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DEDICATION

Special dedication to my spectacular wife Mylinda, my fantastic son Christopher, and my amazing daughter Allison. It continually fills me with awe that God has given you to me. I love you.

-Kirk Lawson

LONDON:PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONARY OFFICE,

BY HARRISON AND SONS,PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HIS MAJESTY.

(Wt. 15191 80,000 9 | 07—H & S 1424) P07217

INSTRUCTION IN BAYONET FIGHTING.

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(This chapter dealing with Bayonet Fighting is to be substitutedfor Chapter III, Appendix to the Training Manuals, 1905, andwill be included in the next edition of that work.)

§ 1. General Instructions for Bayonet Fighting.1. The following instructions in bayonet fighting have been

drawn up with the object of teaching men to use their bayonetswith good effect in action. Some of the details, although theyafford an excellent training for this result, are, however, moreparticularly adapted to competition fighting. It is—owing tocertain necessary restrictions—impossible to draw up a systemof fighting suitable only for the actual combat that will containsufficient variety to ensure the required handiness and sufficientinterest to encourage men to practise it; but the system herelaid down is of as practical a nature for the actual fight as canbe devised, and the acquirement of skill in it will ensure thenecessary control of the weapon on the field of battle.

2. The use of the bayonet as a weapon of attack anddefence is a necessary part of the instruction of the soldiertrained to fight on foot.

In teaching bayonet fighting individual instruction isessential; some of the preliminary lessons, however, can begiven in small squads. The best way to give the requiredindividual instruction is by the method of “Instructor andPupil,” followed by two pupils opposing one another under theInstructor’s supervision, as is explained in the “Assaultinglessons.”

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To ensure individual instruction, it is desirable that not morethan four pupils be given to each Instructor, and that thesame Instructor should take the same pupils throughout theircourse.

Every encouragement should be given to the men topractise bayonet fighting.

3. Leg work in small squads with dummy rifle and workat the “wall pads” (lessons iii, iv, and vi) should be practisedfrequently even by skilled fighters, and, if performed in anintelligent way with plenty of activity and ease of movementcombined with rapidity and energy, should result in greatlyimproved fighting powers.

4. The following lessons are arranged in progressive orderand, in the first instance, should be taught in the order inwhich they are laid down.

Great importance should be attached to the Assaultinglessons, as it is by means of them that the men are givena combative spirit and are enabled to see step by step thefighting application of each detail which they are taught.They relieve the dulness of routine work, encourage thespirit of emulation, and give the men from an early stageof their instruction some idea of actual fighting, so thatthey are worked up to the final fighting stage almost uncon-sciously. The Assaulting lessons (lessons ix, xiii, xiv, and xvi)should therefore be frequently practised by all, including skilledfighters, and, when once they have been learned, should alwaysform part of a day’s lesson.

Pupils should not be allowed to practise the actual “Assault”until they have had plenty of practise in “No. IV AssaultingLesson” (lesson xvi).

5. Suppleness, lightness, ease, and freedom of movementshould be aimed at throughout the instruction, and all stiffnessmust be carefully avoided. It should be noted that stiffness isoften acquired as a habit by keeping men too long in oneposition.

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6. When first practising the Assault after having takenlessons only, the pupil should not be discouraged because hecannot bring off his attacks, &c., exactly as he expects, but heshould try again under the eye of an Instructor, think over thereasons of his want of success, and work on the principles whichhe has been taught.

7. Great attention should be devoted to developing quickness,energy, and rapidity of movement. It is especially importantto insist on a good and very rapid attack pushed well home.A resolute attack of this nature has far more chance ofsuccess than one that is not pushed with the same determina-tion, and, even if it be parried, the very determination andenergy with which it was delivered frequently so upsets theadversary that he is unable to “Return.” A half-heartedattack is dangerous only to the attacker.

The training must also aim at developing the power ofmaking a quick recovery after an attack has failed, and a goodparry and return, when attacked.

If the instruction be made progressive and lessons taught inthe order here given, with repetition whenever necessary, themen should become efficient in the use of the bayonet andacquire a practical knowledge of its use in the combat.

8. Bayonet lighting should never be taught as a paradeexercise.

When men are inspected in bayonet fighting, they should beseen at the Assault (Loose Play).

§ 2. Lesson i.In this lesson the pupil should carry a wooden dummy rifle

and wear a left hand glove.From the position of Order Arms, advance

the left foot about 2½ foot-lengths in thedirection of the adversary, bending the kneeswell in doing so, at the sarge time cant therifle to the front (bayonet leading) and seize

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ON GUARD.

it with the left hand as far forward as can beconveniently managed, so as to ensure fullcontrol of the weapon, the right hand at thesmall.

In this position the rifle should be heldwell forward and covering the left side withthe barrel turned slightly over towards theleft and the point of the bayonet a little tothe left of the central line, left arm sightlybent, the right hand rather in front of thebody which should be erect, without beingstiff, and balanced evenly between each leg,head and eyes turned towards the adversary,left foot pointing straight to the front andright foot to the right.

Great importance should be attached to training men toassume an easy position on guard, free from all stiffness andconstraint so as to be ready for instant movement; of the rifleand body. Allowance must therefore be made for thedifference in build of individual men, and exact adherence tothe typical position should not be required so long as theprinciples indicated above are adhered to, i.e., wide base for thefeet, easy balance of the body, forward threatening position ofthe rifle covering the left side, and full control of the weapon.The principle of the foregoing remarks applies also to all thepositions and movements in bayonet fighting.

REST.

Without making a drill movement of it,the pupil should assume a position of restfrom this or any other position in the easiestway.

FIRST POINT.

Deliver the point as rapidly as possible ashigh as the adversary’s breast to the fullextent of both arms, reaching well forward indoing so and letting the rifle slide throughthe left hand.

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ON GUARD. Return on guard.

THROW POINT.

Deliver the point as high as the breast withgreat rapidity as follows :—

The rifle should be started forward withboth hands, then quitting with the left hand,which should be thrown well behind the bodyto balance it, reach as far forward as possiblewith the right hand (back of the hand up)and lean the body well over the left thigh,straightening the right leg. The right heelmay he slightly raised off the ground, but notthe tread of the foot.

It is important to teach men to deliver these points (whetherwith or without the lunge) to the utmost limit of their reachwith rapidity, and without making any preliminary movementwhich would put the adversary on the alert and so enable himto parry it.

ON GUARD. Return on guard.

RIGHT PARRY.

From the on guard position, carry the riflesufficiently to the right front, straighteningthe left, arm in doing so, so as to beat off theadversary’s rifle towards the right front. Informing the parry the wrist should not bebent nor the rifle twisted in the hand.

LEFT PARRY.(HIGH or LOW)

From the position of Right Parry, slightlybend the left arm and carry the rifle suffi-ciently to the left front (high or low as thecase may be), straightening the left arm indoing so, so as to beat off the adversary’s rifletowards the left front, and in the case of thelow parry to the left front and downwards.

The left parry should be made with thebarrel of the rifle to the left without bendingthe wrist or twisting the rifle round in the

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hands. When forming the Left Parry low,care should be taken not to raise the righthand.

The men should be taught later to form the parries from anyposition.

The height at which the parries are made should, of course,vary according to the height of the adversary’s attack.

In teaching the parries the Instructor should at first illus-trate them with the aid of an assistant who knows them. Heshould then take each pupil separately and, by holding hisown weapon in the required position, show him a threateningattack and make him parry it, indicating the part to bedefended, rather than the name of the parry.

By this means the pupil is made to realise from thebeginning exactly what he has to parry, and the necessityfor it.

Great care should be taken that the rifle is moved by thearms alone, working free of the body, which should be kepterect and steady; in other words, the body should not bethrown out of its normal position facing the adversary byfollowing the movement of the rifle.

§ 3. Lesson ii.Pupil in the on guard position, but without the rifle in his

hands.

ADVANCE.

Advance the left foot quietly but quickly(distance according to requirements), andfollow it immediately with the right, whichshould be moved an equal distance so as toresume the on guard position.

RETIRE.

This should be a stealthy movement.Pushing easily backward from the left foot,carry the right foot the required distance tothe rear, followed by the left foot an equaldistance.

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JUMP.

Pushing sharply backward from the leftfoot, leap back lightly but rapidly, as far asnecessary, straight to the rear and at onceresume the on guard position. The right footis, as it were, chased backward by the left foot.

LUNGE.

Moving the right hand, right shoulder,and body rapidly forward, as directed for theThrow Point, and the left hand to the rear,advance the left foot about one foot-length tothe front, moving it close to the ground, atthe same time straightening the right leg.The left knee to be perpendicularly over theinstep, the right heel (but not the treadof the foot) raised slightly from the ground,and the forward reach made as long aspossible.

The Lunge is described for use with the Throw Point, asit is usually so required. It may also be used with the FirstPoint, but time should not as a rule be spent on practising itwith the First Point.

ON GUARD.Return on guard by swinging the body

backward, and pushing off from the left foot.ADVANCE AND

LUNGE.RETIRE AND

LUNGE.LUNGE AND

JUMP.

These movements, having been learnedsingly, may then be practised combined ashere given, the Jump from the Lunge beingassisted by a vigorous backward swing of thebody.

The leg work is taught early in the course of instruction,with a view to making a man from the start as active as pos-sible, agility and freedom of movement of the legs being ofthe utmost importance.

§ 4. Lesson iii.Repeat lesson ii with the dummy rifle in the hands,

taking care to keep the men alert, active, and full of life.

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§ 5. Lesson iv.With dummy rifle.Practise the First Point and the Throw Point, especially the

latter, at “Wall pad,” without and with lunging, graduallyteaching the pupil to increase is reach by increasing the dis-tance from which he delivers his point.

This is a very useful and important lesson in order to teachmen to aim at and hit something with the point of the bayonetbefore being opposed to a living target. It also teaches themto judge their distance properly, and increases their reach,speed and energy.

A wall pad can be made by hanging a padded jacket onthe wall about the height of the breast of a man on guard.

§ 6. Lesson v.Pupil with dummy rifle and left-hand glove.

PARRY AND

RETURN.

INSTRUCTOR throws hut his rifle gently asif he were going to make a Throw Point.

PUPIL parries sharply, and immediately“returns” with a First Point without actuallyhitting.

Repeat in each line of attack (i.e., the line on which theattack is made with reference to the opponent’s weapon), takingcare that pupil shows sufficient opening (in whatever line itmay be) for Instructor’s attack.

The use of the Throw Point and First Point should here beexplained. In competition fighting the former is nearly alwaysused in making an original attack, and frequently in a “return”after parrying, but the latter is seldom used except when“returning” after parrying, and then only if an opponent isnear enough.

§ 7. Lesson vi.Spring bayonets to be used in this and all subsequent lessons.Practise hitting Wall pad as in Lesson iv, but with spring

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bayonets, paying special attention at first to making a goodThrow Point, and afterwards a Throw Point and Jump.

§ 8. Lesson vii.Instructor fully dressed with padded clothing. Pupil with

spring bayonet, mask, and left-hand glove.

DIRECT

ATTACK.

INSTRUCTOR shows opening.PUPIL hits Instructor with Throw Point,

with or without lunge, Instructor making himhit well, and, later on, occasionally parryingand making pupil recover quickly.

Repeat in each line of attack.

§ 9. Lesson viii.Dressed as in lesson vii.

PARRY AND

RETURN.

INSTRUCTOR threatens attack on pupil.PUPIL parries the attack and “returns,”

hitting Instructor.Repeat in each line of attack.

§ 10. Lesson ix.Two pupils facing each other fully dressed.

NO. IASSAULTING

LESSON.

“ONE” attacks direct in his own time,without any words of command, with ThrowPoint, doing his best to hit his opponent inthe breast.

“OTHER” endeavours to parry the attack,and, if he succeeds, to “return” at once,doing his best to hit his adversary before heis able to recover on guard.

The above should be practised in each line of attack, takingcare that “Other” starts by showing sufficient opening for theattack.

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In this lesson each man knows exactly what his opponent isgoing to do, and there must he no attempt to deceive eachother.

The attack must be made, in the line indicated only, withgreat speed and determination, and both pupils must do theirbest to hit.

§ 11. Lesson x.

DISENGAGE.

When two adversaries are “engaged” in oneline and one of them carries the point of thisweapon into another line he is said to“disengage.”

If, in addition, the man who changes theline delivers a point as he disengages he issaid to make a “point with disengage.”

FEINTS

A “feint” is a false or pretended attackmade by a movement of the weapon and bodywith the intention of causing the adversaryto believe that a determined attack is aboutto be delivered, while in reality it is not so.

The object of making a feint is to compelthe adversary to form a parry to protect theline threatened and so uncover some otherpart of his body, thereby making an openingfor the real attack.

The feint should be made by inclining thebody and weapon slightly but energeticallyforward so as to simulate a direct attack. Ifthe feint is made really well the adversarywill at once form a parry, and it is while heis forming this parry that a “point withdisengage” should be made at the part of thebody he uncovers in trying to parry the feint.

In attacking with a feint it is very important(when the actual movements have once been

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thoroughly learned) not to dwell on the feint,but (anticipating the parry that the adversarywill form) to disengage immediately, so as tohit him with the point while he is making theparry.

It should be noted that a feint to be of anyuse must be made with such impression thatit conveys to the adversary’s mind a firm con-viction that it is a real attack and so compelshim to form the necessary parry to meet it.A good feint must, therefore, be answered bythe adversary parrying or partially parrying it.

In this lesson the disengage and the feints should be explainedand illustrated by the Instructor, with the help of an assistant,before teaching the pupil to execute them practically as describedin the next lesson.

§ 12. Lesson xi.

ATTACK WITH

FEINT.

INSTRUCTOR shows opening.PUPIL feints at opening and (as Instructor

parries) disengages and hits.The feint should be made with the rifle held

firmly in both hands and the disengagecommenced in the same way, quitting with theleft hand as the Throw Point is delivered.

Repeat in each line of attack.

§ 13. Lesson xii.

PARRY AND

RETURN.

INSTRUCTOR feints at pupil, and on hisparrying, disengages and threatens to hitpupil with the point.

PUPIL answerers feint with parry (or rathera partial parry), and then parries thethreatened point and returns, hittingInstructor.

Repeat in each line of attack.

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§ 14. Lesson xiii.Two pupils facing each other fully dressed.

NO. IIASSAULTING

LESSON.

“ONE” attacks with feint and immediatelydisengages and endeavours to hit adversarywith point.

“OTHER” answers feint with partial parryand then parries the point and returns,endeavouring to hit.

Both must try their best to hit, and “Other” must alwaysshow sufficient opening for “One” to feint at.

§ 15. Lesson xiv.Two pupils facing each other fully dressed.

NO. IIIASSAULTING

LESSON

(direct orwith feint).

“ONE” attacks either direct or with feint.“OTHER” parries and returns (acting

according to whether the attack is direct orwith feint), trying his best to hit with thereturn if he is able to parry successfully.

“One” has for the first time the choice of two things whenattacking, and “Other” has to be on the alert to act accord-ingly. It is, therefore, a most important lesson, as it givesscope for developing the true fighting instinct.

§ 16. Lesson xv.

BEAT AND POINT.

The Beat is used to knock the adversary’srifle out of the way, so as to make an openingfor a direct point.

BEAT AND

DISENGAGE.

The Beat is here used as a feint, so as tomake the adversary think you are going tomake a direct point, and the disengage isthen made so as to deceive his resistance;the beat should not, therefore., be too strong.

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THROW POINT

AND PASS

FORWARD.

Attack with Throw Point and pass theright foot quickly forward in front of theleft so as to increase the reach. This is usedagainst an adversary who gets or keeps toofar away to be reached by an ordinary point.

EXTRA PARRY.

Made with right foot forward, point ofbayonet on ground, and butt of rifle heldwell up. This is extremely useful after apass forward has failed to hit the adversary.

HIGHT POINT.Delivered as a Throw Point at adversary’s

head, but with the hand held high, and thebody raised higher than usual.

LOW POINT.

Delivered as a Throw Point by ducking thebody to the left front, placing the left handon the ground, and directing the point upwardat the adversary’s waist.

LOW RIGHT

PARRY.

Without raising the right hand more than2 or 3 inches, make a slight circular sweepwith the muzzle of the rifle downwards tothe right front, sufficient only to take off theattack.

This is effective only against a very low point,but, as it exposes the defender considerably,and is easy to deceive, it should seldom beused.

§ 17. Lesson xvi.Two pupils facing each other fully dressed.

NO. IVASSAULTING

LESSON.

“ONE” attacks with anything that has beentaught; “OTHER” parries and returns.

This lesson is the final stage before commencing the regularAssault (or Loose Play), one pupil only being allowed to

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commence the attack until told to change about. Both must,however, try to hit, and the Instructor should encourage greatspeed and determination in the attack above all things, andinsist on the pupils acknowledging when they are hit.

§ 18. Lesson xvii.Repeat and revise all that has been taught as required, andthen, after the pupils have acquired some skill at the actualAssault, teach the following :—

RETURN WITH

DISENGAGE.

When it is found that an opponentfrequently parries an ordinary return, teachthe pupil to return with a disengage.

TIME THRUST.

A time thrust is a thrust delivered at anopponent while he is making a feint orpreparing to make an attack of any sort. Itis impossible to time a direct attack. Thetime thrust should, therefore, be used verysparingly.

DRAW FOR

TIME THRUST.

Against an adversary who constantly triesto “time” a draw or decoy attack (i.e., apretended attack) is useful with a view toinducing him to “time,” in order that youmay parry the “time” and immediately hithim with a return.

§ 19. Organization of the Instruction in Bayonet Fighting.

Company Officers.Company officers are responsible for the training of their

men in bayonet fighting. They must therefore be efficientinstructors.

N.C.O.’s in Possession of Gymnastic Certificates.

Certificated gymnastic instructors will be made use of toassist in instructing young officers and other regimental N .C.O.’s,

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Non-Commissioned Officers.

(Other than certificated gymnastic instructors.)

All regimental N.C.O.’s will be instructed in the methods ofgiving the bayonet fighting lessons.

The best of these N.C.O.’s will be selected to assist in thetraining of recruits.

The Recruit.

All recruits will be put through a course of instruction inbayonet fighting, which should consist of 12 attendances ofone hour each. The instruction should be conducted on thelines indicated in the following syllabus, which should, however,be modified as necessary to meet requirements :—

1st day ... Lessons i, ii, iii.2nd ,, ... ,, i, ii, iii, iv.3rd ,, ... ,, iv, v, and then repeat iii.4th ,, ... ,, vi, vii, viii, and then repeat iii.5th ,, ... ,, vii and viii combined, ix, and repeat

iii and vi if required.6th ,, ... ,, vii and viii combined, ix, and repeat

iii and vi if required.7th ,, ... ,, x, xi, xii.8th ,, ... ,, xi, xii, xiii.9th ,, ... ,, vii and viii combined, xi and xii

combined, xiv.10th ,, ... ,, vii and viii combined, xi and xii

combined, xv, xiv.11th ,, ... ,, xv, xvi, and Assault.12th ,, ... ,, Assault and repeat any lessons that

may be required.

It is better not to teach lesson xvii in the recruit’s course oruntil the men have acquired some skill in the actual Assault.

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The recruit should be inspected at the conclusion of thecourse.

The instructors for recruits should be changed as seldom aspossible.

Trained Soldiers.The trained soldier will go through a short annual “refresher”

course of bayonet fighting during the winter months on thesame lines as the recruit, under the direction of his companyofficers. The duration of the course and the lessons given willbe regulated according to the degree of proficiency of theindividual.

§ 20. The Practical Use of the Bayonet.A long and unwieldy weapon is a distinct disadvantage, and

all the chances are in favour of the man who has the handiestweapon and knows how to use it.

The following are a few practical hints for using the bayonetin action :—

(a) On nearing the enemy, the rifle should be grasped withboth hands, in the same place as when on guard, andcarried easily in front of the body so as not to inter-fere with the running, the speed of which should alsobe increased.

(b) On getting to close quarters, select an opponent straightin front of you, and drive home a determined attackwith the point of the bayonet, continuing 1he forwardrush so as to close with him whether you aresuccessful in bayoneting him or not. A determinedattack of this nature with a sharp weapon is likelyto cause the opponent to waver, and so give anopening for hitting him. If, however, you fail toactually wound him, your impetus and proximityshould prevent him from damaging you.

(c) If your opponent obviously commences an attack on youbefore you actually deliver your attack, your weapon

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will be under sufficient control to enable you to parryand then immediately return at him.

(d) By closing with an adversary, you bear him down withthe force of your movement and prevent him fromdamaging you and, even if you are unable toincapacitate him at once, your companions will be athand to assist you.

(e) All manœuvring for an opening when in actual contacton the field of battle is not only out of place but impos-sible; but a determined attack, combined with afeeling of mastery over your weapon, offers everychance of success.