SQUAD DRILL, WITH ARMS, IN TWO RANKS

44. The Formation of Fours

The squad should now be made up of eight or nine files, and numbered off from the right to left; and it must be explained to the men that odd numbers are right files and even numbers left files.

Note: Generally performed at shouldered arms, but when forming fours at ordered arms, the soldiers will come to the Short Trail.

Form Four Deep

Form four deep

Form Fours-

Rear rank take a pace of 12 inches to the rear

Deep

The left files will make up in line with the right files,

by taking a pace 21 inches to the rear with their left feet,
and a pace of 21 inches to the right with their right feet.

Squad-Front

The left files will move up in line with the right files,

by taking a pace of 21 inches to the left with the left feet,
and a pace of 21 inches to the front with the right feet

The whole of the rear-rank men will then close up to their proper distances from the front rank by taking a pace of 12 inches to the front with the left feet.

Form Four Deep to the Right

Form four deep to the right

Form Fours-	Rear rank take a pace to the rear
Right	the squad face to the right and the left files take a side step to the right with the right feet, and a pace to the front with the left
Squad-Front	The squad will face to the left, and re-form two deep as already described.

Form Four Deep to the Left

form four deep to the left

Form Fours-	Rear rank take a pace to the rear
Left	Whole company face to the left and the left files take a side step to the left , and a pace to the rear
Squad-Front	The squad will face to the right, and re-form two deep as already described.

Form Four Deep to the Rear

Form four deep to the rear

Form Fours-	Rear rank take a pace to the rear
About	Whole company face to the right about and the left files take a pace to their present front with the right feet, and one to the left with the left feet
Squad-Front	The squad will face to the right about, and re-form two deep as already described.

45. Fours Wheeling and Forming Squad

1. Wheeling. - A squad taking ground to a flank by fours, will wheel to the right or left, in the same manner as it wheels in files, each four wheeling successively round the same point.

2. Forming to the Front. - When a squad taking ground to a flank by fours is ordered to form to the front:

the front rank man of the leading file will mark time,
the remainder will turn, if right is in front, to the left, if left is in front, to the right,
form two deep, and proceed as described in Sections 43 and 32 of this Part.

3. Forming to the Reverse Flank, or to the Right or Left About, ot to the Pivot Flank. - When a squad ordered to form to the reverse flank, or to the right or left about, it will at once form two deep and then proceed as described in Sections 43 and 32 of this Part; a squad will form to the pivot flank simply by halting and fronting.

46. A Squad formed in Fours closing on a Flank, or the Centre, and Re-forming Two Deep

For the following practices 10 or 12 files should be put together.

Fours closing on the Right and re-forming Two Deep

On the Right (Left or Centre) Close. Quick-March	A squad having formed four deep must be taught to close on the right, left, or centre; the four men on the named flank or in the centre standing fast, the remainder closing on them by the side step.
From the Right (Left, or Centre) Re-form Two Deep. Quick-March	In re-forming two deep, on the word March: the four men on the named flank, or in the centre, will stand fast, the remainder will open out from them by the side step, and the left files will move up to their places in succession as the intervals are opened for them; the rear-rank man will step up to their proper distances at the same time.

These formations must also be practised during the march; on the words On the Right (Left or Centre) Close,

the files on the named flank, or in the centre, will continue to march straight to their front, with a short pace,
the remainder will close on them by the diagonal march;
when all are closed, on the word Forward, the squad will move on with a full pace.

On the words From the Right (Left, or Centre) Re-form Two Deep,

the four men on the named flank, or in the centre, will continue to march to the front with a short pace
the remainder will incline outwards by the diagonal march,
and the left files will move into the intervals, in succession, as they are opened for them;
the rear-rank men regaining their proper distances at the same time;
when completely formed in two deep line, on the word Forward, the squad will move on with a full pace.

48. Dismissing a Squad

To the right - Face	Face right
(without arms) Break - off	Front rank takes side step to the left, rear rank to the right At same time, strike hands together in front of their thighs Pause, then squad break off
(with arms) Lodge - Arms	Port Arms Front rank takes side step to the left, rear rank to the right Pause, then squad break off

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Updated 9 October, 2000