2. The tools will, as a rule, be placed in heaps on the ground, picks in one heap, shovels in another. The working party, with arms slung, will pass between the heaps in single file, each man taking a pick in his left hand and a shovel in his right as he passes the heaps. Tools should be carried at the trail, point of the pick down, and the hollow of the shovel towards the thigh.
3. It is important that soldiers should be taught to handle their tools without noise. In the event of a working party turning into file (or about), the handles of the tools will before turning be brought into a vertical position by lowering the iron part of the pick, and raising the iron part of the shovel, resuming the trail when the turn is complete. When marching in file, the handles will incline outwards.
4. Extension.—Working parties will be extended by one of the following methods:—
(i) The party will be extended to such interval as may be required, about 12 paces in rear of the proposed trench. It will then be advanced and halted, while an officer paces along the front, halting at the limit of each man’s task.
(ii) The party will be brought up about 3 paces in rear of one of the flanks of the proposed trench in file or single file, according as one or two men are allotted to each task. An officer will pace along the front, halting at the limit of each task, the party moving off at the same time and wheeling to the right or left, the men forming on the alignment in succession in extended order by file, or single file, as ordered. This method is especially suitable to night work.[7]
(iii) The right or left of each task will be marked by driving in the pick according as the extension is from the right or left. The shovel will be placed on the ground at right angles to the pick (blade to the left). Each task will be “spitlocked,” i.e., marked out by the pick, as soon as the directing officer has fixed the outer limit of the task.
5. The men will, without word of command, turn about and take 4 paces to their rear, ground arms, take off their accoutrements, and lie down until ordered to begin work.
6. To avoid accidents every man must commence digging on the left of his task, and work from left to right.
Filling in trenches.
Trenches should never be filled in on the day on which they have been made, but a fatigue party should be sent out later for the special purpose of levelling them. Defaulters might be employed on this duty. In one hour a man should be expected to fill in about 40 cubic feet.