A COMPANY IN LINE AND COLUMN

S. 1. Formation of a Company in Line

The Company is divided into two sub-divisions - left and right, and four sections.

A Company in Line

1. Formation in Close Order

The Captain will place himself on the right of the front rank, covered by his covering serjeant, who will be on the right of the rear rank.

The remaining officers and serjeants will place themselves in a third or supernumerary rank, three paces from the rear rank

the lieutenant in rear of the second file from the left
the ensign in rear of the centre of the company
the third supernumerary in rear of the left subdivision
the forth in rear of the right
the fifth in rear of the right, and so on.

When a company is formed singly or when it is manoeurvring, the drummers and pioneers belonging to it will also be in the supernumerary rank:

the drummers in rear of the second section
pioneers in rear of the third section

The lieutenant and ensign wil always retain their places; the serjeants and men composing the rest of the supernumerary rank will divide the space in rear of their respective sub-divisions and sections.

2. Taking Open Order

Take Open Order - Take Close Order

Rear Rank Take Open-Order		The officers will recover their swords. The captain will move out and place himself one pace in front of the second file from the right the lieutenant and ensign, passing round the left flank of the company, will place themselves one pace from the front rank, the: lieutenant in front of the second file from the left ensign in front of the centre of the company The flank men of the rear rank step back two paces and face to the right, and the covering serjeant will take one pace of 21 inches to his left, thus occupying the space vacated by the right-hand man of the rear rank.
March		The officers will take two paces to the front, look to their right and dress the covering serjeant will take one pace with his right foot, and one pace to his front with his left foot, thus filling up the place vacated by the captain the flank men of the rear rank will front and raise their right hands (or left hands if armed with the short rifle) from the elbow at right angles to the body the rear and supernumerary ranks will step back two paces
Rear Rank - Dress.		The rear and supernumerary ranks will look to their right and dress
Eyes-Front		They will turn their eyes to the front the flank men of the rear rank will drop their arms.
Steady		The officers will port their swords and look to their front

When a company is formed singly

the captain will dress the officers and give the word Steady
the serjeant on the right of the supernumerary rank will dress the rear and supernumerary ranks, and give the words Eyes-Front, as the dressing of each is completed.

Two or more companies should also be practised together, as directed in Part IV, Section 4.

3. Resuming Close Order

Take Close Order - Take Open Order

Rear Rank Take Close-Order		The officers will recover their swords and face to the right.
March		The rear and supernumerary ranks will take two paces to their front the covering serjeant will take two paces to his rear and one to his left, to make room for the officers to pass the lieutenant and ensign will move to their places in the supernumerary rank, round the left flank of the company the captain will then resume his place on the right of the front rank, all the officers carrying their swords as they take post lastly, the covering serjeant will move up to his place on the right of the rear rank.

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Updated 12 June, 2001