Line may be reformed by reversing the above movements. On the command REFORM—LINE, the company commanders will give the order to unfix bayonets, and form or march their companies on to the original alignment at the double; Nos. 3 and 6 receiving the word Left and Right Form respectively, the remainder forming fours.
2. Square will be formed from column as follows:—On the word FORM—SQUARE, the leading company, if on the march will be halted, and bayonets will be fixed. The remainder will be moved at the double by order of their commanders, and those which are to form the side faces will be formed successively to the right and left, the last company forming the rear face. Each company as it reaches its position will be ordered to fix bayonets. If there is an uneven number of companies in the battalion, the rear company but one will form company column on the march, halt inside the square and fix bayonets.
Column will be reformed by reversing the above movements. On the caution FORM COLUMN, bayonets will be unfixed, and the companies forming the side faces will be turned about by their commanders. The company in rear will then step off at the double by word of its commander, while the commander of the next company will give the word Right—Form, Double—March; the remaining companies will move off in succession. If the number of companies be uneven, the rear company but one, which will turn about with the side faces, will follow the rear company and re-form company on the march. The second in command will mark the point where the flank of the last company of the column will rest, and when the company reaches this point, its commander will order it to halt and turn about. The remaining companies will be halted and turned about at company distance from the company preceding.
3. A square may be moved in any direction, the commanding officer indicating the direction in which the square is to move. On the command THE SQUARE WILL ADVANCE—SLOPE ARMS, SIDE FACES, FORM—FOURS INWARDS the officer or officers commanding the company, or companies, facing in the opposite direction, will turn it, or them, about. The flank to direct should be named before the order QUICK MARCH is given. On the command BATTALION—HALT, the side faces will turn outwards and the company or companies which are to form the rear face will turn about.
BRIGADE DRILL.
120. Deployments.
Lines of battalions in quarter column or in column, at any interval, will deploy into line, each battalion in succession following the procedure in S. 109, and commencing its deployment on reaching a point thirty paces from the mounted officer on the outer flank of the battalion next to it in line.
If a brigade in mass is to deploy into line, the leading battalion will deploy at once; the remaining battalions will move by the shortest lines to the points where their inner flanks are to rest in the line, and will then deploy in the usual manner.
121. Marching in line.
When a brigade is required to march in line, each battalion will march by its centre. A mounted officer of each battalion, not directing, will ride on the inner flank to ensure that the correct interval is maintained.