Infantry training, 1905

by Great Britain. War Office

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.

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.