TOPIC:

I read that: "Gen. Hart took great pride in varying his formations to suit the ground; at one time the Brigade was in column of route, then in mass of quarter columns, then again in line of quarter columns".
Now, I have tried in vain to understand the exact meaning of those terms... can someone familiar with them explain for me? Why were they used in 1900 when going into battle, apart from keeping the men occupied and disciplined?
Many thanks!
Rob

Column of route is similar to column of threes, except that the platoon commander is two paces in front of the centre single file of the platoon and the platoon warrant officer is two paces in rear of the centre single file of the platoon  Column of route is the formation most commonly used by platoon commanders to move platoons on the march.

Regards
Dave

I have a copy of the Infantry Training Manual from 1902.



A small book measuring 9cm x 12cm but packed with over 300 pages.

Here is an extract demonstrating the level of detail:

Blimey. It is incomprehensible!

Yep, incomprehensible indeed Rob. Tactition's sitting in a comfy office poring over rules and regulations and how to deploy against enemy forces.....all straight forward and text book fashion. Until it has to be put into practice. Discipline is one thing but going into battle using a how to guide and using your forces as per the rule book........What could possibly go wrong? I think the modern term would be lessons learned, unfortunately even after the ABW another updated set of tactics and rule books were used in 1914....Lessons not learned more like.

Dear Rob,

I know this answer came very late, but recently, I was able to obtain a digitized copy of Infantry Drill 1896. And the definition page inside actually detailed all those formations, with a couple pictures showing how the formation actually looked like(though still kind of confusing). I'll attach a list of formations described in the definitions below:


Alignment
Any straight line on which the front of a body of troops is formed, or is to form

Column of half-battalions in line
Half-battalions in line, on parallel and successive alignments, at a distance from one another, equal to their own frontage

Column of Companies
Comapnies formed on parallel and successive alignments, at a distance from one another equal to their own frontage. The word column will be used throughout to describe this formation

Column of half companies
Half companies formed on parallel and successive alignments, at a distance from one another equal to their own frontage

Column of sections
Sections formed on parallel and successive alignments, at a distance from one another equal to their own frontage

Quarter Column
Companies on parallel an successive alignments, at a distance from one another of six paces

Line
Troops formed on the same alignment

Line of columns or quarter columns
Battalions in column or quarter column, formed on the same alignment, with any named interval between them

Mass
Battalions in quarter column, on parallel and successive alginments with any named distance between battalion

I'll also attach the pictures that I mentioned above.
Here's the link to the drill manual if you're interested: wellcomecollection.org/works/t7n4fuu7
The definitions begins at page xxiii.

I must say that even with clear definitions and diagrams showing the formation, it is still quite confusing. Probably due to victorian era English, and to the fact that British Army is still training the army as if it's going to fight in some 1840s war. I'd say formations on the South African battlefield might be a lot more different since this kind of line formation will cause immense casualties. I recall that in Infantry Training 1905 the Army was already emphasizing the importance of adopting skirmish line formation.

Regards,
MountedRifleman










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