The Cadet Hand Book and Section Roll/Guards
GUARDS AND SENTRIES.
Guards.
When guards turn out they will fall-in with sloped arms. When the guard is commanded by an officer, he will be three paces in front of the centre of the guard, and other officers will take post as in line; when by a N.-C.O., he will fall-in on the right of the guard.
Guards, including reliefs, rounds and patrols, will march with sloped arms and bayonets fixed. In wet weather, arms will be carried at the “secure.”
Guards, rounds and reliefs on the march meeting any persons entitled to a salute will pass on at “sloped arms,” paying the compliment of “eyes right,” or “eyes left” as required.
Guards turn out—
1. At the commencement of retreat, tattoo and reveille sounding, when they will be carefully inspected by their respective Commanders.
2. To their Commanding Officer, irrespective of rank, when in uniform, once a day, and present arms.
3. To armed parties approaching their post by day or night; if an armed corps,[1] they present; to other armed parties they stand with sloped arms.
4. To all officers senior to their Commanding Officer, presenting arms.
5. At all times in case of “alarm.”
6. To grand and visiting rounds when required. Guards do not pay compliments:—
1. Between the sounding of “retreat” and “reveille,” except to grand rounds, to whom they present arms.
2. To officers or parties passing in rear of the guard-room or tent, in which case the guard will turn out and stand with sloped arms facing the front.
When officers or persons entitled to a salute pass guards while in the act of relieving, both guards are to salute as they stand, receiving the word of command from the Senior Commander.
Reliefs.
When the ground admits, a new guard will advance in line towards the front of the old guard, and halt at fifteen paces distance, or six paces from the left of the old guard, facing in the same direction.
The old guard will then present arms, and the new guard return the compliment; both guards in succession will slope, order and stand at ease.
The guard is then told off, and the first relief sent out, accompanied by a corporal from the old guard, who marches at the head of the relief (if in file), or on the left (if in line), the corporal of the new guard marching on the right of the rear file or man (if in file), or on the right (if in line). As soon as all the sentries are relieved the corporals change places.
While the sentries are being relieved, the commander of the new guard will take over all Government property in charge of the guard, according to the list on the guard report.
When the reliefs have returned, and all the men of the old guard have fallen in, both guards will slope arms. The old guard will then move off, the new guard presenting arms. As soon as the ground is clear the new guard marches on to that occupied by the old guard, the orders are read to them, and they are then dismissed to the guard room or tent. In severe weather, sentries who should be relieved every two hours may be relieved every hour.
Visiting Guards.
Garrison and brigade guards are visited only by field officers detailed by the garrison or brigade.
Regimental guards (viz., a guard furnished by a regiment for the protection of its own property, etc.) are visited by the captain and subaltern of the day detailed by their own regiment.
Posting Sentries.
Sentries, when moving, are to do so at the slope.
On the approach of the relief, the sentry, with sloped arms, will place himself in front of the sentry box.
The relief is halted at about two paces from the sentry, the new sentry moving out and placing himself on the left of the old sentry, facing in the same direction; the old sentry will give over his orders, the corporal seeing they are correctly given and understood.
The word “pass” will then be given, on which the old sentry moves to his place in the relief, the new sentry closing two paces to his right.
When all the sentries are relieved, the N.-C.O. will march the old relief to the guard and report to the Commander, who will inspect the men and dismiss them.
When a sentry is posted on a new post, he will be halted and turned in the required direction, the corporal reading over to him his orders, and also point out the front and extent of beat, etc.
Sentries must not quit their arms, lounge or converse with anyone on any pretence.
Sentries Challenging.
1. A sentry will only challenge a person or party approaching his post when it is necessary for his own safety, when he is doubtful as to whether the person or party approaching is authorised to pass, when it is ordered for a special reason, such as in the case of a sentry posted on a fortress or prison, or when there is a countersign to be delivered.
2. When challenging on the part of a sentry is necessary, it will be carried out as follows:—
i.When a person or party approaches the post, the sentry will, as soon as the person or party is within speaking distance, call out, Halt—Advance one; or (Halt—Advance one, and give the countersign); at the same time coming to On Guard, but without drawing back the right foot; if the person or party approaching gives a satisfactory reply, the sentry will say Pass friend, All’s well; remaining On Guard till the person or party has passed.
Guards Turning out at Night.
1. Where the sentry is not directed to challenge, grand or visiting rounds will inform the sentry as to their identity on approaching his post, the sentry will then call: Guard—turn out. The guard will fall-in with bayonets fixed and arms sloped, and the commander will call out: Advance, Grand (or visiting) Rounds, All’s well. To grand rounds he will present; to visiting rounds he will remain at the slope.
2. Where the sentry challenges and there is no countersign to be delivered the same procedure as above will be observed, the sentry turning out the guard on receiving the reply Grand (or Visiting) Rounds to his challenge.
3. If there is a countersign to be given, a corporal or sergeant with a flank file of the guard will double out, and when about ten paces from the rounds will order the file to halt, bring them to On Guard, and will then give the challenge: Who comes there? The reply will again be, Grand (or Visiting) Rounds; the non-commissioned officer calling: Stand, Grand (or visiting) Rounds; Advance one and give the countersign. Rounds will then in a low voice give the countersign, which the non-commissioned officer alone will carry, in double time, for verification to the commander of the guard. If correct the commander of the guard will call out, Advance, Grand (or visiting) Rounds; All’s well. The file will then double back to the guard, and rounds will advance to the guard, which will present arms to grand rounds.
Sentries Paying Compliments.
On the approach of an officer, when he is at least fifteen paces distant, a sentry, if on the march, will halt, and turn to the front; if standing at ease, he will come to attention and “slope.” To field officers and other officers of the Army and Navy entitled to the salute, he will present arms.
To all armed parties, whether they are commanded by an officer or not, a sentry will present arms, and the party will return the compliment by the command, “eyes right,” or “eyes left.” Parties with side arms are to be considered as armed parties.
To all unarmed parties a sentry will stand at the slope, unless they are commanded by field officers, in which case he will present; in return, the commander of the party will give the word, “eyes right,” or “eyes left,” as the case may be, and salute, and having passed him, “eyes front.”
Parties marching with arms at the secure, and parties with side arms, will pay and return compliments as unarmed parties.
Sentries will not present arms to any officer or armed party (except grand rounds) after sunset; but as long as they can discern an officer, they will come to their front on his approach, and stand steady with sloped arms till he has passed.
Sentries in their sentry-boxes will salute by coming smartly to attention.
Sentries on outpost duty pay no compliments.
N.-C. Officers in command of, or with, guards, will present arms with their guard.
- ↑ By the expression "armed corps" is meant a regiment of Light Horse, a battery of artillery with its guns, a brigade of artillery without guns, garrison artillery of not less than two companies, engineers of not less than four companies, a battalion of infantry with or without colours.