Form Square.

Posts : 2881 Join date : 2010-06-02

All sorts of things wrong for AZW, but still an evocative picture.
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Steve

Subject: Re: Form Square. Sun Sep 09, 2018 3:56 pm

Hi,

Makes you realise how small a company square could be (looks to be about 20 men per side)

Thanks

Sime

Posts : 2881 Join date : 2010-06-02

A detail that I had not appreciated before. The front rank's rifles are held sideways to the ground. On the Lee Enfields in the picture this puts the bayonet on the right side. But with MH's it would put the already side mounted bayonets at the bottom in line with the barrel. Was this deliberate?

Steve

Subject: Re: Form Square. Sun Sep 09, 2018 7:09 pm

Steve,

Here’s your answer chapter, verse and engraving:

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Subject: Re: Form Square. Sun Sep 09, 2018 8:25 pm

When I used to be in the Sealed Knot, we used to brace the pike with our foot to receive cavalry (used to be about 4 of them usually), similar to the way the rifles are braced - obviously given the length of the pike the angle was less than 45 degrees.......

Posts : 2881 Join date : 2010-06-02

Thanks John/Sime.

Subject: Re: Form Square. Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:53 pm

Thank you folks for posting these images. As an Aussie interested in Isandlwana …. this has helped me to get the 'mental picture'. I have just finished reading the books by Mike Snook and this has made me determined to visit Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. Do you know if any trips are planned in the future by any members of this forum?