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 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 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:—

(i) Quarter column.—This is a convenient formation in which to move battalions, either singly or in brigade, when not exposed to the enemy’s fire.

(ii) Column.—This is essentially a march formation, but will be used for the purpose of forming up preparatory to closing to quarter column, or moving off in column of fours.

(iii) Line (or Lines) of company columns.—This formation will usually be adopted by the battalion at distant artillery ranges, preparatory to extending for the attack. It allows of full control being exercised by the battalion commander, whilst at the same time enabling companies to take advantage of natural cover, and to conveniently advance over broken or intersected ground.

(iv) Column of fours.—This is a convenient march formation when a narrow front is necessary, such as passing a defile, and will usually be adopted when on the march.

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, 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.

A Battalion in Quarter Column.

94. Movements in quarter column.

THE BATTALION WILL ADVANCE. QUICK—MARCH. 1. On the word MARCH the whole will stepoff together. The squad commander on thedirecting flank of the leading company (i.e., onthe left unless otherwise ordered) selecting points to march on.
RIGHT—INCLINE. 2. The whole will act as in Squad Drill, S. 28.On the command LEFT—INCLINE the battalionwill resume its original direction.
FORM FOURS—RIGHT, NO. — WILL DIRECT. 3. A flank company will be ordered to direct,the remainder being led by the leading squadcommanders on the flank nearer the company of direction.
The second in command will post himself onthe flank of the directing company in line withthe leading section of fours.

95. A quarter column wheeling.

CHANGE DIRECTION RIGHT. RIGHT—WHEEL.1. On the command RIGHT—WHEEL, the battalion, excepting the leading company, will make a partial turn to the outer flank, the front rank of the leading company will glance towards the inner flank on which they will wheel, the second in command superintending on the inner flank and the adjutant regulating the pace on the outer flank; the outer flank will direct, but when companies are of unequal strength they will retain the same relative positions they held before the wheel. Each man will move round on the circumference of a circle of which the inner squad commander of the leading company is the centre. The adjutant in regulating the pace must watch the squad commander of the outer flank of the rear company, who will continue to march at a full pace throughout the wheel, and on whose movement the march of every man in the quarter column should be made to depend. When the battalion has circled round to the required angle, the command FORWARD will be given. This may be preceded by MARK—TIME should all the companies not be in their correct positions.

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.

ADVANCE IN COLUMN.1. On the caution ADVANCE IN COLUMN, the leading company will be moved off by its commander, who will give the command By the { Left, Quick—March; the other companies will follow in succession at company distance by order of their commanders, and will conform to the movements of the leading company. Unless otherwise ordered column will move and dress by the left.

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 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.

AT THE HALT, QUARTER COLUMN.1. The leading company will be at once halted by its commander. The remaining companies will continue to advance, and will be successively halted by their commanders on reaching their position in quarter column.
QUARTER COLUMN. REMAINDER—DOUBLE MARCH.2. Should it be necessary to form quarter column on the march, on the battalion commander’s order REMAINDER—DOUBLE—MARCH, the whole will break into double time, except the leading company, which will continue to advance in quick time; the commanders of the companies in rear will order them to break into quick time as soon as they have reached their position in 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.

IN SUCCESSION ADVANCE IN FOURS FROM THE RIGHT OF COMPANIES.1. Column of fours from column on the march.—This caution will be given when a column is required to defile, on which the leading company commander will give the command Form fours, right, Left—wheel, each company forming successively on reaching the same point.

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

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. 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.

CHANGE DIRECTION RIGHT.On the battalion commander’s caution, each company commander will successively form his company round the same point by giving the command Right form followed by Forward, by the Left, as soon as the formation of his company is complete. S. 66.

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 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 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:—

(i) The attention and steadiness of the men.

(ii) The precision of all movements.

(iii) The preservation of direction, distance, and interval during the march, especially when in lines of columns.

(iv) The readiness of a battalion in forming lines of columns.

(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:—

(i) The orders of the battalion commander.

(ii) The co-operation of the companies.

(iii) The initiative and readiness of the company leaders.

(iv) The suitability of the formations adopted by the company leaders.

(v) The precautions taken against counter-attack.

(vi) The measures for delivering a counter-attack.

(vii) The employment of covering fire, and the compliance with the principle of mutual support.

(viii) The rallying of the companies after an assault.