ANNUAL COURSE OF TRAINING.
=177.= _Description of Course._
1. The annual training of the soldier[9] will be conducted on
systematic and progressive principles. Militia and volunteer battalions
will, as far as circumstances permit, observe the spirit of these
instructions.
2. At home it will commence on the 1st March, and terminate on the
31st October. At tropical or semi-tropical stations the course may be
modified to suit climatic and other conditions; but these instructions
will be observed as closely as possible.
3. The course will commence with company training, continue with
battalion training, which will be followed by brigade and division
training, and terminate with combined manœuvres of all arms.
4. Exercises in the field will as a rule be carried out in service
conditions as regards equipment.
5. Musketry classification practices will be carried out as may be
ordered by the general officer commanding; field practices will be
carried out periodically throughout the course.
=178.= _Detail of the Course._
1. _Company Training._--The first period of the annual training
will be exclusively devoted to company training. During this period
each company will be struck off all duties for 36 consecutive working
days.
After a brief revision of elementary work the instruction of trained
soldiers will for the most part consist of exercises in the field to
practise subordinate leaders in the art of command and the handling of
men in all service conditions.
Company training will invariably conclude with a practical inspection
by the commanding officer.
2. _Battalion Training._--As soon as the company training is
completed, battalion training will commence, for which purpose each
battalion, or portion of a battalion, will be struck off all duties,
and be at the disposal of its commander for at least 18, and if
possible 24, consecutive working days. The training will mainly consist
of exercises in the field, including firing, marching, &c.
(i) In the earlier portion of this period battalions may, if
their commanders consider it expedient, be sub-divided, and
exercised under arrangements similar to those laid down for the
company.
(ii) At stations where single battalions are quartered, or where
detachments are formed, the spirit of the above instructions
will be observed.
(iii) The General Officer Commanding will hold his inspection
towards the conclusion of the training.
3. _Brigade and Division Training and Manœuvres._--Brigade and
division training and manœuvres will take place during the remaining
months of the annual course, the time allotted to each being decided by
the General Officer Commanding.
4. In carrying out the course it is open to General Officers
Commanding, while conforming to the spirit of the above detail, to
modify it to suit the circumstances of any particular command. Thus in
some cases it may be more convenient to strike off for training each
company or battalion for three days during each week; or, at stations
where brigade and division training and combined manœuvres cannot take
place, more time may be allotted to company and battalion training
respectively. It will, however, be exceptional for a battalion not to
be trained annually with its own and other arms of the service.
5. During the furlough season every facility is to be given to well
conducted men to visit their friends; but this period will be occupied
by such officers and men as are present with the battalion in:--
The training of officers in professional duties (see King’s
Regulations, para. 676, and “Combined Training,” S. =180=.)
The special training of subaltern officers of companies as
instructors and leaders.
The special training of non-commissioned officers.
Instruction of scouts.
Company officers, non-commissioned officers and men should have
at least two hours physical training every week during the
furlough season.
Obstacle training.
Drill.
Visual training (see S. =18=, Musketry Exercises).
Training and inspection of signallers.
Training of machine gun detachments, and range takers.
Training in semaphore signalling. All officers and
non-commissioned officers and 20 per cent. of the men to be
trained.
=179.= _Annual Course of Training of Auxiliary Forces._
1. The annual training of units will be carried out on the same
systematic and progressive principles as have been laid down for the
Regular Forces.
2. It is not possible for the Auxiliary Forces in the limited time
for training at their disposal to carry out the provisions of the
annual course as laid down for the Regular Army, but the spirit of the
instructions will be observed.
3. The annual training in camp will be confined to tactical exercises
and fire discipline, &c., except in the case of the Militia, by whom
drill may, in addition, in very exceptional circumstances be practised.
=180.= _General rules for annual training._
1. _All ranks to be instructed._--Every available officer,
non-commissioned officer, and man, with the exception of private
soldiers of more than fifteen years’ service, bandsmen, pioneers,
and such as are exempted from the annual course of musketry, will be
present, and will be relieved of all other duties. Leave or furlough
will, on days of instruction, be granted only in very exceptional
circumstances.
2. During the course the battalion should, if practicable, go into
camp or bivouac in service conditions for four days; this may be done
separately by companies if more convenient.
=181.= _Company training._
1. _Method of instruction._--The duty of the officer commanding
the battalion is to supervise the training of the company and give
company leaders the benefit of his experience, but he should not lay
down the method to be employed in the training of companies. The
training must be carried out by the officers of the company without
undue interference on the part of superiors. It is only when the
methods are manifestly wrong, and would work harm, that there should be
interference.
Particular attention must be paid to the individual instruction of the
soldier, and to the improvement of his capacity to think and act for
himself. This can best be attained by explanation previous to and
during an exercise, and by repetition of the practice when necessary;
it should be remembered, however, that the interest of the men is apt
to flag if they are kept too long at one subject.
The basis of the whole system of training is careful individual
instruction, and gradual progression from the simple to the more
difficult.
During instruction in elementary principles companies should act alone,
or against a marked enemy and the company commander should concentrate
his attention on the individual instruction of his men; but in many
of the advanced exercises an opposing body gives not only increased
interest to the practice, but also makes it more instructive.
When companies act as opposing forces, each practice should be based
on a definite supposition and object, a scheme should be drawn up and
executed as far as is possible in conditions of actual warfare, and a
mounted officer should be detailed to act as umpire.
The greatest attention must be paid to the development of section and
squad command. The capable leading of smaller units is an important
item of success in the attack.
During inclement weather, instruction will be given in the drill shed
or barrack room by means of lectures, explanations, &c.
Each day’s work should be carefully prepared by company commanders, and
short lectures of about 20 minutes on the exercises to be carried out,
given to all ranks.
At the practice of outpost duties a broad distinction should be drawn
between individual instruction and tactical training. During the
former every private should be posted as sentry, the company should be
exercised in the rudiments of outpost work, and the prescribed duties
should be carried out without reference to the tactical situation,
or the employment of the minimum number of men in the sentry line;
the main body of the piquet may, in order to save time and give more
practice in sentry and patrol duty, be indicated by a flag. Daring
tactical training outposts should be placed in accordance with a
scheme, strictly in service conditions.
2. _Examination by the commanding officer._--At the end of the course
the officer commanding the battalion will devote one day to an
examination of the company. The scheme for this day should be drawn up
either under the direction of the general officer commanding, or by the
commanding officer.
3. _General officers commanding._--They will personally supervise the
companies under training as much as possible, and when circumstances
permit be present at the examination by the commanding officer.
4. _Musketry course to be combined._--The field practices which can be
combined with training, should be carried out as part of a tactical
exercise.
In field practices in which the whole company fires at one time,
the exercise may, in the first instance, be practised with blank
ammunition, and afterwards be carried out with ball cartridge. During
the exercise the manner in which the men take advantage of cover, and
how they adapt the firing position to the irregularities of the ground,
will be carefully watched by the company instructor.
5. _Equipment for instruction._--The tents and tools authorised
Equipment Regulations, Part I, S. X, “Camp Equipment and Intrenching
Tools,” and the bridging stores laid down in Regulations for Engineer
Services, will, in ordinary circumstances, be sufficient for the
instruction. Should any increased issue be required, a special
application will be made through the general officer commanding.
6. _Returns._--To ensure that every man is accounted for, A.F.
B 214 will be kept during the annual training and produced for the
inspection of the general officer commanding, if he desires.
5. _Night Operations._--On days when night operations are to be carried
out the work during the day should be of a light nature, although not
suspended altogether.
Night outposts should be practised on four occasions at least.
6. _Intrenched posts, &c._--Arrangements will, whenever possible,
be made by general officers commanding for a post to be placed in a
state of defence in order that the defences and obstacles mentioned in
para. 8 (vii) may be shown to the men. They should occasionally place
the services of an officer of the Royal Engineers at the disposal of
company commanders to give technical advice on the entrenchments and
field work executed by the company.
7. _Blank ammunition._--Blank ammunition will be used in practising the
more advanced exercises.
8. _Syllabus of Instruction._--The Syllabus of Instruction is given
as a guide; the captain being held responsible that his company is
thoroughly instructed. To ensure this it may be necessary to repeat
many, and combine some of the practices.
(i) Attack and defence; general principles; control of fire;
effect of fire; fire discipline; infantry formations with
regard to fire; protection of flanks; duties of half company,
section, and squad commanders. Infantry in attack; general
rules; distribution; duties of several bodies; the decisive
attack; the assault; rallying and redistribution; measures to
secure a position won; holding attacks; feints; flank attacks;
surprises; issue of orders; formations generally and formations
to meet emergencies; frontage, direction, pace; utilisation of
cover and adapting formations to ground; fire positions and
mutual support of units, by fire, to cover advances; practice
of casualties. Infantry in defence; distribution; occupation of
a position; counter-attacks. Attack and defence of positions,
woods, defiles, bridges, houses, &c. Retirements. Action against
cavalry and artillery. Escort to guns. Supply of ammunition.
(ii) Composition, formation and action of advanced, rear and
flank guards, by day and night, in various circumstances.
(iii) Scouting. Conduct of patrols by day and night in varying
country. Reconnoitring positions, woods, defiles, villages.
Importance of observing and reporting accurately what is seen.
Necessity of transmitting information. Ambuscades.
(iv) Outposts, general principles; importance of vigilance of
change from day to night positions; attack by day and night.
Opportunity must be given for locating sounds and estimating
their distance by night. Night marching to be combined with
surprise attacks on the outpost line.
(v) Convoys; their escort, attack and defence.
(vi) Use of pick and shovel; marking out and execution of tasks;
extension of working parties by day and night. Execution of
shelter trenches and a portion of a field work; selection of
site, profile, construction by day and under cover of darkness.
(vii) Defence of hedges, banks, ditches, posts, houses, &c.
Obstacles. Construction of loopholes. Use of cutting tools.
Revetments. Penetration of bullets.
(viii) Knotting and lashing. The loading of pack animals Method
of packing wheeled transport.
(ix) Camping. Pitching, striking, unpacking and packing tents
in the valise. Telling off camp parties. Bivouacs. Sanitary
precautions in camp and on the line of march; position and
construction of latrines. Field kitchens; cooking in mess tins;
kneading and baking bread and chupatties; cooking of ration
biscuits. Orders concerning water supply and boiling of water.
Expedients for increase of men’s comfort in the field; care of
feet.
=182.= _Battalion Training._
1. _Method of instruction_--
The training of the battalion will be carried out on the principles
that have been laid down for the company.
SPECIAL TRAINING OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
=183.= _Method of Instruction._
The non-commissioned officers of companies, and privates likely to
become non-commissioned officers, will be instructed by the officers
of the company in the following subjects. The value of the instruction
given to non-commissioned officers, and their knowledge in map reading,
&c., will be tested by general and commanding officers.
1. _Subjects_--
(i) Map reading.
(ii) Duties as commanders of sections and squads.
(iii) Duties on outposts.
(iv) Duties on advanced, rear and flank guards.
(v) Scouting and the development of powers of observation.
(vi) Duties as commanders of patrols.
(vii) Writing brief reports of information gained.
(viii) Defence of small posts.
2. _Method of instruction_--
The training in the subjects enumerated in para. 1 will be carried out
partly by lectures, but chiefly in the field. The following points may
be mentioned to show the line which should be adopted in carrying out
the instruction.
(i) _Map reading._--Having received theoretical instruction in
this subject, non-commissioned officers should be shown how to fix
their position on a map, how to identify places by means of it, and
how to use it in a strange country. They should next be assembled at
a point in the vicinity of the station; each provided with a map, and
directed to meet the officer at some other point at a given hour, to
move by a different road, and to march at a given rate.
(ii) _Outposts._--By small outpost schemes, when the
non-commissioned officers’ knowledge of the subjects should be tested
by questions as to the positions they would suggest for the various
portions of the outposts.
(iii) _Reconnaissance._--By sending the non-commissioned officers
out from an imaginary outpost line as commanders of patrols and
directing them to furnish short reports.