APPENDIX A

The following is a programme which has given excellent results when training Brigade, Divisional, Corps Observers and Lovat Scouts Observers.

1st Day.Lecture.Maps and Conventional Signs.
Practical.Comparison of Map with the Ground.
Setting Maps.
Location of points by drawing rays.
2nd Day.Lecture.The Stalking Telescope.
Practical.Front Line Observation with Reports.
Instruction and Practice in reading.
Map co-ordinates.
Judging Distance.
3rd Day.Lecture.Contours, gradients, slopes, etc.
Practical.Pegging out contours on the ground.
Long Distance Observation with Reports.
Judging Distance.
4th Day.Lecture.The Prismatic Compass.
Practical.Taking Bearings.
Working out mutual visibility problems.
Concave and convex slopes, drawing slopes.
5th Day.Lecture.The use of the protractor.
Practical.Plotting Bearings.
Re-section problems.
Long distance Observation with Reports.
6th Day.Lecture.Scales.
Practical.Road Traverse.
Filling in conventional signs and contours.
Long Distance Observation with Reports.
7th Day.Lecture.Use of Scouts and Observers in Attack and Defence.
Practical.Marching to Map co-ordinates.
Selection of positions for Observation Posts.
Front Line Observation with Reports.
8th Day.Scheme.Bringing in the use of Observers in Open Warfare.
Construction and concealment of Observation Posts.
Taking Bearings with Compass.
9th Day.Lecture.Front Line Observation.
Practical.Locating of points by drawing rays.
Compass March (by Day).
10th Day.Lecture.Aeroplane Photographs.
Practical.Comparison of photos with the ground.
Re-section problems.
11th Day.Practical.Handing over and relief of Observation Posts.
Using Telescope as Director.
Long Distance Observation with Reports.
Use of Director Board.
12th Day.Practical.Making and plotting a Road Traverse.
Making a Road Report.
Compass March (by Night).
13th Day.Practical.Enlarging Map and constructing scales.
Work with Director Board.
14th Day.Recapitulation and Examinations.

APPENDIX B
General Course at First Army S.O.S. School

(From this the Battalion I.O. can frame Programmes of work to suit any period of Rest.)

The following lectures are given during the Course, and are attended by all students except in the case of No. 11, which is attended by the officers only.

(Note:—Nos. 13 and 14 are given on two evenings during the last week of the Course.)

In addition to the above and to the Programme, the officers go thoroughly into such subjects as:

Practical work is also given to all students in the following subjects at night:

It will be seen that the two Sundays have been omitted; on these days the Range is open to all ranks for voluntary shooting under a qualified Instructor.

Instruction in the use of Armour Piercing S.A.A., Disguising, Methods of Instruction, Practice in Map-reading, Taking Bearings, etc., etc., goes on continually while students await their turn to fire.

1st Morning.General talk on the objects of the Course and discipline during. Thorough examination of open-sighted rifles for defects. Demonstration of Grouping and Holding. Grouping at 100 yards, followed by analysis of faults and correction of rifles where necessary.
Afternoon.Lecture: Care of Arms and Grouping. (Practical) Observation on a German Trench with reports. Criticism of Reports.
2nd Morning.Lecture: The Stalking Telescope. (Practical) Repetition of failures in Grouping practice. Application at 200–300 yards. Observation of single shot strike.
Afternoon.Practical Observation. (a) On German Trench. (b) Open Country.
3rd Morning.Lecture: The Enfield 1914 pattern Rifle. (Practical) Judging Distance up to 600 yards. Snapshooting at 100–200 yards, 4 seconds’ exposure. Application at 200 yards. Hawkins position.
Afternoon.Practical Map-reading on the ground and long distance observations with Reports.
4th Morning.Lecture: General lecture on Map-reading. (Practical) Application at 400–500 yards. Application at unknown range (within 400 yards).
Afternoon.Demonstration: Use of Ground and Cover. (Practical) Practice in selecting, attaining and constructing hasty observation posts for open warfare. Cover from view rather than Cover from fire to be specialized in.
5th Morning.Lecture: Patrolling and Scouting. (Practical) Application at 300 yards. Snapshooting at 100 and 200 yards. 3 seconds’ exposure.
Afternoon.Demonstration of Camouflage and its uses. (Practical) Scheme: Snipers are given an area of ground in which they must establish posts utilizing the material found on the spot for disguise. Observers select posts from which they can command the above area. The snipers will fire blank from the posts they have selected at any observers who expose themselves; also endeavour to give the map-reference of their targets. The observers endeavour to locate and give map-references of the snipers’ posts.
6th Morning.Lecture: Elevations and Wind. Demonstration: Building in battens for and spotting enemy snipers; actual practice in above each student to locate at least two snipers. (Practical) Snapshooting combined with movement; students endeavour to advance unseen from 500 to 100 yards. Targets representing enemy heads appear at odd places and intervals in the butts.
Afternoon.Demonstration: Building in and use of Night Firing Boxes. Actual practice in above. Observation on a German trench, the appearance of which is altered by moving sandbags, loopholes, etc., with reports.
8th Morning.Lecture: The construction of Forward and Sniping O.P.’s. (Practical) Patrolling with the use of Night Firing Goggles. Practice in the correct use of cover and in keeping touch. Application practice at unknown range.
Afternoon.Practice in marching by day on Compass bearings with and without Box-respirators.
9th Morning.Lecture: General lecture on telescopic sighted rifles. (Practical) Zeroing of telescopic sighted rifles.
Afternoon.Complete the zeroing of rifles. Long distance observation.
10th Morning.Lecture: Duties of scouts, observers and snipers in attack and defence. (Practical) Grouping at 100 yards with Telescopic sighted rifles. Practice in scouting in Open Country, with reports.
Afternoon.Scheme: Making “Good” woods and enclosed country with scouts and snipers.
11th Morning.Lecture: Front line observation and reports. (Practical) Application at 200 yards with telescopic sighted rifles. Snapshooting at 100–200 yards, 3 seconds’ exposure.
Afternoon.Concentration march. Students are put into four parties, each representing a platoon. They are given a map co-ordinate at which they must concentrate at a given time. Signals representing Gas Alarm are given, when all students put on their box-respirators and continue the march.
12th Morning.Lecture: Duties of the Bn. Intelligence Officer. (Practical) Application at 300–400 yards. Observation on a German trench.
Afternoon.Scheme: To demonstrate the use of Scouts and Snipers as a protective advanced screen to Infantry in open or semi-open warfare.
13th Morning.Lecture: Aeroplane Photos, with Lantern Slides. Practical study of aeroplane photographs on the actual ground depicted in the photo.
Afternoon.Examinations in Long distance and Front line observations.
15th and 16th.Oral examinations. Mutual Instruction. Written examination. Examination of note-books. Competition shoots.

Note:—The above programme is only given as a guide; changes in sequence must often occur through inclemency of the weather.