Rider's Training Manual

(31.III. 51-58.)

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94. Saluting

 

General Instructions

 

1. Instructors will impress upon recruits the importance of the salute. It is a military method of greeting a superior, not a servile act. It is an outward sign of the inward spirit of discipline and respect for superiors. The general tone and feeling in a regiment is indicated as much by the manner in which the men salute and the officers return the salute as by any other action.

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2. Officers paying compliments by saluting with the hand will follow the instructions laid down for soldiers. They will receive and return a salute with the courtesy it deserves.

 

3. The salute will be given with the right hand. In cases where from physical incapacity a right-hand salute is impossible, the salute will be given with the left hand.

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4. Instruction in saluting will form part of a recruit’s training. He will receive instruction in saluting without arms as soon as ;his squad has learned to dress with intervals.

 

5. Officers will be saluted at all times, whether in uniform or plain clothes. When two or more officers are together, the senior only, whether in uniform or not, will return salutes, but in cases, such as groups of officers at a conference or on other occasions, when salutes are likely to pass unnoticed by the senior, another officer will be detailed to return them. This is especially necessary when men salute officers in a closed motor-car.

 

6. Officers or soldiers, passing troops with uncased standards, guidons or colours will salute the standard or colours. Cased colours will not be saluted.

 

7. Officers, soldiers and passing a military, naval or air force funeral will salute the body.

 

8. Instructions for saluting when the National Anthem is played for a royal salute, or on other occasions are laid down in para 888-901, King’s Regulations, 1928.

 

Commanders of parties will, if on the move, halt, call their men to attention and salute (officers with drawn swords coming to the carry) while the National Anthem is being played.

 

Officers and other ranks in plain clothes will remove their head-dress and stand at attention.

Sentries will stand at attention and slope arms.

 

95. Passing an officer.

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i. When a soldier passes an officer he will salute on the third pace before reaching him, and lower the hand on the third pace after passing him; if carrying a whip he will place it smartly under the disengaged arm, cutting away the hand before saluting. During the salute the soldier will look the officer full in the face.

 

ii. Recruits will be practised in marching two or three together, saluting points being placed on either side. When several men are together, the man nearest to the point will give the time.

They should be practised in saluting officers on the move as well as fixed saluting points.

 

96. When sitting.

 

A soldier, if sitting when an officer approaches will stand at attention, facing the officer, and salute with the hand; if two or more men are sitting or standing about the senior warrant officer, NCO or oldest soldier will face the officer, call the whole to attention, and alone will salute (as above).

 

97. When addressing or delivering a message to an officer.

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When a soldier addresses or delivers a written message to an officer he will halt two paces from him and proceed as in Sec 100,3.

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When appearing before an officer in a room, he will salute without removing his cap.

 

98. When without a cap, etc..

A soldier without his cap, or when carrying anything other than his arms, will not salute, but will, if standing still, come to attention as an officer passes; if walking he will turn his head smartly towards the officer in passing him, keeping his arms steady by the side.

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99. When driving or riding on vehicles or cycling.

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i. A soldier when riding a pedal bicycle will turn his head smartly towards an officer in passing him, and will not remove his hands from the handlebar.

 

ii. A soldier when riding or driving a motor vehicle will not be required to salute when he vehicle is in motion, owing to the danger of taking the eyes off the road. When the vehicle is stationary, he will turn his head smartly towards an officer passing him, but will not remove his hands from the handlebar or steering wheel.

 

iii. A soldier riding on a vehicle will turn his head smartly towards an officer when passing him, dropping both arms smartly to the side. If seated beside a guard iron, he will grasp it with the nearest hand.

100. Dismounted without arms.

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1. Saluting to the front.

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i. By numbers

 

Salute by Numbers – One

Bring the right hand smartly, with a circular motion to the head, palm to the front, fingers extended and close together, point of the forefinger an inch above the right eye, or touching edge of peak of cap, thumb close to the forefinger, elbow in line and nearly square with the shoulder.

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Two.

Cut away the arm smartly to the side by the shortest way.

ii. Judging the time.

 

Salute, Judging the Time – Salute.

Go through the motions as in para 1, i. above, making a pause equal to two paces in quick time between each motion.

 

2. Saluting to the side.

Saluting to the side is carried out as in para 1, above, on the command Salute, except that, as the hand is brought to the salute, the head will be turned smartly towards the officer or instructor saluted.

 

3. Saluting when carrying a whip.

To the front (practice for delivering messages or addressing officers).

 

Salute to the Front – Salute.

 

The command Salute will be given as the right foot passes the left (as for Half). The squad will halt, judge a pause equal to two paces in quick time, place the whip smartly under the left arm, loop to the rear, cut the right hand smartly to the right side – salute, transfer the written message to the right hand and deliver it to, or address, the officer, salute again, turn about, keeping the whip under the left arm, and march off in quick time. As the left foot comes to the ground the first time seize the whip with the right hand as near the centre as possible, with the back of the hand uppermost, thumb underneath. On the left foot coming to the ground again bring the whip smartly to the trail.

 

101. On the move when carrying a whip.

 

Salute to the Right – Salute.

The command Salute is given as the right foot is coming to the ground. As the left foot comes to the ground the first time after the command Salute, place the whip smartly under the left arm, loop to the rear. Next time the left foot comes to the ground (third pace) cut the right hand smartly away to the side, and commence the salute on the fifth pace, turning the head towards the officer saluted. On the tenth pace (right foot) cut the right hand smartly away to the side, turning the head to the front. On the left foot coming to the ground (eleventh pace) seize the whip with the right hand as near the centre as possible, back of the hand uppermost, thumb underneath. On the left foot coming to the ground (thirteenth pace) bring the whip smartly to the right side at the trail. The left arm is not to be swung during the salute.

 

102. Dismounted with the sword.

 

1. Officers salute as follows:-

The sword being at the “carry”

First motion: Bring the sword to the “recover.”

 

Second motion: Lower the sword until the point is 12 inches from the ground and directed to the front, edge to the left, right arm straight, hand just behind the thigh, thumb flat on the handle of the sword.

 

Third motion: Bring the sword back to the “recover”.

 

Fourth motion: Bring the sword down to the “carry”.

 

2. Other ranks do not salute as above, but bring their swords to the “carry”, turning the head and eyes towards the officer saluted if passing him.

 

3. All ranks hold the sword at the “carry” while speaking to a superior. Officers salute on coming up to a superior and again on leaving him.

 

4. When wearing a sword in the scabbard, all ranks will salute with the right hand.

 

103. Dismounted with the rifle.

 

1. At the halt.

 

A soldier, if halted, will salute as follows:-

i. If at the order when an officer passes he will turn towards the officer and stand to attention.

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ii. If at the slope when an officer passes he will salute by carrying the right hand smartly to the butt, forefinger just below the small of the butt, forearm horizontal, back of the hand uppermost, fingers straight, thumb close to the forefinger.

The salute will commence three paces before the officer passes the soldier and the hand will be cut away on the third pace after he has passed him.

 

2. On the move.

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i. When a soldier carrying a rifle passes an officer, he will do so at the slope, and will salute as laid down in para ii., above, at the same time turning the head towards the officer saluted and looking him full in the face. He will salute on the third pace before reaching him, and will cut the hand away and turn the head to the front on the third pace after passing him.

 

3. Delivering messages to, or addressing, officers.

When a soldier carrying a rifle delivers a written message to, or addresses, an officer he will do so at the slope. Unless the officer is on the move, the soldier will halt two paces from the officer, salute as laid down in para 1, ii., above, and deliver the message; if no reply is needed, or when the reply is received, he will salute as before, turn about and march off in quick time.

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104. Mounted without arms.

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1. An officer riding without arms will pay compliments by saluting with the right hand.

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2. A soldier, when riding with the reins in both hands, will salute by turning his head and eyes in the direction of the officer saluted, without moving his hands.

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3. When holding the reins in one hand only, he will drop the right hand to the full extent of the arm behind the right thigh, fingers half closed, back of hand to the right, and turn his head and eyes in the direction of the officer saluted.

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105. Mounted with the sword.

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1. At the halt officers salute as described in Sec 102, except that after the “recover” the sword is lowered to the front to the full extent of the arm, blade 3 inches below the knee, edge to the left, thumb extended in the direction of the point, hand directly under the shoulder. The sword is then brought back to the “recover” and down to the “carry”.

 

2. Officer’s salute when marching past. – The salute will commence 10 yards before arrival in front of the reviewing officer and finish 10 yards after passing him, the time being taken from the officer on the inner flank.

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First motion: Carry the sword direct to the right to the full extent of the arm, hand as high as the shoulder, back of the hand to the rear, blade perpendicular.

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Second motion: Bring the sword by a circular motion to the “recover” keeping the elbow as high as the shoulder.

Third motion: Still keeping the elbow the height of the shoulder, bring the hilt to the right shoulder; during this motion let the finger nails come in line with the edge of the sword.

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Fourth motion: Drop the right hand to the full extent of the arm, lowering the sword to the front and bringing the blade 3 inches below the knee, edge to the left, thumb extended in the direction of the point, hand directly under the shoulder.

There should be no pause between these four motions of the salute; all should be combined in one graceful movement.

The head is slightly turned towards the reviewing officer whilst passing him.

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When 10 yards past the reviewing officer, the sword is brought smartly up to the “recover,” carrying it well to the front, and then down to the “carry,” making a slight pause between the two movements.

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106. Mounted with the rifle.

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A soldier riding with a drawn rifle will bring his rifle to the “carry” and turn his head and eyes in the direction in which the compliment is to be paid.

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107. With the lance.

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1. Soldiers at the halt, mounted, salute by coming to the carry.

2. A soldier dismounted with a lance, if halted when an officer passes, will turn towards him and carry lance.

3. When a soldier dismounted carrying a lance passes an officer, he will do so at the shoulder and will salute by carrying his left hand smartly to the pole of the lance just above the right hand, forearm horizontal, back of the hand upwards, fingers extended, and at the same time will turn his head and eyes towards the officer saluted.