Infantry training, 1905

by Great Britain. War Office

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; 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.

Stand at— Ease.[1]

Carry the left foot about ten inches to the left, at the same time grasp the right hand with the left behind the back, allowing the arms to hang to their full extent; both legs to be straight.