65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot

SQUAD DRILL IN SINGLE RANK

30. Marching as in File

From the Halt

To the Right-Face		Soldiers when halted must be instructed how to cover each other exactly. The head of the man immediately before each soldier, will conceal the heads of all the others in his front. The strictest observance of all the rules for marching is particularly necessary when marching as in file
Slow-March		The whole are immediately to step off together, gaining at the very first step 30 inches, and will so continue to step without increasing or diminishing the distance between each other, every man placing his foot on the ground, in advance in advance of the spot from which his preceding man has taken up his foot No looking down nor leaning backwards is to be allowed. The leader is to be directed to march straight forward on some distant objects, the remainder of the men covering correctly in rear of him during the march.
Halt-Front		The soldiers will halt and face to their original front, and if the marching has been properly performed, their dressing and touch will be found correct.

On the March

To the Right-Turn		The soldiers will turn to the right and march on as in file
Front-Turn		The soldiers will turn to their original front, and move on steadily on line

Marching as in file must also be practised in quick time, but never in double time.

31. Wheeling as in File

Right (or Left)-Wheel

The leading man will move round a quarter of the circumference of a circle about the size of a cart wheel
the other men following in his footsteps in succession, without increasing or diminishing the distance between each other or altering the cadence of the march, but lengthening the pace a little with the outward foot.

32. Men Marching as in File Forming Squad

When a squad is marching as in file with the original right-hand man leading, it is called Right in Front, the left is then the pivot; when the original left-hand man leading, it is called Left in Front, the right is then the pivot.

To the Front in Slow or Quick Time

Front Form Squad - in quick time

Front Form- Squad		When the squad is marching as in file: The leading man will mark time the remainder, when right is in front, will turn to the left and wheel to the right, looking out, feeling in.
Forward or Halt-Dress		As soon as the quarter circle is completed, the word Forward will be given if the march is to be continued, or Halt-Dress if the squad is to be halted.

To the Front in Double Time

Double Time - Front Form Squad

In Double Time, Front Form- Squad

When the squad is marching as in file:

The leading man will move on steadily in quick time
the remainder, when right is in front, will make a half turn to the left
double up to their places
and take up the quick time succesively as they arrive in line with the leading man.

To the Pivot Flank

A squad is formed to the pivot flank simply by the words Halt-Front, as described in Section 30.

To the Reverse Flank

Right Form-Squad in quick time

On the Leading Man, Right Form- Squad

When the squad is marching as in file, right in front:

The leading man will turn to the right take two paces to his front and halt.
the remainder will form on the left of the right-hand man in succession.

To the Right-About

Right About Form-Squad - in quick time

On the Leading Man, Right about
Form- Squad

When the squad is marching as in file, right in front:

The leading man will wheel to the right about and take two paces to the front.
the remainder will march on as in file, wheeling to the right on the spot where the leading man has wheeled, and forming to the right successively, as already described.

33. The Side or Closing Step

The side or closing step will now be practised, the men judging their own time, on the principles laid down in Section 21, but the each man will carry his foot as far only as the foot of the man next to him. Care must be taken that the shoulders are kept square, and the paces made in direct line to the flank. When closing to the right the touch will be kept to the right, and vice versa.

SQUAD DRILL, WITH ARMS, IN SINGLE RANK

34. Manual and Platoon Exercises and Modes of Firing

Recruits having been thoroughly instructed in the preliminary drills explained in the foregoing Sections, will next be taught the rifle exercises and modes of firing, as detailed in Part III.; but in order that they may not forget what they have already learned, a part of each drill with arms will be devoted to the practice of the different marches, as directed in the following Section.

35. Marching with Arms, in Single Rank

Squads with arms must be practised in the slow, the quick, and the double marches, and in all the variations of step described in the foregoing Sections; when marching in double time the arms that does not carry the rifle will be raised as directed in Section 20. During these practises great attention must be paid to the position of the soldier.

Care must be taken, while marching, that the rifle does not partake in the slightest degree of the motion of the leg; the hand that carries the rifle must therefore, when marching with shouldered arms, be slightly separated from the thigh.

When marching with sloped arms the touch is kept with the elbow.

In battalion setting-up drill the men may now be practised in Marching Past at slow and quick time, by companies or half companies in single rank. The time must be beaten on a drum before the words Slow (or Quick) March are given, but no music or drums must be used during this practice.

All the instructions relating to the position and movements when marching will be found in Part III.

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Updated 12 June, 2001