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Drill on this page [ Drum, Plummet, & Pace Stick | Position of Marching | Slow Step | Halt | Stepping out | Stepping short | Marking time | Stepping back | Changing Feet | Quick Step | Double March | Side or Closing Step | Turning on the March ]

MARCHING

7. & 8. Length of Step & Cadence

9. The Drum, Plummet and Pace Stick

The proper cadence in marching must be impressed on the mind of the recruit by beating the time for him on a drum. The length of his pace is to be corrected by means of a pace stick; no recruit or squad of recruits must be taught to march without the constant use of the drum and pace stick; the drum to beat the time only when the squad is halted, never when it is in motion. Whenever the superintendent of the drill considers it necesary to give the time, every squad will be halted, and while the drum is beating the men will give their whole attention to the cadence; when it ceases, the instructors will then at once put their squads in motion, without further cautions or instructions, which would tend to distract the attention of the soldier from the time given.

In order to beat the time correctly on a drum the "Plummet" must be used. A variety of pendulums or plummets have been constructed for this purpose. When none of these can be procured, the following simple method can be adopted. Suspend a spherical ball of metal by a string that is not liable to stretch; the length of the string measured from the point of suspension to the centre of the ball, must be as follows for the different degrees of march. Thus arranged, the plummet will swing the exact time required.

The correctness of the plummet should be frequently be tested by reference to a watch.

The length of the pace in marching will be measured with the pace stick, which is simply a large pair of wooden compasses, with legs about three feet long, and furnished with an iron rod or wing and screw to fix it open at the different lengths of pace. The correctness of the pace stick should occassionally be tested; for this purpose the length of the several paces should be cut on a board or a stone, to which the points of the pace stick may be applied.

10. Position in Marching

In marching, the soldier must maintain the position of the body as described in [Position of the Soldier]. 

• He must be well balanced on his limbs.
• His arms and hands must be kept steady by his sides, and on no account suffered to vibrate
• Care must be taken that the hand does not cling to the thigh, or partake in the least degree of movement of the leg
• The body must be kept erect and square to the front.
• The movement of the leg must spring from the haunch and be free and natural.

• Both knees must be kept straight, except while the leg is being carried from the rear to the front, when the knee must necessarily be a little bent, to enable the foot to be raised sufficiently high to clear the ground without grazing it.
• The foot must be carried straight to the front, and, without being drawn back, placed sofly on the ground, so as not to jerk or shake the body,
• the toes turned out at an angle of 30 degrees.
• The head to be erect, as described in [Position of the Soldier], and the eyes looking straight to the front.

Although several men may be drilled together in a squad with intervals, they must act independently and in every way as if they were being instructed singly; each soldier must be taught to march in a straight line, and to take a correct pace, both as regards time and length, without being in the slightest degree influenced by the other men of the squad.

Before the squad is put in motion the instructor will take care that the men are not only square in their persons, but in correct line with each other. Each soldier must be taught to take up a straight line to his front by looking down the centre of his body between his feet, then lifting his eyes and fixing them upon some object on the ground straight to his front at a distance of about 150 yards; he will then observe some nearer point in the same straight line, such as a stone, tuft of grass, or other casual object, about 70 yards distant.

12. Slow Step

The instructor must bear in mind that the three most important objects in this part of the drill are, cadence, length of pace, and direction.

13. The Halt

After the word Halt, men will stand perfectly steady, in whatever position they may be, unless ordered to Dress.

14. Stepping Out

This step is necessary when a temporary exertion to the front is required, and is applied in both slow and quick time; at the words Slow (or Quick) the pace of 30 inches will be resumed.

15. Stepping Short

This step is useful when a slight check is required.

16. Marking Time in Slow Cadence

17. Stepping Back in Slow Time

A few paces of the step back can be necessary at a time.

18. Changing Feet

This may be required when any part of a battalion or a single soldier is stepping with a different foot from the rest.

19. The Quick Step

Marking Time
In marking time at the quick cadence the feet will not be thrown out and brought back as in slow time, but will simply be raised alternately about three inches from the ground

From the halt the word of command will be Mark Time - Quick.

20. The Double March

Halting from the Double
Squad-Halt as in [The Halt] at the same time dropping the hands and extending the fingers.

Marking Time
The soldier will be taught to mark time in the double cadence in the same manner as the quick time; except that the feet must be raised higher, the knees being more bent; and the toes must be depressed whie the foot is off the ground.

From the halt the word of command wil be Mark Time - Double.

21. The Side or Closing Step

Caution - Right close (by Numbers, or judging your own time)

Soldiers must also be practised in taking any given number of paces to either flank, and then halting without word of command; the command to be given thus, Three paces right close, Quick-March.

Time is of great importance in the side step; each pace should be completed in the same time that a pace is taken to the front in the quick march.

22. Turning when on the March

Soldiers must be practised in turning to the right and to the left, in turning a half turn to the right and left, and in turning to the right and left about on the march.

Turning to the Right and then to the Front

Turning to the Left and then to the Front

A soldier will always turn to the right on the left foot, and the left on the right foot. If the Word Turn is not given as the proper foot is coming to the ground, the soldier will move on one pace more and then turn.

Turning a Half turn to the Right and Left
Soldiers must also be practised in making a half turn to the right and left, and then moving on (without checking the pace) in a diagonal direction, taking up fresh points, at once, to march on.

Turning to the Right and Left about
Soldiers will also be taught to turn to the right and left about on the march, which must be done in three short paces, without losing the cadence. Having completed the turn, the soldier will at once move off in the opposite diection to that in which he was previously marching, the fourth pace being a full pace of 30 inches.

Updated 12 June, 2001