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.
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.