.

153. Distribution of the companies in the decisive attack.

1. In order to establish a strong firing-line within decisive range of the enemy’s position, it is desirable that, making allowance for losses, there should be, at the commencement of the attack, at least 125 rifles to every 100 yards of front, exclusive of that portion of the reserves which will furnish the final reinforcement necessary to deliver the assault. These 125 men are disposed in several bodies, the bodies in rear, i.e. , the supports and reserves, supplying the successive reinforcements which gradually build up the firing-line to its maximum strength.

2. Whether these 125 rifles are furnished by two or more companies must be determined by the commanding officer.

3. To extend whole companies in the firing-line at the outset, the supports being formed from other companies, is a proceeding which can seldom be justified; leading as it must to a premature admixture of tactical units, and to the surrender, at an unnecessarily early period, of the control of the firing-line. The rule that all reinforcements should be furnished as long as possible by the same unit should never be infringed.

4. When the battalion is acting in concert with other units, the frontage assigned to it, if the attack is intended to be decisive, must be in proportion to its strength.

5. Battalions should be constantly exercised in forming for the attack from a position of assembly, the frontage being always varied, and a different number of companies told off to the firing-line and the reserve. It is only by practice that a commanding officer can acquire the facility of recognising at once how many companies should be extended in firing-line, and how many allotted to the reserve.

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154. The firing-line and supports.

The formation of the firing-line and supports, and the distance of the latter from the firing-line, will be determined by the company commanders. There is no necessity that these should be the same in every company so long as the general principles laid down for the attack are intelligently applied.

155. The reserve.

1. Next to the conception of a sound plan of attack, and the issue of clear and comprehensive orders to the company commanders, the most important duty of the officer commanding a battalion is the handling of his reserve. It is by means of the reserve that he makes his influence felt in action, and by reinforcing the firing-line at the right time and at the right place keeps the attack moving and eventually attains the superiority of fire. But judicious feeding of the firing-line is not all that is required. Not only must its flanks be protected, and its advance covered by long-range fire; but if the enemy is well-trained, counter-attack is always to be apprehended; and—what is also dangerous—a sudden reinforcement of the defence, when the struggle for fire-superiority is at its height may take place. It should be the aim, then, of the officer commanding, so to husband his reserve, that while prosecuting the attack with vigour by means of timely reinforcements, he may still have a sufficient force at his disposal to meet emergencies. From first to last, therefore, he should retain at least a portion of the reserve in his own hand, for even a half-company may be of the greatest service in repelling a sudden counter-attack, or in forming a rallying point if the attack is repulsed.

2. If heavy losses are to be expected before a strong firing-line can be established within decisive range of the enemy’s position, the reserve should be stronger than the firing-line and supports. If, on the other hand, the opposition is weak, or decisive range can be reached under cover, the reserve may [152] be of the same strength as the firing-line and supports. It is to be observed, however, that the firing-line and supports here alluded to are those engaged in the decisive attack; companies engaged in a holding attack, or in a feigned or false attack, are not to be counted when calculating the strength of the reserve.

3. It may be advisable to divide the reserve into two distinct bodies, one following the flank attack, the other the frontal attack.

4. When the flanks (or flank) of the battalion are exposed, a portion of the reserve will be told off as a protection against counter-attack and for extended patrolling.

5. On open ground, in order to avoid unnecessary loss, the reserve must advance in several lines of skirmishers. In close country, the reserve should move in as compact a formation as the ground will permit, due regard being paid to the protection of the flanks.

6. The initial formation of the companies in reserve will be decided by the officer commanding, and will depend altogether upon the ground. Wide intervals are not so essential as for the firing-line and supports, and on ground which is little exposed to fire company columns, or columns of fours may be resorted to with advantage. It will seldom be necessary, however, that the formation of each successive line should be identical; and, during the advance, the formation of each company will be altered, in order to take advantage of cover or to avoid shot-swept spaces, at the discretion of its own commander.

156. Holding Attack.

The holding attack will be carried out by a battalion in accordance with the principles already laid down; the frontage being larger, and the reserve smaller than in a decisive attack, S. 139 .

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157. Instruction.

It is always advisable, in instructing a battalion, to hand over the entire control of the companies in firing-line or reserve, with the exception of the portion retained at the disposal of the officer commanding, to their own leaders, and to give each of the latter a free hand in carrying out the task assigned to him. Such a method, with inexperienced company officers, may at first lead to mistakes and misunderstandings; but as soon as these officers gain confidence, become accustomed to working in concert, and understand what is required of them, energetic combination will take the place of hesitation and bewilderment, and the officer commanding will find himself supported by a body of zealous and self-reliant assistants, capable of executing his intentions without depending on continual instructions.

Moreover, the practice of carrying out an attack by the co-operation of several independent units is the only method possible in a hotly contested action.

It must be made clear whether the battalion is supposed to be acting alone or in conjunction with other troops.

THE BRIGADE IN ATTACK.

158. General Rules.

1. The rules for the battalion in attack apply in all respects to the brigade, and even to larger forces of infantry, with the exception that in the position of assembly the brigade or division will usually be drawn up in line, or lines, of battalions in quarter column or lines of company columns, and will advance as far as the zone of distant fire in this formation. The commander assigns to the battalion leaders their respective tasks, leaving them perfect freedom as to the manner of execution, and the way in which they form their commands.

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2. The frontage of the brigade will depend on the situation, as also the strength of the brigade reserve. The latter should always consist of a complete unit or units, of which a small portion may be kept back at the crisis of the attack to form a rallying point in case of reverse, S. 132 (3).

3. The orders issued by the brigadier will be in the same form as those issued by the officer commanding a larger force, S. 131.

4. The brigadier will be accompanied by signallers, who will maintain communication with all the battalions of the brigade during the attack.

THE DIVISION IN ATTACK.

159. General Rules.

1. The best battle-formation for the infantry of a division engaged in a decisive attack, and, generally speaking, in all attacks, is the two brigades placed alongside each other, dividing the front, and regulating their own reserves. If the division is acting alone, it is important that, as a general rule, the divisional commander should retain two complete battalions as general reserve. During the action the divisional commander should be accompanied by a party of mounted signallers.

2. The divisional commander assigns to the brigadiers their respective tasks, leaving them perfect freedom as to the manner of execution.

3. The orders issued by the divisional commander will be drawn up and issued as directed in S. 131 , and “Combined Training,” S. 115 .

4. If the divisional commander finds it necessary to detach a battalion, or in an unforeseen contingency to give an individual battalion direct orders for the execution of some movement, he should at once inform the brigadier to whom the battalion belongs.

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5. In the instruction of the brigade or division a most useful exercise is to practice deployments for attack under different suppositions, such as an enemy occupying different extents of front, an enemy suddenly discovered in position half-right, half-left, or flanking the line of march.

THE DEFENCE.

160. Distribution of Infantry for defence.

1. Infantry detailed for the defence of the entrenchments will generally be distributed in two bodies, viz.,

For the decisive counter-attack, a separate body, The General Reserve , which has nothing to do with the immediate defence of the entrenchments, will be retained in the hands of the officer commanding.

2. The strength of the firing line will depend entirely on the extent of the field of fire and the character of the cover. If the conditions are favourable to the defence a few men can easily protect a wide front. If there is any chance of a surprise, or of the position being attacked by a sudden rush, the firing line should be as dense as is compatible with the free use of the rifle by every man engaged.

3. The duty of the supports is to replace casualties in the firing line, and they should therefore be posted near at hand and under cover. In strong positions very small supports will be quite sufficient, or they may even be dispensed with altogether.

4. The duties of the local reserves are to deliver local counter-attacks, to reinforce the firing line at critical moments, and to protect the flanks; they will also furnish the outposts and [156] supply detachments to occupy temporary positions, either in front or beyond the flanks of the entrenchments. S. 161 (7), also “Combined Training,” 125 (4). Local reserves should be well covered, especially from artillery fire; but there should be no obstacle to their being brought rapidly to the front.

161. Occupation of the position.

1. It is far more important that every man should see well to the front, and be well covered, than that the front should be regular and continuous.

Each section, or even each squad, may have its own entrenchment. These entrenchments will not necessarily be in one general line. The main consideration is a good field of fire and provision of oblique or enfilade fire to support other parts of the line.

2. Weak points should be strongly held. Between the points held spaces may be left unoccupied, provided they can be swept by an effective cross-fire.

3. When there is no time to entrench every man must improvise cover for himself, and this should be constantly practised in peace. When the troops occupy entrenchments every man should see that he can use his rifle effectively, and if necessary make the improvements necessary to enable him to do so.

4. The distance of all prominent objects and exposed points on the probable lines of attack should be carefully ascertained, noted and communicated to the men.

If time permit, these distances should be defined by marks.

5. If possible, objects which might assist the enemy in finding the range should be removed, and all works and entrenchments should be hidden with bushes, grass, &c.

6. Arrangements should be made to ensure that men, if suddenly called on at night to man the entrenchments, fire in the required direction. This can best be done by so designing parapets, loopholes, &c., that the line of fire of a rifle resting on them grazes the ground in advance for some distance.

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7. In addition to the outposts, which will protect the front and flanks of the position, troops may be specially detailed to take up temporary positions to mislead the enemy, embarrass his reconnoitring patrols and delay his advance, S. 160 (4); such troops should be withdrawn before they become seriously engaged, care being taken not to mask the fire of the main position during the retirement.

162. Entrenching a Position.

1. Trenches on the sky-line afford so excellent a target, that such a position, especially if the enemy has good artillery, should always be avoided. They may, however, be constructed on the sky-line and left unoccupied for the purpose of deceiving the enemy.

2. When placed at the foot of slopes that trend towards the enemy they have the advantage that fire from them is more grazing than it would be if they were placed higher up the slope, but a retreat under fire from them will probably involve heavy loss. It is, as a rule, easy to conceal them in such a position. On the other hand, the field of fire from low-lying trenches is often very limited, and it is generally more easy to open up communication with the rear when trenches are close to the crest-line than when they are much in advance of it.

3. Trenches which can bring fire to bear at decisive range on to the ground over which the attack must pass, and which are themselves concealed from the attackers in the early stages, are most valuable in surprising the enemy at the most critical period of the attack.

4. Trenches should always be concealed and head cover provided when possible, covered communication from the rear should also be provided when time is available.

5. Important tactical points and such others which, owing to the dead ground in their vicinity, constitute a weakness to position, should be further strengthened by placing barbed wire [158] entanglements or abattis in front of them, trenches being so placed as to bring an effective fire to bear on such obstacles.

6. When time admits, deep trenches just in rear of the crest-line may be usefully provided to give cover to the supports or the garrisons of the advanced trenches till they are required.

163. Fire.

1. As the difficulties of ammunition supply and want of knowledge of ranges are not so great as in the attack, it will often be expedient to open fire at long ranges in order to oblige the assailant to deploy and adopt a definite course of action which it will be difficult for him to rectify when exposed to fire.

Long-range fire may also be used to deceive the enemy as to the dispositions and strength of the defender, and to check the advance of reinforcements.

The employment of long-range fire must, however, be regulated by the effect produced on the enemy. If this is observed to be small, it will be wiser to reserve ammunition for closer ranges where better results may be expected, and on occasion it may be advisable to encourage the enemy’s advance by a weak fire or by withholding it entirely, and to receive him at decisive ranges with a fire of the greatest intensity possible.

164. Machine Guns.

1. In defence, as in attack, machine guns may be employed singly, or in pairs.

2. They should not be isolated, and are not adapted for use against lines of widely extended skirmishers, but are most suitable to protect flanks, to flank salients or portions of the line, to cover obstacles, to deny the passage of defiles to the enemy, or to bring a heavy fire to bear from ground which, owing to its narrow frontage, is unsuited for the deployment of infantry. If employed in the firing line, they should be carefully concealed. Alternative positions connected by a covered [159] communication should be prepared, if possible, for use in case they come under effective artillery fire.

3. If not utilised for these purposes they should be retained as a reserve of fire, either in the hands of the battalion commander or brigadier, to be used to check the advance of hostile reinforcements, to meet turning movements, to support the firing-line in crises, to prepare and cover the counter-attack, or against close deep formations at long range.

4. In pursuit they should endeavour to operate against the flanks of the enemy from decisive range.

165. Position of the Reserves.

1. The local reserves will be in their respective sections. For the protection of the flanks they will be echeloned in rear of the flanks or of one flank if the other is unassailable. If the flanks are secure, the most suitable position for them, if it provides good cover, is in rear of the centre of the section to which they belong.

2. The general reserve will usually be posted in rear of the centre of the position, until the direction of the counter-attack can be decided; but in certain cases, as when, for instance, the defender is equal or superior in numbers, it may be echeloned in rear of that flank where the ground offers the greatest facilities for the counter-attack.

3. The reserves should be most carefully hidden until the moment for action arrives. If no natural cover is available, artificial cover should, if possible, be provided for them.

166. Duties of Officers Commanding Reserves.

1. The officers commanding the reserves, whether local or general, must make themselves acquainted with all ground over which they may have to act. They should know the direction of all roads and tracks; and they must keep a watch, by means of [160] staff officers and patrols, on the progress of the engagement, so that they may anticipate orders, and have their troops formed up ready to move as soon as they are called for.

167. Local Counter-attacks.

1. Local counter-attacks, which are the special duty of the local reserves, may be made at any moment. Should the enemy gain some local success either in the position itself, or on ground close to it, whence he could seriously threaten the defence of the position, the necessity for counter-attack becomes imperative. In such cases, the sooner the attack is delivered the better, so that the enemy may have no opportunity of strengthening the ground he has gained.

2. Local counter-attacks are delivered on the initiative of the officers in charge of sections of the defensive line. They should seldom be carried far in advance of the entrenchments; and directly the enemy’s firing-line falls back, the troops should be reformed as rapidly as possible.

4. Local counter-attacks should also be delivered when the enemy advances to the assault. Bayonets will be fixed when his line arrives within a few hundred yards of the position, every available man brought up into the firing-line, and the charge met with rapid fire, and if that fails to stop him, with a counter-charge. In this counter-charge, which should be practised at all manœuvres, the men will cheer, bugles be sounded, and pipes played.

168. Decisive Counter-attack.

1. The decisive counter-attack will be delivered by the general reserve, it will usually be directed against the enemy’s flanks, and in such a manner as to threaten his line of retreat, although opportunities for breaking the centre may sometimes occur. The counter-attack should come, if possible, in the form of a surprise, and should be carried through with the utmost vigour and resolution; all ranks should understand that they [161] must press forward until the last reserve has been thrown in.

2. To judge the right time for the decisive counter-attack is as difficult as it is important. The most favourable moment is when the enemy has expended his reserves in endeavouring to storm the entrenchments. If, however, the defending force is carefully concealed, or if the enemy is led to believe that the front is much longer than it really is, he may commit mistakes such as exposing a portion of his force without hope of support from the remainder, extending his front so far that the greater part of his force is in the firing-line, exposing his flanks, or posting his reserves in the wrong place; and these mistakes, all of which are favourable to the counter-attack, may occur at any period of the engagement—. It is important, therefore, that the course of the action should be closely watched, that the staff should make arrangements for incessant patrolling, constant observation, and the rapid transmission of reports, and that the general reserve should be prepared for immediate action throughout the fight.

3. When launched to the attack the firing-line, as a rule, should be thicker than at the commencement of an ordinary attack, and it is unnecessary that it should be preceded, though it must always be flanked, by scouts. A portion of the force should be echeloned in rear, in order to deal with the enemy’s reserves.

4. The formation in which the general reserve will carry out the counter-attack cannot be laid down; but care should be taken that the troops composing it are formed up in such a manner as to be able to advance and come into action in any direction with the least possible delay.

5. It is possible that there will be little time for issuing detailed orders, but the direction and manner of carrying out the counter-attack should be carefully pointed out to all subordinate commanders, who will explain the same to the troops, and impress on them the importance of getting to close quarters as quickly as possible.

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THE COMPANY IN DEFENCE.

169. General Rules.

1. When acting independently the company will act in accordance with the principles enumerated in S. 160 . The reserve will, as a rule, undertake the defence of the flanks, in addition to its other duties. It may often be conveniently placed in rear of the centre.

To deceive the enemy as to the extent of the position scouts must be employed in place of larger bodies, and they should be encouraged to use all sorts of stratagems, such as constantly changing their positions, opening rapid fire, &c., &c., in order to effect their purpose. Concealment is imperative.

All dead ground in front or on the flanks of the position should be carefully observed.

2. When acting in battalion, a company told off to furnish a portion of the firing-line will usually keep a part in support. But it will often be advisable to extend only a few men at first, and to retain the remainder in rear until the enemy’s infantry advance to the attack, but they should be able to reach their places in the firing line without being observed by the enemy.

3. The occupation of the ground allotted to a company will be carried out in accordance with S. 161 .

170. Duties of the Subalterns, Section, and Squad Leaders.

1. They are responsible that communication is maintained between the different portions of the company, that all movements of the company are at once reported, that the fire is kept under control, that the men aim at the targets pointed out to them, and that all instructions as regards cover, concealment, ranges, and water are scrupulously observed.

2. They will see:—

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3. They will ascertain the position of the dressing station and of the reserve ammunition.

4. They will report to the company commander all movements of the enemy and any opportunity which appears to be favourable to counter-attack.

5. They will see that their flanks, if exposed, are protected by scouts.

6. They will be careful to keep in communication with the companies or either flank.

171. Duties of the Company Leader.

Nothing in the previous section is intended to relieve the company commander of his responsibility in all that concerns his command. He will make arrangements for the distribution of fresh supplies of ammunition, but it is important he should not allow himself to become too much engrossed in details which should be looked to by his subordinates.

In defence, the occupation, to the best advantage, of the ground allotted to him, is the company commander’s first duty.

THE BATTALION IN DEFENCE.

172. General Rules.

1. If the front is very extended, or if it runs through close or broken country, it may be broken up into sections of defence.

2. When acting independently the officer commanding will [164] himself give the signal for the decisive counter-attack. This attack will, as a rule, be commanded by the officer specially detailed to command the general reserve.

173. Duties of the Commanding Officer.

1. He will see that the reserve ammunition is conveniently placed.

2. He will ensure that communication is maintained with the troops on either flank.

3. He will report all movements of the enemy.

4. If he commands a section of the defence, he will watch for opportunities for local counter-attack.

5. He will keep up communication by means of his signallers with his brigadier.

6. He will fix on some central position, where he can receive reports, and communicate rapidly with all portions of his force.

7. He will arrange for first treatment of casualties on the spot, and for their transfer to the dressing station of the bearer company.

8. He will make himself acquainted with the best line of retirement to the rallying position.

THE BRIGADE AND DIVISION IN DEFENCE.

174. General Rules.

1. The duties of a brigade or divisional commander are practically the same as those of the officer commanding a battalion.

It may be repeated, however: (i) that the rule of detailing a complete unit, with an adequate staff, for the delivery of the decisive counter-attack, should always be observed; (ii) that the position of the officer commanding should be carefully selected.

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2. On an extended field of battle, and particularly in broken country, it is not always easy to find a place where the firing-line can be supervised, and the opportunities for counter-attack observed before it is too late to take advantage of them; and in some cases, the officer commanding will have to rely entirely on the reports of his staff officers and the subordinate commanders. It is essential, then, that the system of collection and transmission of information should be complete and thoroughly understood; in peace exercises as much attention should be paid to this most important point as to training officers and men to make clear, concise and useful reports.

SUPPLY AND TRANSPORT OF S.A. (·303-INCH) AMMUNITION IN THE FIELD.

175. Supply and transport of ammunition in the field.

1. Service ammunition and regimental reserve. —A battalion takes with it into the field, in regimental charge,

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On the march one pack animal will be in rear of each company; four S.A.A. carts (including that carrying the machine gun ammunition), will be in rear of the battalion; the remaining two carts will form a brigade reserve.

Officers commanding battalions will arrange for the replenishment of this ammunition at every favourable opportunity. They are responsible that the ammunition carried by the men is complete, and that when ammunition is expended, it is replaced with the least possible delay.

2. Brigade Reserve. —A brigade reserve of small arms ammunition will be formed by two S.A.A. carts being detached from each battalion, these will follow in rear of the brigade. Each brigadier will detail a mounted officer to take charge of the brigade reserve.

3. Divisional Reserve. —A divisional reserve of 100 rounds per rifle and 8,800 rounds per machine gun is carried in the small arms ammunition section of the ammunition columns of brigades of divisional artillery, each of which will supply one of the infantry brigades of the division to which they belong. The same number of rounds for corps troops is carried in the special section attached to the ammunition column of the horse artillery brigade. The divisional reserves are in artillery charge.

4. Ammunition Park. —Fifty rounds per rifle and 9,000 rounds per machine gun.

5. General arrangements in the action. —In action the ammunition pack animals will be advanced as close as possible to their respective companies, every advantage of cover being taken in doing so; two S.A.A. carts will follow as close in rear of the supports to the firing-line as the hostile fire will permit, one being usually in rear of each wing; the remaining cart will follow in rear of the battalion reserve. The cart carrying the machine gun ammunition will move as directed by the officer commanding the machine guns. During an action the regimental reserve ammunition carried in the carts will be in [167] charge of the serjeant-major, who should get into communication with the supports and also the brigade reserve by means of signallers.

The brigade reserve of ammunition will follow in rear of the centre of the brigade, or as the General Officer Commanding may direct. It should be accompanied by signallers, who should maintain communication with the various regimental reserves.

When a S.A.A. cart with the supports is emptied, it will be replaced by a full cart from the regimental reserve, the empty cart being sent back to the brigade reserve, when it will be replaced by a full one. As soon as there are four empty S.A.A. carts with the brigade reserve the officer in charge will send a message as follows to the officer in charge of the divisional reserve: “Send up four S.A.A. carts to the —th brigade.” It is, however, unnecessary to wait till four carts are empty, if ammunition is urgently required.

On the arrival of the carts from the divisional reserve, the horses will be unhooked and changed, and empty carts sent back to the divisional reserve.

In the event of a brigade in action being ordered to advance through woods or over broken ground where communication cannot be maintained, the S.A.A. carts of the brigade reserve may be distributed between battalions, and the divisional reserve would conform to the general movement.

In the case of a battalion being detached to any distance a similar course would be pursued, a brigade reserve being reformed as soon as possible.

6. Instructions for the officer in charge of the brigade reserve of ammunition.

7. Battalion arrangements for issuing extra ammunition. —Each company commander will detail one non-commissioned officer and two privates to act as ammunition carriers (if the company is strong, three privates should be detailed). Only men of strength and activity should be selected for this duty, the importance of which cannot be overrated.

Whenever a serious engagement is imminent, officer commanding battalions will issue to the men 50 rounds from the S.A.A. carts, so that, if possible, every man shall carry 150 rounds on his person. The extra ammunition should generally be issued before leaving the halting place of the previous night.

During an action every opportunity will be taken for supplying [169] ammunition to the firing line by sending some up by carriers or with reinforcements. The carriers bring the ammunition from the pack animals (or from the S.A.A. carts) in canvas ammunition bags, and distribute it to the men in the ranks. The bags, when not in use, are carried on the pack animals. The loads are not to exceed 600 rounds to each carrier.

When more ammunition is required by the firing-line it will be taken forward by any men at hand, acting as carriers.

The carriers will move direct to the companies for which they are destined. If there is a difficulty in their getting back they may be retained in their ranks till the action is over.

It is the duty of section and squad commanders to make sure that all ammunition from the killed and wounded is collected and distributed.

The system of carrying ammunition by hand, here provided for, is not to prevent every endeavour being made to push the S.A.A. carts as far forward as practicable. They ought, in ordinary circumstances, to get within 1,000 yards of the firing-line, and in broken and undulating ground considerably nearer. With pack animals, it should be practicable to get within 500 yards of the firing-line.

The immense importance of having a supply of ammunition out of sight of the enemy, and yet within easy reach of the firing-line, will justify great risks being incurred in getting it to such a position.

176. Entrenching Tools.

1. The entrenching tools of a battalion are carried on two tool carts and on eight pack animals ( i.e. , one per company).

A brigade reserve of entrenching tools is carried on one G.S. wagon.

2. On the march, the pack animals carrying the tools will be with those carrying the ammunition, i.e. , one in rear of each company.

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3. In action, the pack animal carrying the tools will keep as close to its company as the enemy’s fire will admit, but the driver must use his discretion in doing so; for instance, on bare open country it will seldom be advisable to advance the animals close to the firing line, whereas when advanced positions have been secured, it will usually be necessary to take tools at once up to the firing line, in order that the position may be strengthened against counter-attacks.

The tool carts will usually accompany the ammunition cart with the reserve, and will be under the serjeant-major, the tools, if necessary, being carried forward when required by men from the reserve.

The brigade reserve of tools will remain with the brigade ammunition reserve, and will be under the orders of the officer in charge of the latter.

ANNUAL COURSE OF TRAINING.

177. Description of Course.

1. The annual training of the soldier [9] will be conducted on systematic and progressive principles. Militia and volunteer battalions will, as far as circumstances permit, observe the spirit of these instructions.

2. At home it will commence on the 1st March, and terminate on the 31st October. At tropical or semi-tropical stations the course may be modified to suit climatic and other conditions; but these instructions will be observed as closely as possible.

3. The course will commence with company training, continue with battalion training, which will be followed by brigade and division training, and terminate with combined manœuvres of all arms.

4. Exercises in the field will as a rule be carried out in service conditions as regards equipment.

5. Musketry classification practices will be carried out as may be ordered by the general officer commanding; field practices will be carried out periodically throughout the course.

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178. Detail of the Course.

1. Company Training. —The first period of the annual training will be exclusively devoted to company training. During this period each company will be struck off all duties for 36 consecutive working days.

After a brief revision of elementary work the instruction of trained soldiers will for the most part consist of exercises in the field to practise subordinate leaders in the art of command and the handling of men in all service conditions.

Company training will invariably conclude with a practical inspection by the commanding officer.

2. Battalion Training. —As soon as the company training is completed, battalion training will commence, for which purpose each battalion, or portion of a battalion, will be struck off all duties, and be at the disposal of its commander for at least 18, and if possible 24, consecutive working days. The training will mainly consist of exercises in the field, including firing, marching, &c.

3. Brigade and Division Training and Manœuvres. —Brigade and division training and manœuvres will take place during the remaining months of the annual course, the time allotted to each being decided by the General Officer Commanding.

4. In carrying out the course it is open to General Officers Commanding, while conforming to the spirit of the above detail, to modify it to suit the circumstances of any particular [173] command. Thus in some cases it may be more convenient to strike off for training each company or battalion for three days during each week; or, at stations where brigade and division training and combined manœuvres cannot take place, more time may be allotted to company and battalion training respectively. It will, however, be exceptional for a battalion not to be trained annually with its own and other arms of the service.

5. During the furlough season every facility is to be given to well conducted men to visit their friends; but this period will be occupied by such officers and men as are present with the battalion in:—

179. Annual Course of Training of Auxiliary Forces.

1. The annual training of units will be carried out on the same systematic and progressive principles as have been laid down for the Regular Forces.

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2. It is not possible for the Auxiliary Forces in the limited time for training at their disposal to carry out the provisions of the annual course as laid down for the Regular Army, but the spirit of the instructions will be observed.

3. The annual training in camp will be confined to tactical exercises and fire discipline, &c., except in the case of the Militia, by whom drill may, in addition, in very exceptional circumstances be practised.

180. General rules for annual training.

1. All ranks to be instructed. —Every available officer, non-commissioned officer, and man, with the exception of private soldiers of more than fifteen years’ service, bandsmen, pioneers, and such as are exempted from the annual course of musketry, will be present, and will be relieved of all other duties. Leave or furlough will, on days of instruction, be granted only in very exceptional circumstances.

2. During the course the battalion should, if practicable, go into camp or bivouac in service conditions for four days; this may be done separately by companies if more convenient.

181. Company training.

1. Method of instruction. —The duty of the officer commanding the battalion is to supervise the training of the company and give company leaders the benefit of his experience, but he should not lay down the method to be employed in the training of companies. The training must be carried out by the officers of the company without undue interference on the part of superiors. It is only when the methods are manifestly wrong, and would work harm, that there should be interference.

Particular attention must be paid to the individual instruction of the soldier, and to the improvement of his capacity to think and act for himself. This can best be attained by explanation [175] previous to and during an exercise, and by repetition of the practice when necessary; it should be remembered, however, that the interest of the men is apt to flag if they are kept too long at one subject.

The basis of the whole system of training is careful individual instruction, and gradual progression from the simple to the more difficult.

During instruction in elementary principles companies should act alone, or against a marked enemy and the company commander should concentrate his attention on the individual instruction of his men; but in many of the advanced exercises an opposing body gives not only increased interest to the practice, but also makes it more instructive.

When companies act as opposing forces, each practice should be based on a definite supposition and object, a scheme should be drawn up and executed as far as is possible in conditions of actual warfare, and a mounted officer should be detailed to act as umpire.

The greatest attention must be paid to the development of section and squad command. The capable leading of smaller units is an important item of success in the attack.

During inclement weather, instruction will be given in the drill shed or barrack room by means of lectures, explanations, &c.

Each day’s work should be carefully prepared by company commanders, and short lectures of about 20 minutes on the exercises to be carried out, given to all ranks.

At the practice of outpost duties a broad distinction should be drawn between individual instruction and tactical training. During the former every private should be posted as sentry, the company should be exercised in the rudiments of outpost work, and the prescribed duties should be carried out without reference to the tactical situation, or the employment of the minimum number of men in the sentry line; the main body of the piquet may, in order to save time and give more practice [176] in sentry and patrol duty, be indicated by a flag. Daring tactical training outposts should be placed in accordance with a scheme, strictly in service conditions.

2. Examination by the commanding officer. —At the end of the course the officer commanding the battalion will devote one day to an examination of the company. The scheme for this day should be drawn up either under the direction of the general officer commanding, or by the commanding officer.

3. General officers commanding. —They will personally supervise the companies under training as much as possible, and when circumstances permit be present at the examination by the commanding officer.

4. Musketry course to be combined. —The field practices which can be combined with training, should be carried out as part of a tactical exercise.

In field practices in which the whole company fires at one time, the exercise may, in the first instance, be practised with blank ammunition, and afterwards be carried out with ball cartridge. During the exercise the manner in which the men take advantage of cover, and how they adapt the firing position to the irregularities of the ground, will be carefully watched by the company instructor.

5. Equipment for instruction. —The tents and tools authorised Equipment Regulations, Part I, S. X, “Camp Equipment and Intrenching Tools,” and the bridging stores laid down in Regulations for Engineer Services, will, in ordinary circumstances, be sufficient for the instruction. Should any increased issue be required, a special application will be made through the general officer commanding.

6. Returns. —To ensure that every man is accounted for, A.F. B 214 will be kept during the annual training and produced for the inspection of the general officer commanding, if he desires.

5. Night Operations. —On days when night operations are to be carried out the work during the day should be of a light nature, although not suspended altogether.

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Night outposts should be practised on four occasions at least.

6. Intrenched posts, &c. —Arrangements will, whenever possible, be made by general officers commanding for a post to be placed in a state of defence in order that the defences and obstacles mentioned in para. 8 (vii) may be shown to the men. They should occasionally place the services of an officer of the Royal Engineers at the disposal of company commanders to give technical advice on the entrenchments and field work executed by the company.

7. Blank ammunition. —Blank ammunition will be used in practising the more advanced exercises.

8. Syllabus of Instruction. —The Syllabus of Instruction is given as a guide; the captain being held responsible that his company is thoroughly instructed. To ensure this it may be necessary to repeat many, and combine some of the practices.

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182. Battalion Training.

1. Method of instruction —

The training of the battalion will be carried out on the principles that have been laid down for the company.

SPECIAL TRAINING OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

183. Method of Instruction.

The non-commissioned officers of companies, and privates likely to become non-commissioned officers, will be instructed by the officers of the company in the following subjects. The value of the instruction given to non-commissioned officers, and their knowledge in map reading, &c., will be tested by general and commanding officers.

1. Subjects —

2. Method of instruction —

The training in the subjects enumerated in para. 1 will be carried out partly by lectures, but chiefly in the field. The following points may be mentioned to show the line which should be adopted in carrying out the instruction.

(i) Map reading. —Having received theoretical instruction in this subject, non-commissioned officers should be shown how to [180] fix their position on a map, how to identify places by means of it, and how to use it in a strange country. They should next be assembled at a point in the vicinity of the station; each provided with a map, and directed to meet the officer at some other point at a given hour, to move by a different road, and to march at a given rate.

(ii) Outposts. —By small outpost schemes, when the non-commissioned officers’ knowledge of the subjects should be tested by questions as to the positions they would suggest for the various portions of the outposts.

(iii) Reconnaissance. —By sending the non-commissioned officers out from an imaginary outpost line as commanders of patrols and directing them to furnish short reports.

CEREMONIAL.

184. General Rules.

1. Except when it may be necessary to line the streets for ceremonies, the instructions given in this Part are to be confined exclusively to the occasions mentioned.

2. Formation of companies. —Companies will fall in in line, be equalized and sized from flanks to centre, numbered from right to left, and told off into half companies and sections. Squad commanders will be in the ranks. The commanders of the outer sections will be on the flanks of the front rank; they will carry out the duties laid down in Part II for squad commanders in a similar position, and will dress the company if required; they will fix bayonets when the men do. In other respects the instructions in Parts II and III are applicable to the formation of companies, and to the position of supernumeraries. Signallers and pioneers will remain in the supernumerary rank of their companies. When a non-commissioned officer is in command of a company, he will, in marching past in column, or column of double companies, take post three paces in rear of the centre of the company.

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3. Posts of mounted officers. —In line, the commanding officer will place himself twenty paces in front of the centre of the line.

The second in command will be on the right, and the adjutant on the left of the line of company commanders.

A third field officer, if present, will be on the right of the adjutant.

In column or quarter column the mounted officers will be in the same positions as in Part III, with the exception that the adjutant will be four paces from the centre of the directing flank of the rear half-battalion.

When a column or quarter column is on the move, the second in command will place himself in a position from which he can best superintend the direction of the advance and the covering of the section commanders on the directing flanks.

4. Posts of other officers. —The position of the other officers is as detailed in Parts II and III, except that in marching past in quarter column, in line of quarter columns, or in mass, the company commanders will, when on the saluting base, take post on the directing flank of their companies, covered by the section commander (aligned with the rear rank).

5. The Colour party. —In line the Colours, each carried by an officer (as directed in the King’s Regulations), will be placed between the two centre companies; the King’s Colour on the right, the Regimental Colour on the left, with a serjeant between them and two non-commissioned officers or selected privates, covering them in line with the rear rank. The officer carrying the King’s Colour will command the party.

If the line is ordered to retire the Colour party will turn about, and the centre serjeant, stepping forward two paces, will align himself with the rear rank.

In column or quarter column, the Colour party will be in rear of the leading centre company, its front rank aligned with the supernumerary rank covering the fourth, fifth, and sixth files from the directing flank.

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In quarter column, as above, but the two non-commissioned officers in the rear rank will move up respectively on the right and left of the Colours.

In column of double companies the Colour party will be in rear of the centre of the second double company.

6. Posts of staff officers, &c. —Posts of staff officers and staff serjeants, band and drams (or bugles), machine gun, regimental transport and stretcher bearers and cyclists, when present, are shown in Plates IX and X.

7. Officers’ swords, when to be drawn and returned. —On ceremonial parades, officers will draw their swords as they fall in; the commander of a parade will not draw his sword unless a senior officer be present on parade. Swords will be at the Carry when colours are at the Carry , S. 189 , on other occasions they will be at the Slope .

8. Marking points and markers. —Flags or posts may be set up to mark the line on which troops are to form, or the line may be picked out, or marked by whitewash.

The section commanders of the inner sections of a company are available to act as markers, and one or both may be employed, if desired. The words ON MARKERS should precede the command given when it is required to dress on markers. Markers in giving points should turn towards the point of formation at arm’s length in front of the alignment, with arms at the slope on the shoulder furthest from the alignment. When the men approach they will extend their inner arm at right angles to the body with the fist clenched, on which the line will dress. When the dressing is completed markers will resume their positions on the command STEADY .

185. Sizing a Company.

Companies will be sized in the following manner.

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186. A Company in line saluting. [10]

Arms will then be ordered and bayonets unfixed.

187. A Company marching past.

For this practice the company will be formed as a company in line; arms will be at the Order .

Four points, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 (Plate VIII), will be placed marking the angles of an oblong, of which the long sides will be one hundred paces in length, and the short sides forty.

The company will be in the centre of one of the long sides; the side opposite to the saluting base.

A point, termed the saluting point, will be placed ten paces outside the centre of the saluting base, turned towards the company; and a point, lettered “A,” turned in like manner, on the saluting base, at ten paces to the left of the saluting point. As a rule all these points should be marked by camp colours.

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PLATE VIII.

A Company Marching Past.

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Officers will never salute more than once in marching past, except when practising the salute.

The company, if required to resume its position on the original alignment, will be moved there from the second or third point in any convenient formation.

Reviews.

188. Formations to be practised.

Battalions that do not execute the formations for savage warfare will, before taking part in reviews, practise forming line from quarter column, S. 109 (1), quarter column from line, S. 112 (1), also advancing in line, S. 110 .

189. The Colours.

1. On all ceremonial parades the following rules as to the carrying of Colours will be observed. When at the halt, Colours will never be sloped; they will be carried at the Carry or the Order , according as the troops are at the Slope or the Order .

When on the move Colours will always be carried at the Slope , except when on the saluting base, when advancing in review order, and when marching in slow time down the ranks whilst trooping the Colour, they will then be at the Carry .

At the Carry the Colour staff will be carried perpendicularly in the belt, which will be worn over the left shoulder; the corner of the Colour will be held in the right hand, which will also grasp the staff level with the forehead.

When at the Order the Colours will then be placed perpendicularly on the ground at the right side.

2. The Colours will be let fly:—

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The Colours will be lowered:—

3. Mounted officers, with swords drawn, in passing uncased Colours, will remain at the Carry , turning the head, and glancing towards the Colours until they have passed them. If at the Slope they will Carry while passing the Colours, returning afterwards to the Slope . Officers whose swords are not drawn will salute the Colours with the right hand. Cased Colours will not be saluted.

190. Review of a battalion.

1. Formation. —The battalion will be drawn up in line as in Plate IX; bayonets will be fixed and arms sloped.

When the colonel of the regiment is present he will be ten paces in front of the officer commanding the battalion. Should the colonel-in-chief be also present, he will be ten paces in front of the former.

2. Receiving the reviewing officer.

[190]

PLATE IX.

A Battalion in Line.

[191]

A Battalion in Column.

[192]

3. Receiving the Sovereign, or a Royal Personage.

4. Inspection in line.

The reviewing officer, accompanied by the commanding officer of the battalion, who will ride on the side further from the troops, will then pass down the line from right to left, returning along the rear, the men standing with sloped arms.

The band will play a march until he returns to the right of the line.

The reviewing officer will then give orders for the march past.

5. Inspection in column. ( Plate X. )

When a battalion is reviewed in column, the reviewing officer will be received as in S. 190 (2) or (3); he will then inspect the companys in column, each company commander receiving him with a salute, and following him during the inspection of his company, the men standing with sloped arms and bayonets fixed. After the inspection of the company, the commander will unfix bayonets and stand at ease.

191. Battalion marching past.

1. Points will be placed on the principles described in S. 187 ; the points marking the saluting base will be covered in a line at a convenient distance from the saluting point.

2. In Column. —Bayonets having been fixed, and quarter column by the right having been formed on No. 1, the battalion will move to the right in fours; on reaching the first point it will wheel a quarter circle to the left, moving on as [193] soon as the change is completed; it will be halted and turned to the left on the saluting base by the commanding officer. The right section commanders will turn about and be covered by the adjutant, and on the commanding officer’s order BATTALION, RIGHT—DRESS , they will dress their companies, and give the word Eyes—Front .

3. In quarter column. —If the battalion be required to march past in quarter column, the leading company will be halted when it has moved to forty-five paces beyond the third point. Quarter column will be formed by order of the second in command, who will superintend the covering.

The column will change ranks, order arms, and on the command LEFT DRESS , the directing section commanders will step back two paces, aligning themselves with the rear rank, and the company commanders will take post on the left of the front rank, and the companies will dress by the left.

The battalion will then be ordered to slope arms and march past in quarter column. The commanding officer will give the word EYES—LEFT when at ten paces from the saluting point, and EYES—FRONT when the rear company has passed the inspecting officer. Company commanders will not look to the left.

If required to resume its position on the original alignment, the battalion will be moved there from the second or third point in the most convenient and quickest formation. As the battalion moves off the saluting base, company commanders and section commanders will resume their respective posts in quarter column.

4. Mounted Officers. —When marching past the inspecting [194] officer, the Commanding officer will be ten paces in front of the centre section of the leading company nearer the saluting base, the second in command in front of the other centre section in line with the commanding officer. If the colonel of the regiment be present he will be twenty paces in front of the centre of the leading company. Should the colonel-in-chief be also present, he will be ten paces in front of the colonel. The adjutant will follow ten paces behind the centre of the rear company, if a third field officer is present he will be ten paces behind the second section of the rear company, and the adjutant ten paces in rear of the third section. All mounted officers will commence their salute when they arrive at point “A.” The commanding officer, after he has saluted, will move out and place himself on the right of the inspecting officer, and remain there till the battalion has passed; the second in command assuming command.

5. Mounted officers salute in marching past. —The salute will be performed in four slow motions as follows:—

First: Carry the sword direct to the right to the full extent of the arm, hand as high as the shoulder, back of the hand to the rear, blade perpendicular.

Second: Bring the sword by a circular motion to the Recover , keeping the elbow as high as the shoulder.

Third: Still keeping the elbow the height of the shoulder, bring the hilt to the right shoulder, hand as high as the elbow; during this motion let the finger nails come in line with the edge of the sword.

Fourth: Lower the sword to the front to the full extent of the arm, the blade in line with the knee, edge to the left, thumb extended in the direction of the point, hand directly under the shoulder.

The above four motions should be gradually and slowly combined into one easy movement.

The head should be turned well towards the reviewing officer whilst passing him, and ten paces beyond that officer, the sword [195] is Recovered , carrying it well to the front in doing so, and then brought to the Carry .

When the sword is at the Carry , the position is with the hilt resting on the right thigh, the blade perpendicular, the wrist rounded so as to incline the edge slightly to the left, the grasp of the lower fingers slightly relaxed, the little finger in rear of the hilt.

6. Officers to salute once only. —Officers, whether mounted or dismounted, will salute only on the first occasion of marching past; mounted officers only will salute when marching past in quarter column.

7. Battalion staff officers. —The staff officers, excepting the adjutant, do not march past, and will place themselves in rear of the saluting point; but the assistant adjutant will march past with the company to which he belongs.

8. Warrant officers and staff serjeants. —The serjeant-major will be two paces in column, and one pace in quarter column, in rear of the centre of the colour party; the staff serjeants will not be required to march past. The bandmaster and serjeant drummer (carrying his staff at the Trail , as he passes the saluting point), will salute with the outer hand on the first occasion of marching past.

9. Drums and band. —For marching past, the band and drums (or bugles) will move up to fifty paces in advance of the leading company, both formed in two or more ranks. The band will commence playing as soon as the leading company advances on the saluting base. When it arrives in front of the saluting point it will turn to the left, change direction to the right, and halt and turn to the right opposite to the saluting point, continuing to play until the rear of the battalion has passed. The band master will face the saluting point.

10. In marching past signallers, who will be in the supernumerary rank of their companies, will carry their flags at the Trail and their rifles slung.

11. Machine guns, cyclist sections, and stretcher bearers will [196] march past five paces in rear of the battalion. Cyclist section nearest the saluting base and on foot on the left of their cycles. Machine guns in the centre, stretcher bearers on the outer flank. Should there be more than one section, cyclists will march past in column of sections ten paces behind the machine guns, &c.

12. Regimental transport. —Will march past twenty paces in rear of the battalion, carts nearest the saluting base, mules in centre, transport wagons on the outer flank.

192. A battalion advancing in review order.

If required, the battalion will be formed in line with bayonets fixed and arms sloped, and on the command ADVANCE IN REVIEW ORDER, QUICK—MARCH , it will advance by the centre, the band and drums playing till within thirty paces of the inspecting officer, when it will be halted and ordered to salute in the same manner as when receiving him; after which it will be directed to order arms, and will wait for orders (see also S.] 189 ).

193. Review of a Brigade.

1. Formation. —The brigade may be formed with battalions in line at any ordered interval, and proceed in the same manner as a single battalion, or, in line of quarter columns, as in Plate XI, at any ordered interval with bayonets fixed.

2. Receiving the reviewing officer in line of quarter columns. —

The brigadier will place himself forty paces in front of the centre of his brigade; the brigade staff will be ten paces in rear of the brigadier, the brigade major ten paces on the right, the A.D.C. or orderly officer ten paces on the left.

As the reviewing officer approaches, the infantry will slope arms, and he will be saluted, the men presenting arms the officers saluting, Colours flying, and the bands playing. After the salute the infantry will be ordered to slope arms, and the inspecting officer will go down the line, accompanied by the brigadier on his outer hand.

3. Inspection of a Brigade in line.

When troops are drawn up in line for review by an officer superior to the brigadier, after the salute has been given, the brigadier, accompanied by his staff, will post himself on that flank of his command to which the inspecting officer repairs; he will receive him and accompany him to the limit of his command; the brigade staff, while passing down the line, will precede the brigadier by two horses’ length.

4. Drums and band.

When drums and bands are massed they will each be in four ranks.

[198]

PLATE XI.

Review of a Brigade.

[199]

194. A Brigade marching past.

1. Points will be placed on the principles prescribed for a battalion, and the brigade will march past as the general officer commanding may direct.

Each battalion in succession, when it reaches the first point, will wheel to the left at the double by order of its commander, moving forward and changing the time when it has advanced sufficiently not to check the battalion in rear; when the leading battalion reaches the saluting base, it will be halted, turned to the left, and dressed by the right. The remaining battalions will form mass in rear of the leading battalion, moving by the shortest lines.

The march past will be performed on the principles described in S. 191 (2).

2. In double companies. —When a brigade drawn up in line of quarter columns is to march past in double companies, the following method will be adopted:—The battalions will move to the right in fours, and wheel to the left at the double, in succession, as they reach the first point, receiving the word FORWARD followed by QUICK—MARCH , when that pace will not check the battalion in rear. When about half way to the second point, the first battalion will form double companies, thus:—The commanding officer having given the command QUARTER COLUMN OF DOUBLE COMPANIES, LEFT COMPANIES, MARK TIME, LEFT—INCLINE , the left companies will mark time, and the right companies will close when clear to quarter column on No. 1, the left companies receiving the word Forward, Right—Incline from their commanders so as to join the right. The remaining battalions having formed double companies will move into mass.

[200]

Each battalion will march past as directed for a battalion in column, the word of command to each double company being given by the company commander on the right. The double companies will march off at company distance.

When the rear double company is twenty-five paces beyond the saluting point the second in command will give the words LEFT COMPANIES, MARK—TIME, RIGHT—INCLINE, DOUBLE , the officers commanding those companies giving Left Incline, Quick—March By the Right , when in column. The column will then be closed on the march to quarter column; and the brigade will be closed to mass on the leading battalion, which will have changed ranks, ordered arms and dressed; each of the remaining battalions will act in like manner. If the brigade is to return in mass, sufficient distance will be allowed for the rear company of the rear battalion to reach the third point.

In mass of quarter columns. —If required, the brigade may then return in mass.

When marching past in column or in column of double companies, or in mass, thirty paces’ distance will be preserved between battalions, &c., such distance to be reckoned from the last item of a preceding battalion to the head of the commanding officer’s horse of a following one.

In line of quarter columns. —The brigade may be formed into line of quarter columns, with intervals of eight paces between battalions, as follows: The leading battalion will advance till its rear company reaches the required point on the saluting base, it will then be ordered to halt, change ranks, order arms, and dress. As the rear of each succeeding battalion arrives at twenty-five paces beyond the saluting point, it will be moved by the diagonal march to its position on the outer flank of the leading battalion in the new alignment.

Great care must be taken that the line of quarter columns is dressed exactly at right angles to the saluting base before moving off; the commanders of companies of the outer battalions [201] looking inwards and dressing on the corresponding companies of the battalion nearest the saluting base.

In a brigade composed of battalions with an unequal number of companies, the rear companies and Colour parties of the weaker battalions are to be aligned with the rear companies and Colour parties of the stronger.

Commanding officers will be ten paces in front of the centre of their leading companies, all other mounted officers ten paces in rear of their respective battalions, the whole dressing by the directing flank.

In this march past the brigadier will give the executive word to move off, i.e. , BRIGADE, BY THE—, QUICK—MARCH .

3. Supply column, field hospital and bearer company will not march past in mass or line of quarter columns.

4. Brigadiers, staffs &c. —When a brigade marches past an inspecting officer superior to the brigadier, the latter officer (accompanied by his aide-de-camp or orderly officer) will fall out after saluting, and will place himself on the right of the inspecting officer.

The brigadier will be twenty paces in front of the mounted officers of the leading battalion, or in line of quarter columns in front of the centre of the brigade, preceded at a distance of ten paces by his staff, who will be in line; ten paces apart, the brigade major next the saluting base.

5. Drums and bands, &c. —Before marching past, the massed drums and bands will move to the head of the brigade.

When marching past in column, or in column of double companies, the massed drums and bands preceding the brigade staff will, on arriving in front of the saluting point, form opposite to it, and play till the rear of the brigade has passed. They must be moved off at such a distance in front of the brigade staff as will allow of their clearing the front when opposite the saluting point, without checking the mounted officers following them.

[202]

When marching past in mass, the massed drums and bands will advance on the outer flank of the mass parallel with the leading company, halting opposite the saluting point; they will play the mass past, and move on again opposite the centre of the rear battalion. The wagons and machine guns will be massed twenty paces in rear of the rear battalion, machine guns nearer the saluting base. Mules, cyclists, and stretcher bearers will not be massed.

When marching past in line of quarter columns, the massed drums and bands will be in front of the centre of the brigade, preceding the brigade staff by ten paces. In marching past in this formation, drums and bands will move straight on, the bands ceasing to play when the rear of the brigade has passed the saluting point. The machine guns will be massed twenty paces in rear of the battalion nearest the saluting base. Wagons, mules, cyclist and stretcher bearers will not be massed.

195. A brigade advancing in review order.

If required to advance in review order by the inspecting officer, battalions may be formed in line of quarter columns at any interval, arms at the Slope , and the officers and Colours in front, as described in S. 193 (2).

The line of quarter columns will then advance, the bands and drums playing, and when at a convenient distance from the reviewing officer it will be halted and ordered to salute, after which it will be directed to order arms, and will wait for orders.

Supply columns, field hospitals, and bearer-companies will not advance in review order.

196. Review of a division.

1. Formation. —A division may be formed up for review as in Plate XII, and proceed as described in S. 193 .

[203]

PLATE XII.

Review of a Division.

[204]

2. Position of the general, the staff, &c. —The general will be in front of the centre of his division, thirty paces from the brigadiers; the brigadiers being posted as in S. 193 (2); and officers commanding artillery and engineers at similar distances in front of their commands; the divisional staff will be drawn up in three lines, ten paces in rear of the general officer commanding the division, distances and intervals ten paces, thus:—

G.O.C.
A.D.C.

D.A.A. and        OFFICER,

Q.M.G.       GENERAL STAFF.

3. When the reviewing officer moves to the right of the line, the divisional general, accompanied by his staff, will act as in S. 193 (3), brigadiers will remain in position in front of their brigades.

4. The bands of the division should be massed in rear of its centre to play a Royal or other salute, and then resume their position in rear of their respective brigades as soon as the Royal Personage or reviewing officer moves to the right of the line.

5. The order of march of the staff when passing down the line will be as follows, the distances and intervals being ten paces:—

A.D.C.

D.A.A. and        OFFICER,

Q.M.G.       GENERAL STAFF.

G.O.C.

197. A division marching past.

1. A division will march past as the general officer commanding may direct, and on the principles laid down for a brigade.

2. Generals, Brigadiers, &c. —When a division marches past, the general of the division only will move to the saluting point, accompanied by his senior staff officer.

[205]

3. Position of Staff. —The general and staff will march past thirty paces in front of the commander (or staff) of the leading unit in the following order, distances and intervals ten paces:—

A.D.C.

OFFICER,      D.A.A. and

GENERAL STAFF.      Q.M.G.

G.O.C.

No officers other than the above will join the divisional staff.

4. Distances will be as follows, or as the general officer commanding may direct:—When marching past in column, column of double companies, or mass, sixty paces will be preserved between arms and brigades. When in line of quarter columns, there will be one hundred and fifty paces between brigades; the other arms will march past in column only.

5. The bands of the leading brigade will commence playing as the brigade moves off, those of succeeding brigades as soon as the band of the brigade in front of them ceases to play.

198. Review of any larger body of troops than a division.

1. Formation. —The troops will be formed up for review as in Plate XIII, or as the general officer commanding may direct.

2. Position of Generals and Staffs. —Officers commanding infantry brigades, &c., with their respective staffs, will be posted as in S. 193 (2); general officers commanding divisions, with their staffs, will take post as laid down in S. 196 (2).

The general officer commanding will be in front of the centre of the line, fifty paces from general officers commanding divisions; the staff will be drawn up in two lines, ten paces in rear of the general officer commanding, at intervals of ten paces, ten paces being preserved between lines, thus—

G.O.C.

G.O. IN CHARGE OF ADMINISTRATION.

A.D.C.  OFFICER,  A.M.S.  OFFICER,  A.D.C.

GENERAL STAFF. GENERAL STAFF.

A.Q.M.G. D.A.A. and Q.M.G. A.A.G.

[206]

No other officers will join the staff; officers attached to the staff will form up behind the saluting flag, or at any other convenient point.

PLATE XIII.

Review of any Larger Body of Troops than a Division.

[207]

3. Bands will be massed in rear of the centre to play a Royal or other salute, and resume their positions in rear of their respective divisions as soon as the Royal personage, or reviewing officer, moves to the right of the line.

4. When the inspecting officer moves to the right of the line the general officer commanding, accompanied by his staff, will act as in S. 196 (3); general officers commanding divisions and brigades will remain in position in front of their commands.

5. Order of march when passing down the line. —The order of march when passing down the line will be as follows, distances and intervals, as in (2):—

D.A.A. and Q.M.G.

A.Q.M.G.            A.A.G.

G.O. IN CHARGE OF ADMINISTRATION.

A.D.C.     A.M.S.     A.D.C.

OFFICER,           OFFICER,

GENERAL STAFF.         GENERAL STAFF.

G.O.C.

199. A larger body of troops than a Division marching past.

1. The troops will march past on the principles laid down for the division, and in such order as the general officer commanding may direct. Distances, one hundred paces between corps troops and divisions when in column or mass, two hundred paces between divisions when in line of quarter columns. Corps [11] troops will march past in column only.

2. The general officer commanding and his staff will march [208] past at the head of the corps troops, thirty paces in front of the commander (or staff) of the leading unit, as laid down in S. 198 (5).

3. The general officer commanding will move out to the saluting point accompanied by his administrative general. General officers commanding divisions or brigades will not fall out.

200. Royal Review.

Order of March.

1. Detachment of Household or other cavalry, preceded by a staff officer.

2. The Sovereign’s led horses.

3. Aides-de-camp to the Inspector-General to the Forces.

4. Aides-de-camp to Princes of the Blood.

5. Equerries in waiting to Princes of the Blood.

6. Aides-de-camp to the Sovereign.

7. Equerries in waiting to the Sovereign.

8. Adjutant-general, quartermaster-general, master-general of the Ordnance.

9. Chief of the general staff.

10. Inspector-General to the Forces.

11. The Sovereign.

12. Princes of the Blood.

13. Gold Stick in waiting, Master of the Horse (if present).

14. Foreign general officers and Military Attaches of Foreign Powers.

15. General officers and colonels, in successive order according to rank and seniority.

16. Equerries and attendants upon Foreign Princes.

17. Staff officers of general officers present.

18. Royal carriages.

19. Detachment of cavalry.

[209]

GUARDS.

201. General Rules.

1. When guards turn out they will fall in with sloped arms, When the guard is commanded by an officer, he will be three paces in front of the centre of guard, other officers will take post as in line; when by a non-commissioned officer, he will fall in on the right of the guard.

2. The officer carrying the Colour, when present, will march in the centre of the guard.

Guards, including reliefs, rounds and patrols, will march with sloped arms and bayonets fixed. In wet weather arms will be carried at the Secure . Sentries are to patrol with arms at the Slope .

3. Guards will not turn out after retreat or before reveille, except at tattoo, on the approach of a body of troops, in cases of alarm, or to receive grand or visiting rounds, nor will they during this period pay any compliments, except to grand rounds, to whom they will present arms.

4. Sentries will not present arms to any officer or armed party (except grand rounds) after sunset; but as long as they can discern an officer, they will come to their front on his approach, and stand steady with the rifle at the slope till he has passed.

5. Sentries in their sentry boxes will salute by coming smartly to attention.

6. The honours and salutes paid by guards and sentries are detailed in the King’s Regulations.

Parties marching with arms at the secure, and parties with side arms, will pay and return compliments as unarmed parties.

7. All guards will turn out at the commencement of Reveille , Retreat , and Tattoo sounding, the commanders will then carefully inspect them for further instructions, see K.R. 259–272 .

[210]

202. Relieving or posting a guard.

1. When the ground admits, a new guard will advance in line towards the front of the old guard, and will be drawn up when possible fifteen paces in front, or when not possible, six paces from the left of the old guard.

2. As soon as this is completed, the old guard will present arms, and the new guard will return the salute.

3. Both guards will in like successive manner slope arms, order arms, and stand at ease.

4. The guard will then be told off and the first relief sent out. When the first relief of a new guard is sent out, a corporal belonging to the old guard will accompany it, to bring in the relieved sentries. If the relief moves in line, he will be on the left flank, if in file (or as in file) he will be at the head of the front rank of files (or rank). As soon as all the sentries are relieved, the two corporals will change places, and the corporal of the old guard will assume command. While the relief is marching round, the commander will take over the property in charge of the guard according to the list in the old guard report.

5. When the reliefs have returned, and all the men of the old guard have fallen in, both guards will be called to attention, and ordered to slope arms,

6. The old guard will then move off in fours or file the new guard presenting arms.

7. When the old guard is clear of the ground, the new guard will slope arms, and if not already there, will move on to the same alignment occupied by the old guard. Arms will then be ordered, and the commander of the guard will read and explain the orders of the guard to his men; these orders will also be read and explained to the men forming the first relief when they come off sentry. The men of the guard will then be dismissed to the guard room.

203. Relieving and posting sentries, and marching reliefs.

1. On the approach of the relief, the sentry, with rifle at the [211] Slope , will place himself in front of the sentry box. The corporal of the relief will proceed as follows:—

The new sentry will then move out from the relief and fall in on the left of the old sentry, facing in the same direction; the old sentry will then give over his orders, the corporal seeing they are correctly given and understood.

2. When a sentry who is to be posted on a new post has reached the post assigned to him, he will be ordered to halt and face in required direction. The corporal will then read and explain the orders to him.

3. The object for which he is posted, the front of his post, and the extent of his beat, will be clearly pointed out to a sentry when first posted.

Sentries must not quit their arms, lounge or converse with anyone on any pretence, nor may they stand in their sentry boxes in good, or even in moderate weather.

Sentries moving about on their post will always turn outwards when turning about.

4. Marching Reliefs. —Reliefs of fewer than four men will be formed in single rank, when of four men, or upwards, they will be formed into two ranks. (In streets, or narrow places, reliefs should always be marched in single rank.) When marching in line, the corporal will be on the right; when in file (or as in file) he will be on the right of the rear file (or man).

204. Sentries challenging.

1. When it becomes dark the sentries will challenge in the following manner: On the approach of a person the sentry [212] will call out in a sharp tone, Halt. Who comes there? when on a post where a sudden rush could be made upon him, he will at once come to the “ Engage ,” [12] but without drawing back the right foot, if the person approaching gives a satisfactory reply, the sentry will say Pass friend; All’s well , remaining at the Engage till he has passed. If the person approaching answers GRAND ( or VISITING ) ROUNDS , the sentry, if there is no countersign, will say Pass grand (or visiting ) rounds: All’s well ; presenting arms as they pass if they are grand rounds. But if there is a countersign he will say Stand grand (or visiting ) rounds: Advance one and give the countersign , at the same time coming down to the Engage . In this position he will receive the countersign; and if it is correct will say Pass grand (or visiting ) rounds; All’s well ; and proceed as above described.

2. If the sentry is on or near the guard-room door, he will proceed as in 205 .

205. Guards turning out at night.

The following form will be observed when a guard is visited by the field officer or captain of the day, termed grand or visiting rounds:—

On their approach the sentry at or near the guard-room door will challenge: Halt; who comes there? The officer will reply, GRAND ( or VISITING ) ROUNDS ; the sentry will then call: Guard—turn out . The guard will fall in with bayonets fixed and arms sloped, and, if there is no countersign, the commander will call out: Advance, grand (or visiting ) rounds; All’s well ; to grand rounds he will present; to visiting rounds he will remain at the slope.

If there is a countersign to be given, a corporal or serjeant with a flank file of the guard will double out, and when about [213] ten paces from the rounds will order the file to halt; bring them to the Engage , and will then repeat the challenge: Who comes there? The reply will again be, GRAND ( or VISITING ) ROUNDS ; the non-commissioned officer calling: Stand, grand (or visiting ) rounds. Advance one and give the countersign. Rounds will then in a low voice give the countersign, which the non-commissioned officer alone will carry, in double time, for verification to the commander of the guard. If correct the commander of the guard will call out, Advance, grand (or visiting ) rounds. All’s well . The file will then double back to the guard, and rounds will advance to the guard, which will present arms to grand rounds.

206. Guards of Honour.

Whenever a guard of honour forms up the commander will be three paces in front of the second file from the right, or, in a confined space, from the flank by which the personage for whom the guard is mounted will approach, the officer carrying the Colour three paces in front of the centre; if there is a third officer he will be three paces in front of the second file from the other flank. When the guard is inspected, the commander will invariably accompany the personage for whom it is mounted, walking next to him round the ranks.

207. Trooping the Colour.

1. At the hour appointed for this ceremony, points will be placed for marching past, and the guards composed of companies of the necessary number and strength, formed into line facing the saluting base, with unfixed bayonets, by the adjutant of the day.

2. The senior serjeant with each guard will take command of it, posted on the right of the front rank. The Colour will be placed at a distance of about two guards in front of the left of the line, in charge of a serjeant and a double sentry. The beat [214] of these sentries will be at right angles to the line, with their front inwards; they will be posted at three paces right and left of the Colour, and act with the men in the line. The serjeant and sentries will be taken from the right guard, and the latter will be its right file. The sentries turn outwards at three paces from the Colour and inwards at ten paces from it, working together, the time being taken from the front rank man of the file, who will be on the right. They resume their places with the right guard, while it is forming to the left after receiving the Colour, as will be described hereafter.

3. The band will be formed in front of the right of the line, facing the Colour. The drums will be drawn up in front of the Colour, turned towards the band.

4. The adjutant will order the guards to slope arms, and the duties will be handed over by him to the brigade major. The adjutant will then take post on the left of the line.

5. The brigade major will take command, and, after inspecting the guards, will give the words ORDER ARMS and STAND AT EASE .

6. The drums will beat the assembly, marching across the parade; they will march through the intervals of the band, countermarch, and halt in rear of it.

7. As the assembly commences, the officers for duty will fall in three paces in front of the serjeants, and about three paces from each other, with carried swords. The brigade major will then deliver the parole and countersign to the commanders of guards, and point out the guards they are respectively to command.

8. When sufficient officers are present for duty, there should be a captain and lieutenant, besides the lieutenant to carry the Colour, with the right guard, which will form the escort to receive the Colour. When there are not sufficient officers, the captain and lieutenant for the Colour only will be with the right guard; and the lieutenant commanding the second guard will take command of the escort when it goes for the Colour, moving in front of the centre of the first guard. The other officers will be distributed among the remaining guards; and the captain or other officer commanding a guard will be three paces in front of the second file from the right; the lieutenant to carry the Colour three paces in front of the centre; if another lieutenant be present, he will be in a similar position in front of the left.

9. The brigade major having called the guards to attention, will order them to fix bayonets, slope arms. He will then hand the detail of duties over to the field officer of the day, who will take the command of the parade, and proceed as follows:—

The field officer will take post fifteen paces in front of the centre of the line, give the command ORDER—ARMS , and signal to the band.

10. The band and drums will play a Troop , marching in time to the music from the right to the left of the line. On arriving near the Colour they will countermarch, halt, and cease playing. They will then play a Quick March , and move from left to right, countermarch, halt, and cease playing when in front of the right of the line.

11. The Drummer’s Call will beat. On the first tap of the call the captain and lieutenant of the right guard will recover swords and turn inwards, and will move across in quick time; the captain placing himself three paces in front of the right file of the second guard, the lieutenant three paces in front of the lieutenant for the Colour, who will be three paces in front of the centre of the escort.

If there are only two officers with the right guard the escort will be commanded by the subaltern from the second guard. [217] The band and drums will be placed in front of the right guard, and the serjeant-major will fall in four paces in rear of the centre file of the escort, and draw his sword.

12. The field officer will then give the command, escort for the Colour, slope—arms. remainder, stand at—ease ; the sentries on the Colour remaining with ordered arms.

The escort will be halted at rather more than forming distance from the Colour.

The band and drums, when near the Colour, will change direction to the left, clear the escort, cease playing, halt, and turn about.

The guards will be called to attention and ordered to slope arms by the field officer.

13. The serjeant-major will advance by the left flank to the front, receive the Colour, and return towards the escort. The lieutenant for the Colour will at the same time move out, four paces in front of the commander of the escort, passing by his right, and, having saluted the Colour as the serjeant-major brings it up to him, and then returned his sword, will receive the Colour, place it in his belt, and turn about. The escort will be ordered to present arms, the serjeant-major saluting, the serjeants on the flanks of the escort turning outwards, and coming to the Port , but without opening the breach of the rifle, and the sentries presenting arms. The band and drums will play “God save the King” when the King’s Colour is being trooped, or the first part of a Troop if the Regimental Colour.

15. When the band and drums approach the left of the line they will wheel to the left, and move in front of the officers commanding guards.

The band and drums will, if necessary, mark time until the escort reaches them.

The commander of the escort will move along the front of the line of commanders of guards abreast of the second file from the right of the escort; the lieutenant carrying the Colour following him, abreast of the centre. The front rank of the escort will his between the ranks of the guards, and the rear rank between the rear and supernumerary ranks.

When the head of the escort arrives at the right of the line, the captain will take the place of the lieutenant, and move on [219] with the guard. The lieutenant will mark time when at his original post, and the lieutenant with the Colour will move on.

When the escort has cleared the line, the lieutenant will give the words, Halt, Left—Turn, Left—Dress , and take post three paces in front of the second file from the left of the escort. The captain will then give the words Present—Arms . The band and drums will cease playing before the escort halts, and will then form up on the right of the line.

17. The field officer will then order the guards to slope arms, and if a general officer is present the field officer will order a general salute.

18. After this, the officers will move to their places, the Colour will take post in rear of the fourth file from the left of the right guard, the serjeant-major placing himself in rear of it, and one serjeant on each side. Subalterns not commanding guards will take post three paces in rear of their guards.

19. The guards will then change ranks, form column, and change ranks again (the supernumeraries retaining their positions), and march past in quick time (or, if required, in slow time), with sloped arms, as a battalion in column, and then form into line on the original alignment.

20. One non-commissioned officer of each guard will then be called out by the brigade-major, and when they are covered in column by the serjeant-major, the order will be given FORM—GUARDS .

21. The guards having been formed, and the non-commissioned officers in command of guards having been given the countersign, the field officer will give the command:—

[220]

208. PRESENTATION OF COLOURS.

1. The battalion, except the Colour party, band and drums, will be drawn up in line.

The place for the Colour party will be preserved by three non-commissioned officers. The old Colours, with the serjeant and two coverers, S. 184 (5), of the Colour party and double sentries, will be in front of the left of the line, at right angles to it, and the band and drums placed as for trooping.

The lieutenants of the Colour party will be with the escort (the right company), which in this case will be commanded by a captain.

The new Colours, cased, will be in rear of the centre, in charge of two senior colour serjeants.

2. The old Colours will be trooped. On reaching the right of the line, the old Colours will take post in front of the escort, which will then advance about ten paces, form to the left, and in that order proceed to the left of the line, the band will follow, playing “Auld Lang Syne.” The escort will return to its place by the rear; the old Colours, cased, being left in rear of the battalion in charge of two colour serjeants.

The battalion will then form three sides of a square.

The drums will be piled in the centre; the new Colours will be brought up from the rear by the colour serjeants in charge, and placed against the pile of drums, one on each side, the King’s Colour on the right. The second in command and senior lieutenant will then take charge of the King’s Colour; the next senior officer and next senior lieutenant of the Regimental Colour. These officers will uncase the Colours and replace them against the drums.

3. The consecration will then proceed.

After the consecration, the second in command will hand the King’s Colour to the person presenting the Colours, from whom the senior lieutenant will receive it, sinking on the right knee; the Regimental Colour will in like manner be [221] handed by the next senior officer, and received back by the second senior lieutenant; both lieutenants will then rise.

4. Any address intended to be made will now follow. Line will then be reformed, the Colours, unfurled and turned towards the centre of the line, will be given a general salute. The Colour party will then march in slow time to its place in line, the band playing “God save the King.”

5. The battalion will march past, the old Colours following in rear of the column.

209. FIRING A FEU-DE-JOIE.

1. The troops will be drawn up in line, at the slope, officers at the Carry ; bayonets will not be fixed. The commander of the parade and his staff will be posted in front of the line, at such distance as he may decide, and turned towards it if desired; all other mounted officers will be in rear of the line. Three rounds of blank cartridge will be fired. If artillery are present and are ordered to fire twenty-one guns, seven will be fired before each round. For the first round of the Feu-de-Joie all commanding officers will give the command Load immediately the artillery commences firing, and the word Present directly the seventh gun has fired, the commanding officer of the right battalion giving the command Commence immediately after the word Present .

When the right-hand man of the rear rank has fired, the band will play the first part of “God save the King,” the men remaining at the Present . On the last note of the band the commanding officer will give the word of command Load , when the men will come to the loading position; the artillery will fire seven guns, and the infantry proceed as above described.

Two more rounds will be similarly fired. When the third round is fired, the band will play “God save the King,” at the conclusion of which the commanding officer will give the order Unload , when the men will carry out the motions, and come to the order, the Colours being brought to the order by command of the senior officer of the Colour party.

The mounted officers will then move to their positions as in SS. 184 , 193 (2), 196 , the company commanders will step back three paces and the commanding officer will give the following commands (on parades of large bodies working on the signal of the general of the division or brigadier):—

2. If a march past has been ordered to follow the firing of the Feu-de-joie, bayonets will not be unfixed.

[223]

210. FUNERALS.

For Rank and File.

The firing party, consisting of 1 serjeant, 1 corporal and 12 privates, will be drawn up two deep, one pace interval between files, facing the building where the body is placed. The corporal will be on the right of the front rank. The serjeant will give all words of command, and be posted in rear of the centre. Arms will be at the slope.

The pall-bearers will see that the flag, head-dress and side-arms are properly arranged on the coffin. The head-dress should be tied to the side-arms to prevent the former falling.

As the body is brought out the serjeant will give the command PRESENT—ARMS , and when the coffin has been placed on the gun-carriage, REVERSE—ARMS . RIGHT—TURN (the corporal will now take up his place two paces in front and midway between the ranks). SLOW—MARCH.

The mourners and band and drummers with drums muffled will have formed up in two ranks at two paces interval and eight paces from each other, facing inwards, through which the firing party will pass in the following order:—Firing party; band and drummers (moving in their proper formation as soon as the firing party has passed); body and bearers; chief mourners (if any); mourners. The latter will move in fours made up by two and two, front and rear rank, commencing on the inner flank.

The drums will play the “Dead March” when about 300 yards from the hospital, and continue for such a distance as the officer in charge may have ordered before marching off.

When the drums cease playing the firing party will break into “quick time,” the remainder conforming. Rifles will be carried at the trail, butt leading, sling uppermost. During the march arms may be changed, but the party will not be allowed to “march at ease.”

[224]

When at a convenient distance from the cemetery the party will break into “slow time,” the men will “reverse arms,” and the band will play.

When the head of the procession arrives near the ground where it is to meet the clergyman, the ranks will open out to six paces distance and the serjeant will give the command HALT . INWARDS—TURN (the ranks will face each other). REST ON YOUR ARMS—REVERSED. STAND AT EASE. (The whole working by the corporal, who will perform the exercise.)

The coffin will now be removed by the bearers and carried feet-end foremost, and placed on the right of the grave. The flag, head-dress and side-arms will then be removed and the coffin lowered.

The mourners will file round the grave, halt and turn inwards without word of command.

The firing party will follow the mourners, the serjeant giving the command ATTENTION. REVERSE—ARMS. RANKS, RIGHT AND LEFT—TURN. SLOW—MARCH. And on arriving near the grave HALT. LEFT—TURN. REST ON YOUR ARMS—REVERSED. STAND AT EASE.

When the service commences the head-dress will be removed (except firing party) and replaced when the service is ended, previous to the volleys being fired.

At the end of the service the serjeant will give:—Firing party ATTENTION. PRESENT—ARMS. SLOPE—ARMS. VOLLEYS (with blank cartridges)— LOAD. PRESENT. FIRE. A second and third volley will be fired. The serjeant will then give UNLOAD. FIX—BAYONETS. SLOPE—ARMS. PRESENT—ARMS. SLOPE—ARMS. FORM—FOURS. RIGHT. QUICK—MARCH.

The band will lead, followed by the firing party and mourners, who will form fours as they march off without word of command.

Bayonets will be unfixed after leaving the place of burial at the discretion of the officer in charge. The band is not to play, [225] nor the drums to beat, until the party is entirely clear of the burial ground.

2. Funerals of officers, warrant officers and serjeants will be conducted in a similar manner to para. 1, the troops being detailed for the escort according to the rank of the deceased. Officers’ swords are reversed under the right arm, the point downwards, the hilt being grasped with the right hand, blade uppermost, the left hand grasping the blade behind the back.

3. Large escorts will march by companies, in fours, at the head of the procession.

4. In the funerals of senior officers the arrangements will be made under the supervision of the general officer commanding.

Note. —To fire three volleys over the grave the following procedure will be adopted:—

When the men, after presenting arms, have sloped arms, the commander will give the following commands:—

This will be repeated until the volleys are completed, when the men will Unload as in Feu-de-joie.

• Ammunition, blank, 62
• „    supply and transport of, in the field, 165
• Annual course of training, auxiliary forces, 173
• „   „  battalion, 179
• „   „  company, 174
• „   „  description of, 171
• „   „  detail of, 172
• „   „  general rules, 174
• Assault, the, 137
• Assembly, after dispersal, 65
• Attack, the, 128
• „  battalion in the holding, 152
• „  by cavalry, meeting an, 92
• „  „ or swordsmen, savage warfare, 119
• „  company, general rules for, 145
• „  co-operation between artillery and infantry in the, 135
• „  decisive, 136
• „  direction and pace in the, 143
• „  distances in the, 142
• „  distribution of companies in the decisive, 150
• „    „    infantry in the, 128
• „  duties of the several bodies in the, 131
• „  feints in the, 139
• „  fire in the, 133
• „  firing-line and supports in the, 151
• „  flank, 139
• „  formations, 140
• „  frontage in the, 141
• Attack general rules for company in the, 145
• „    „    battalion in the, 148
• „    „    brigade in the, 153
• „    „    division in the, 154
• „  holding, 138
• „  infantry formations in regard to fire in the, 133
• „  instruction for the battalion in the, 153
• „  intervals in the, 143
• „  local flanking fire, 140
• „  machine guns in the, 144
• „  nature of an offensive action, 128
• „  orders, issues of, 130
• „   „  for battalion in the, 149
• „  practice, 85
• „  preliminary measures, 129
• „  rallying and redistribution, 138
• „  reserve, 151
• „  surprises, 140
• Attack and defence, fire action, 126
• „    fire discipline, 127
• „    general principles, 123
• „    position and duties of leaders in action, 125
• „    ranges, 128
• Attention, position of, 31
• Auxiliary Forces, annual course of training, 173

• Battalion advancing in review order, 196
• Battalion in the attack, 148
• „     distribution of companies in the decisive, 150
• „     firing-line and supports, 151
• „     general rules, 148
• „     holding attack, 152
• „     instruction, 153
• „     orders, 149
• „     reserve, 151
• Battalion in the defence, general rules, 163
• Battalion in the defence, duties of the commanding officer, 164
• Battalion drill, 98
• „   battalion in quarter column, 101
• „      „      „   opening to column, 104
• „     „   column on the march closing to quarter column, 106
• „     „    column or quarter column advancing, in fours, or vice versâ , 106
• „     „    column changing direction, 108
• Battalion formations, 100
• „  general rules, 98
• „  inspection of, 110
• „  movements in quarter column, 103
• „  movements in line or lines of company columns, 108
• „  quarter column wheeling, 103
• „  re-assembling, when dispersed, 109
• Battalion drill, savage warfare, 113
• „       „   battalion in line, 114
• „       „       „   forming column or quarter column, 116
• „   „  echelon movements from line, column or quarter column, 118
• „   „ formations applicable to, 113
• „   „ formation of squares, 120
• „   „ general rules, 113
• „   „ line advancing in column, 118
• „   „ line changing position, from the halt, on a flank company, 116
• „   „ line forming column to right or left, 117
• „   „ line passing obstacles or moving over broken ground, 117
• „   „ marching in line, 115
• „   „ meeting attack by swordsmen, 119
• „   „  quarter column or column deploying into line, 114
• Battalion drill, savage warfare, quarter column on the march forming line to a flank, 118
• Battalion marching past, 192
• „  review of, 189
• „  training, annual course, 179
• Blank ammunition, 62
• Brigade in the attack, general rules, 153
• „  „ defence, general rules, 164
• Brigade drill, 111
• „  brigade wheeling from mass into line of battalions, 112
• „  general rules, 111
• „   marching in line of battalions either in column or quarter column, 113
• „   mass deploying into line of battalions and vice versâ , 112
• „   savage warfare, brigade in line advancing in columns or quarter columns, 122
• „     „    brigade forming square, 122
• „     „    deployments, 122
• „     „     marching in line, 122
• Brigade advancing in review order, 202
• „  marching past, 199
• „  review of a, 196

• Calls, signals, &c., 57
• Casualties, skirmishing, 88
• Challenging, manner of, 211
• Changing direction (squad drill), 45
• „   „   and forming up (squad drill), 50
• „   „   as in file (squad drill), 46
• „  ranks (squad drill), 49
• „   „ (company drill), 76
• „  step (squad drill), 39
• Colour, trooping the, 213
• Colours, presentation of, 220
• Colours, the 188
• Command, words of, how to be given, 30
• Commanders, position of, in skirmishing, 88
• „    instructions for, in skirmishing, 88
• Commanding officer, duties of, in defence, 164
• Company in the attack, general rules, 145
• „   „  defence, duties of subalterns, section and squad leaders, 162
• „   „ defence, duties of company leader, 163
• „   „   „  general rules, 162
• Company drill, 72
• „   column changing direction, 80
• „   company column forming company, 76
• „   company in line forming to right or left, 78
• „    company in line, or moving to a flank in fours, forming company column, 78
• „   dismissing, 83
• „   drill in single rank, 81
• „   fire action, 82
• „   formation of fours, 76
• „    forming up into line when marching, fours or file, 80
• „   general rules, 72
• „   inspection and telling off, 75
• „   inspection in close order drill, 83
• „   marching in line, 77
• „   movements in line (or lines) of sections, 80
• „   re-assembling when dispersed, 83
• Company in line, saluting, 185
• „   marching past, 185
• „   sizing, 183
• „   training, preliminary remarks, 67
• Co-operation between artillery and infantry in the attack, 135
• Counter attacks, decisive, 160
• „   local, 160
• Course of training, annual, auxiliary forces, 173
• Course of training, annual, battalion, 179
• „     „  company, 174
• „     „  description of, 171
• „     „  detail of, 172
• „     „  general rules, 174
• „    skirmishing, 54
• Cover, use of, in skirmishing, 60

• Defence, the, 155
• „   decisive counter attacks, 160
• „   distribution of infantry for, 155
• „   duties of officers commanding reserves, 159
• „   entrenching a position, 157
• „   fire in, 158
• „   local counter attacks, 160
• „   machine guns in, 158
• „   occupation of the position, 156
• „   position of the reserves, 159
• Defence, infantry in attack and. See Attack and Defence .
• Defence, the. See Company , Battalion , Brigade , Division .
• Defence practice, skirmishing, 90
• Defile, passage of, 53
• Definitions, 16
• Deployments, brigade drill, 122
• Diagonal march, 49
• Direction and pace in the attack, 143
• Discipline, fire, 127
• Dismissing, 53
• Distances in the attack, 142
• Distribution of companies in the decisive attack, 150
• „   infantry in the attack, 128
• Division in the attack, 154
• „   defence, 164
• Division drill, 111
• Division, larger body than, marching past, 207
• „     „     review of, 205
• Division marching past, 204
• „  review of, 202
• Double march, the, 39
• Dressing, when halted, 42
• „  squad in two ranks, 48
• „   „  with intervals, 32
• Drill. See Squad , Company , Battalion , &c.
• Duties of leaders in action, 125
• „  officers commanding reserves, 159
• „  scouts, 93
• „  skirmishers, 89
• „  subalterns, section and squad leaders, 162
• „  the company leader, 163
• „  the commanding officer, 164
• „  the several bodies in the attack, 131

• Echelon movements from line, column or quarter column, 118
• Entrenching tools, 169
• „   a position, 157
• Extending and closing, method of, 56

• Feints, 139
• Feu-de-joie, firing a, 221
• Fire in the attack, 133
• „ in the defence, 158
• „ action, company, 82
• „  „  in attack and defence, 126
• „ discipline in attack and defence, 127
• „ effect, 63
• Flank attacks, 139
• Flanking fire, local, 140
• Formations applicable to savage warfare, 113
• „   battalion drill, 100
• „   in regard to fire, 133
• „   in the attack, 140
• „   to be practised, reviews, 188
• Formation of squares, 120
• „   squads, 31
• „    „  in single rank, 41
• „    „  in two rank, 48
• „   fours, squad, 50
• „    „  company, 76
• Fours changing direction and forming squad, 53
• Frontage in the attack, 141
• Funerals, 223

• General principles, attack and defence, 123
• General remarks, skirmishing, 84
• General rules, annual course of training, 174
• „   ceremonial, 181
• „   attack practice, 85
• „   battalion drill, 98
• „   brigade and division drill, 111
• „   company drill, 72
• „   savage warfare, 113
• „   skirmishing, 54
• „   company in attack, 145
• „   battalion  „ , 148
• „   brigade  „ , 153
• „   division  „ , 154
• „   company in defence, 162
• „   battalion  „ , 163
• „   brigade and division in defence, 164
• Guards—
• General rules, 209 ;
• Guards of honour, 213 ;
• Relieving or posting, 210 ;
• Relieving and posting sentries, and marching reliefs, 210 ;
• Sentries challenging, 211 ;
• Trooping the Colour, 213 ;
• Turning out at night, 212 ;

• Halt, the, 37
• Holding attacks, 138
• „  attack, battalion, 152

• Infantry formations in regard to fire, 133
• Inspection of skirmishers, 65
• „  in skirmishing, 95
• „  of, and telling off the company, 75
• „  in close order drill, 83
• „  of a battalion, 110
• Instruction of the recruit, method of, 29
• „  for battalion in attack, 153
• Instructions for commanders in attack, 88
• „   training of the recruit, 25
• Intervals in the attack, 143
• „  skirmishing, 64
• Issue of orders, the attack, 130

• Length of pace and time in marching, 35
• Line advancing in column, 118
• „ battalion in, 114
• „ brigade marching in, 122
• „ brigade advancing in columns or quarter columns, 122
• „ changing front, 116
• „ company forming to right or left, 78
• „     „    company column, 78
• „ forming column or quarter column, 116
• „     „   to the right or left, 117
• „ -firing and supports, 151
• „ marching in, company, 77
• „ marching in, 115
• „ of sections, movements in, 80
• „ of company columns, movements in, 108
• „ of battalions, brigade wheeling from mass into, 112
• „    „  mass deploying into, 112
• „    „  marching in, 113
• Line passing obstacles or moving over broken ground, 117
• „ quarter column or column deploying into, 114
• Local counter attacks, 160
• „ flanking fire, 140

• Machine guns in the attack, 144
• „    „  defence, 158
• March, double, 39
• „  diagonal, 43
• „   „  (two ranks), 49
• „  turning on the, 40
• Marching as in file, 46
• „   „  forming up into squad, 47
• „  in squad and file, 49
• Marching past, company, 185
• „   battalion, 192
• „   brigade, 199
• „   division, 204
• „   larger body of troops than a division, 207
• Marching, position in, 36
• „  quick, 37
• „  squad, 42
• „  with arms, 47
• Marking time, 38
• Method of extending and closing, 56
• „  instruction, special training of non-commissioned officers, 179
• „    „   of the recruit, 29
• Movements in line of sections, 80
• „  quarter column, 103
• „  line or lines of company columns, 108

• Non-commissioned officers, special training of, 179

• Obstacles, 53
• Occupation of a position, 156
• Orders, battalion in attack, 149
• „  issue of, in the attack, 130
• „  reporting and passing, 64

• Pace and time in marching, 35
• Passage of a defile, 53
• Passing orders, 64
• Plates, key to, 15
• Preliminary measures for the attack, 129
• „   remarks, training of the recruit, 21
• „    „   company training, 67
• „   training, skirmishing, 55
• Presentation of Colours, 220

• Rallying and redistribution, 138
• Ranges, 128
• Reconnaissance practice, 91
• Recruit, method of instruction of, 29
• „  training of the, 21
• Reinforcing, 64
• Relieving or posting a guard, 210
• „  and posting sentries and marching reliefs, 210
• Remarks, general, on skirmishing, 84
• „  preliminary, on the training of the recruit, 21
• „    „    on company training, 67
• Reporting and passing orders, 64
• Reserve, the, 151
• „  position of, in the defence, 159
• „  duties of officers commanding the, 159
• Retirements, 91
• Review of a battalion, 189
• „  of a brigade, 196
• „  of a division, 202
• „  of any larger body of troops than a division, 205
• „  Royal, 208
• „  order, battalion advancing in, 196
• Review order, brigade advancing in, 202
• Rules. See General Rules .

• Saluting, company in line, 185
• Savage warfare, formations applicable to—
• Battalion in line, 114
• „  forming column or quarter column, 116
• Echelon movements from line, column or quarter column, 118
• Formation of squares, 120
• General rules, 113
• Line advancing in column, 118
• „ changing front from the halt on a flank company, 116
• „ forming column to the right or left, or vice versâ , 117
• „ passing obstacles, or moving over broken ground, 117
• Marching in line, 115
• Meeting an attack by cavalry or swordsmen, 119
• Quarter column or column deploying into line, 114
• „    on the march forming line to a flank, 118
• Section leaders, duties of, 162
• Sentries, relieving and posting, 210
• „  challenging, 211
• Shelter trench exercise, 95
• Single rank, company drill, 81
• Skirmishing—
• Assembly after dispersal, 65
• Blank ammunition, 62
• Course of training, 54
• Cover, 60
• Fire effect, 63
• General rules, 54
• Inspection of skirmishers, 65
• Intervals, 64
• Method of extending and closing, 56
• Practical skirmishing, 59
• Preliminary training, 55
• Reinforcing, 64
• Reporting and passing orders, 64
• Signals, whistle blasts, calls, 57
• Company training—
• Casualties, 88
• Commanders, instructions for, 88
• „   position of, 88
• Defence practice, 90
• General remarks, 84
• „  rules, 85
• Meeting attack by cavalry, 92
• Reconnaissance practice, 91
• Retirements, 91
• Scouting, 93
• Scouts, duties of, 93
• „  training of, 94
• Shelter trench exercise, 95
• Skirmishers, duties of, 89
• Skirmishing, inspection in, 95
• Squad drill—
• Method of instruction of the recruit, 29
• Words of command, 30
• With intervals—
• Dressing, 32
• Formation, 31
• Position of attention, 31
• Saluting, 34
• Standing at ease, 32
• Turnings, 33
• Marching—
• Changing step, 39
• Double march, 39
• Drum and pace stick, 36
• Halt, 37
• Length of pace and time, 35
• Marking time, 38
• Position in marching, 36
• Quick march, 37
• Side step, 40
• Stepping back, 38
• „  short, 39
• „  out, 37
• Turning on the march, 40
• Single rank—
• Changing direction, 45
• „  as in file, 46
• Diagonal march, 43
• Dressing when halted, 42
• Formation, 41
• Marching as in file, forming up into squad, 47
• „   „ 46
• „  in squad, 42
• „  with arms, 47
• Turnings, 42
• In two ranks—
• Changing direction and forming up, 50
• „  ranks, 49
• Diagonal march, 49
• Dismissing with or without arms, 53
• Dressing, 48
• Formation, 48
• „  of fours, 50
• Fours changing direction and forming squad, 53
• Marching in squad and in file, 49
• Obstacles, 53
• Passage of a defile, 53
• Squad leaders, duties of, 162
• Square, brigade forming, 122
• „  forming, 120
• Subalterns, duties of, company in defence, 162
• Surprises, 140
• Supply of ammunition in the field, 165
• Syllabus of training (recruit), 21

• Training, course of, skirmishing, 54
• „  preliminary, skirmishing, 55
• „  of scouts, 94
• „  of non-commissioned officers, 179
• „  annual course. See Annual Course .
• „  recruits, 21
• „  syllabus of recruits, 22
• Transport of ammunition in the field, 165
• Turnings. See Squad Drill.

LONDON:
PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE,
BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST. MARTIN’S LANE,
PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HIS MAJESTY.

(Wt. w 27691 150,000 2 | 05—H & S 5749)

Transcriber’s Notes:

1. Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected silently.

2. Where hyphenation is in doubt, it has been retained as in the original.

3. Some hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions of the same words have been retained as in the original.