(i) Place of Parade. The place of parade for regimental parades is the regimental parade ground, and for company parades the company parade ground, in all cases unless otherwise ordered.
These parade grounds will be notified in regimental orders on change of station or on arrival in camp and bivouac.
(ii) Alarm Posts. Alarm posts are the same as the respective parade grounds.
(iii) Ceremonial and Manouvre Parades. When ceremonial parade is ordered companies will fall in before inspection on the regimental parade ground. On manoeuvre parades, or on drill parades when the word " ceremonial " is not stated, companies will be inspected and proved on company parade grounds, and will then be marched to the regimental parade ground or place of assembly. In this latter case markers will be sent to report to the Adjutant or Regimental Serjeant-Major five minutes before the hour of parade. On no account will companies arrive at the regimental parade ground earlier than is absolutely necessary, and the practice of early arrival on a parade or at a starting point is forbidden.
61. Words of Command.
When it is required to call a parade or party of men to attention, the designation of that parade or party will be the executive word of command on which the party will act.
The executive words of command to be used are as follows :—
Forty Third, Fifty Second, Parade, Company, Platoon, Section, Squad, Rank, Party, Duties, Guard, Signallers, Band, Buglers. The cautionary word of command in the case of men standing easy is " at ease."
Example 1. On a ceremonial parade the officer commanding No. 1 company wishes to move his company from line to column of fours (the company is standing easy.)
(i) No. 1. At ease.
(ii) No. 1. Company (the men come to attention).
(iii) No. 1. Move to the right in fours, form-fours—right.
Quick—march.
Note.—When the company is again halted and turned into line the men remain at attention.
Example II. A party of men sitting down being called to attention " at ease— party."
Example III. On a ceremonial parade an officer of " A " company inspecting the rear rank wishes to call them to attention.
Letter A. At ease—rear-rank (the men come to attention).
The above order does not in any way interfere with the Light Infantry method of working from the stand-at-ease position on all drill parades except ceremonial. At the same time, should it be necessary to call a drill parade to attention for any reason, the executive words of command as stated above will be used. In order not to create any confusion in the mind of the soldier, the executive words of command given in para. 61 will never be used as cautionary words, but only a letter or number. Thus :—The commander of No. 3 platoon on a drill parade wishes to move his platoon in fours to a flank from line. He will give the command No. 3. At ease—Move to the right in fours. Form—fours. Right. Quick—march.
62. Dressing and Numbering.
On manoeuvre parades, dressing will be taken up automatically from the directing flank on the completion of a movement without any word of command, the men standing at ease again after dressing.
Then if the alignment is not sufficiently good, the men will be brought to attention, and the command " right (or left)—dress " will be given.
The words " by the right " will only be used as a caution before moving off or when on the move.
On parades, other than ceremonial, when the command " number " is given, all men will come to attention. As each man numbers, he and his rear rank man will stand at ease together.
63. Arms Drill.
DRAWING BAYONETS
On the command " draw bayonets " the bayonet will be drawn in two movements.
(i) Seize the handle with the left hand as in the first movement of " fixing bayonets."
(ii) Draw the bayonet from the scabbard and hold it perpendicular against the left leg, thumb in the ring, ring to the front.
When the inspecting officer reaches him, each man will raise the bayonet smartly to a horizontal position, keeping the finger nails uppermost and the left elbow in to the side. He will then turn the bayonet over twice, and cut it away to the left side, when the officer has passed him.
When the inspecting officer has passed the man next to him, he will place his rifle between his knees, bayonet in the right hand and return it to the scabbard, then return to the order.
64. Platoon Drill.
(i) Forming up, inspection, telling off and proving a platoon.
In order to maintain the regimental system of drill, the inspection will be carried out at the order and bayonets will not be fixed.
(ii) In forming squads or platoons rifles will be brought down as the half-right (or left) turn is made.
65. Ceremonial Parade.
The following is the procedure for ceremonial parades.
(i) Five minutes before the hour notified for parade the Regimental Serjeant-Major will call for right markers of companies who will form up in line on the directing flank facing left.
The Regimental Serjeant-Major will give the command " Outwards —turn " on which the marker of the leading company will make a right turn and the remainder a left turn.
The Regimental Serjeant-Major will then give the command " Quick—march," on which the marker of the leading company will stand fast and the remainder will step off. Each marker as he arrives at column distance will halt and turn about, giving the next successive marker the time as he does so. The Regimental Serjeant-Major will then cover the markers and give the command " Steady " on which markers will stand at ease and the men will form up in open order.
(ii) Officers will then form up, in order of seniority, in line, twelve, paces from and facing the directing flank of their own company.
(iii) Company orderly Serjeants will then call the roll.
(iv) At the hour of parade the Regimental Serjeant-Major will give the command " At ease " on which the bugler will sound the regimental horn and the parade, less officers, will come to attention on the last note. The Regimental Serjeant-Major will give the command " Right—dress " and companies will be dressed by the right guides in the usual manner.
(v) Company Serjeant-Majors will then report present or otherwise to company seconds-in-command who will hand over to the company commanders.
Officers will then march on to parade.
(vi) Companies will be inspected, equalised if necessary, sized, ranks closed, numbered, proved and stood at ease,
(vii) Officers will now draw swords taking the time from then-company commanders.
(viii) The adjutant will then give the command " Covering " on which the guides of companies will double forward and take up covering at close column distance.
The adjutant will give the command " Steady," the guides will then stand at ease, and the buglers will sound the " Advance."
(ix) Companies will be marched on to their guides, dressed and stood at ease. (Guides come to attention as their company marches on to them),
(x) The commander will take over command of the parade, call the Regiment to attention, and order the adjutant to collect reports.