Company Guards

Unless otherwise specified, company guards will consist of squads of four men (one corporal and three privates). 

The assignment of the initial squad and of its relief’s will be by a designated sergeant. The sergeant will specify the length of time that each squad will be on duty (usually 11/2 hours) and the time that each will be relieved. He will be present at the guard tent for the posting of the initial squad and whenever one squad relives another. He will inspect the weapons of each squad as it comes on duty. 

Each squad will be assigned as follows: one private on duty at the captain's tent (No. 1); one private to patrol the company street (No. 2); and one corporal and one private (No. 3) at the guard tent. The company's weapons are to be stored at the guard tent. The private at the guard tent may relax, but he may not leave his post. 

Each relief will fall in at the guard tent in open order to enable the sergeant of the guard to inspect its weapons. (if the squad has come directly from a drill and firing display, the sergeant will dispense with the arms inspection.) After inspection, the sergeant will order: 

"Relief. close order - MARCH." 

He will then order the corporal of the relief to relieve the old guard, which the later will then do, accompanied by the corporal of the old guard. The relief will march by the right flank, in two ranks towards post No. 1, thus: 

The relief will march at "support arms". Should an officer approach, the corporal will command "carry arms", and resume the "support arms" when the officer is past. 

When a sentinel sees the relief approaching, he will halt and face to it with his arms at a shoulder. At six paces, the corporal will command: 

1. Relief. 2. Halt. 

When the relief will halt and carry arms. The corporal will then add, "No. 1 ", or "No. 2", or "No. 3", according to the number of the post: 

Arms --- Port 

The two sentinels will, with arms at port, then approach each other, when the old sentinel, under the correction of the corporal, will whisper the instructions to the new sentinel. This done, the sentinels will shoulder arms and the old sentinel will pass, in quick time, to his place in rear of the relief. The corporal will then command: 

1. Support --- Arms. 2. Forward. 3. March. 

And the relief proceeds in the same manner until the whole are relieved. 

When all three sentinels are relieved, the corporal of the old guard will take charge of his men and the sergeant will dismiss them. The corporal of the guard may rotate his three privates as he sees fit, though one must always be present at the guard tent and at the captain's tent. During drill displays the guard will be temporarily reduced to two privates, one of whom must always remain at the guard tent. The corporal and the third private must resume their posts the moment the display is over. 

Lazy Jacks Mess 

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