Bayonet Drill

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

Bayonet Exercises

Bayonet exercise is taught in stages, each stage being more complex:

Preliminary Drill

Guards and Points, by Numbers

Guards and Points in an Oblique Direction by Numbers

Points to the Rear by Numbers

Review Exercise - putting it all together

Review Exercise in Two Ranks

Review Exercise in Quick Time

Bayonet Exercise - Preliminary Drill

The squad, having fallen in in single rank, will be formed into two deep, as follows:

Command		Action
Shoulder-Arms		As described in Shoulder Arms
Prepare for Bayonet-Exercise		Odd numbers stand fast, even numbers face to the right about
Quick-March		Even numbers move four paces to the rear, halt and front
Port-Arms		As described in Port-Arms
Charge-Bayonets		As described in Charge-Bayonets (In Bayonet exercise, this is called "First Position")
Preliminary Drill in Slow (or Quick Time)		Caution.

The feet will be kept at right angles to each other throughout the following exercises.

Second-Position

Draw back the right foot twenty-four inches, the body resting upon it,
the heels in line with each other,
both knees bent, and kept well apart
the right directly over the foot,
the left easy and flexible, pointing to the front

Third-Position		Advance the body by extending the right leg and bending forward the left leg without moving or raising the feet
Second-Position		As before
Advance		Move forward the left foot six inches, and follow with the right the same length of step.
Retire		Step back with the right foot six inches and follow with the left the same length of step.
Double-Advance		Bring out the right foot to the left, and step out again with the left to the "Second Position"
Double-Retire		Bring the left foot back to the right, and step back again with the right to the "Second Position"
First-Position		Bring up the right heel to the left, straightening the knees
Shoulder-Arms		As usual, resuming the proper front
Order-Arms		As before
Stand at-Ease		As described in Stand at-Ease

Guards and Points, by Numbers

Command		Action
Attention Shoulder-Arms Port-Arms Charge-Bayonets		As described above.
Guards and Points by Numbers; in Slow (Quick) Time		Caution
Guard		Fall back to the "Second Position" with the knees well apart, the back and neck bent and chest drawn in, the rifle retaining the postion of "Charge Bayonet" except that the right wrist will be upon the upper part of the hip, the left elbow close to and in front of the body, the point of the bayonet directed towards the height of a man's breast.
Point		Without quitting hold or losing the balance of the rifle advance it gradually to the full extent of the arms; at the same time incline forwards to the "Third Position" the right elbow rather under and close to the stock, and lower the head, as in taking aim.
Two		Resume slowly the position of "Guard"

Low-Guard

Bring the rifle to the "Low Guard" by turning the sling uppermost,
and raising the butt and right elbow as high as the head,
the back of the hand towards the right ear,
and the bayonet pointing downwards to the front

Point		As before, but downwards; and as the rifle gradually descends, turn the barrel upwards
Two		Resume the position of the "Low Guard"

High-Guard

Bring the rifle to the "High Guard" by lowering the right wrist to the hip,
the left hand to be opposite the breast

Point		As before, but upwards
Two		Resume the position of the "High Guard"

Head-Parry		Raise the rifle, turning the sling upwards till the left wrist is as high as, and opposite to, the forehead; the butt slanting downwards.
Two		Return to "High Guard"

Shorten-Arms		Throw back the rifle to the full extent of the right arm, lowering the point of the bayonet direct to the front, the barrel resting upon the left arm, just above the elbow; and carry back the body by extending the left leg
Point		As before, direct to the front, as in Point "Third Position"
Two		Return to "Shorten-Arms"
Guard		As before "Second Position"
Shoulder-Arms		As from the position of "Load" standing
Order-Arms Stand at-Ease		As usual

When it is necessary to repeat a thrust in the above practice, the command "As you were" will be given instead of "Two".

Intention of each Movement

Thrust		Against a man...
Guard and Point		on foot, on level ground
Low Guard and Point		below, when standing on a height, such as a parapet
High Guard and Point		on a height, or against a mounted man
Head Parry		delivering a sabre cut to the head

The thrust of a bayonet or lance can be parried by a slight movement of the rifle to the right or left when at either of the three guards.

Guards and Points in an Oblique Direction by Numbers

Attention Shoulder-Arms Port-Arms Charge-Bayonets		As usual
Variations of Guard and Point by Numbers, in Slow (or Quick) Time		Caution
Guard		As before
Right		Keeping the feet steady, and retaining the position of "Guard", turn the body to the rigth front, so as to present the bayonet in that position
Point		As before, to the right front.
Two		Return to "Guard" to the right front
Left		Turn the body as before, but to the left front
Point		As before, to the left front.
Two		Return to "Guard" to the left front
Low-Guard Point Two		As before, to the left front
High-Guard Point Two		As before, to the left front
Right		Retaining the position of "High Guard", turn the body to the right front.
Point		As before, to the right front
Two		Return to the "High Guard" to the right front
Low-Guard Point Two		As before, to the right front
Guard		As before
Shoulder-Arms Order-Arms Stand at-Ease		As before

Points to the Rear by Numbers

In order to bring the body and limbs into equal action on both sides, the preceeding practices should be performed with the right shoulder and foot foremost, the squad being faced about, as follows:-

Attention Shoulder-Arms Port-Arms Charge-Bayonets		As usual
		The Caution will be given as before, according to the exercise which is to be performed.
Guard		As before

About

Straighten the knees
and raise the rifle perpendicularly in front of the centre of the body;
at the same time turn to the right about upon the heels,
the right foot pointing to the proper rear,
the left foot to its left,
and smartly changing the hold of the rifle with the right hand at the balance,
and grasping the small of the stock with the left hand,
sink down again to the position of "Guard", by bending the knees,
and bringing the weight of the body on the left leg

Review Exercise

In the review exercise the soldiers will perform the second motion, judging their own time without the word Two, the point being given, and the rifle drawn back to the position from which it was delivered in quick, but marked, time.

For this exercise the squad, company, or battalion will be drawn up in line.

Prepare for Bayonet Exercise		The odd numbers of the front rank stand fast; the remainder, including the colour party, the captains, coverers, and supernumerary ranks, go to the right about
Quick-March		Those who have faced about will move direct to the rear; the even numbers of the front rank, four paces the odd numbers of the rear rank, seven paces; the even numbers of the rear rank, eleven paces the colour party, captains and coverers, eighteen paces, and the supernumerary ranks, fourteen paces; each man halting and fronting at his proper distance, and the ranks dressing by the right: after the captains have moved back as above directed, they will move to the rear of the centre of their companies.
Review Exercise		Caution
Guard		Seize the small of the butt with the right hand, and come down at once to the position of "Guard"
Point		Deliver the point to the front, rest a pause of slow time, and return to "Guard" each movement being swiftly and smartly executed.

The remaining points will be performed in like manner, by the following commands:

Low-Guard,
Point.
High-Guard,
Point.
Head-Parry.
Shorten-Arms,
Point.
Guard.
Right,
Point.
Left,
Point.
Low-Guard,
Point.
High-Guard,
Point.
Right,
Point.
Low-Guard,
Point.
Guard.
About.

The above exercise will then be performed with the right shoulder and leg foremost, and when it is completed, line will be formed as follows:-

Shoulder-Arms Form Line Quick-March		The ranks in rear will move up to their proper places in two deep.
Order-Arms		As usual
Stand at-Ease		As usual

Review Exercise in Two Ranks

The exercise should also be practised in two ranks without intervals, thus: - the men standing in the formation with intervals described in the preceeding section, will receive the command Form Ranks, Quick-March; on which:

the even numbers of each rank will move up between the odd numbers,
the odd (or even) numbers will then be faced about,
so that the movements may be performed, by alternate men, to the front and rear at the same time.

Review Exercise in Quick Time

When the men are perfect in the exercise, it may be performed without further words of command than Review Exercise in Quick Time-Guard, upon which they will go regularly through the movements, executing them smartly, but resting a pause of slow time between each motion.

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