Bayonet Training Manual Used by the British Forces — John Shaqi
Bayonet Training Manual Used by the British ForcesAnonymous
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Bayonet Training Manual Used by the British Forces
Anonymous
Bayonets
From the jab position men will be practised in fending off an attack
made on any part of them by an opponent.
[Illustration: PLATE VI.--“JAB” AT THRUSTING RING.]
When making a jab from the guard, the right, being in the thrusting
hand, will be brought up first.
The jab can be employed successfully in close-quarter fighting in
narrow trenches and when embraced by an opponent.
LESSON V.
METHODS OF INJURING AN OPPONENT.
It should be impressed upon the class that, although a man’s thrust has
missed or has been parried or his bayonet has been broken, he can, as
attacker, still maintain his advantage by injuring his opponent in one
of the following ways:
Butt Stroke I:
Swing the butt up at the opponent’s crotch, ribs, forearm, etc., using
a half-arm blow or advancing the rear foot.
Butt Stroke II:
If the opponent jumps back so that the first butt stroke misses, the
rifle will come into horizontal position over the left shoulder, butt
leading; the attacker will then step in with the rear foot and dash the
butt into his opponent’s face.
Butt Stroke III:
If the opponent retires still farther out of distance, the attacker
again closes up and slashes his bayonet down on his opponent’s head or
neck.
[Illustration: PLATE VII.--“BUTT STROKE I.”]
Butt Stroke IV:
If the thrust has been parried, the butt can be used effectively
by crashing it down on the opponent’s head with an over-arm blow,
advancing the rear foot. When the opponent is out of distance, Butt
Stroke III can again be used.
In individual fighting, the butt can also be used horizontally against
the opponent’s ribs, forearm, etc. This method is impossible in trench
fighting or in an attack, owing to the horizontal sweep of the bayonet
to the attacker’s left.
It should be clearly understood that the butt must not be employed when
it is possible to use the bayonet effectively.
Butt Stroke I is essentially a half-arm blow from the shoulder, keeping
the elbow rigid, and it can therefore be successfully employed only
when the right hand is grasping the rifle at the small of the butt.
[Illustration: PLATE VIII.--“BUTT STROKE IV.”]
Butt strokes can be used only in certain circumstances and positions,
but if men acquire absolute control of their weapons under these
conditions they will be able to adapt themselves to all other phases
of in-fighting. For instance, when a man is gripped by an opponent so
that neither the thrust nor the butt can be used, the knee brought up
against the crotch or the heel stamped on the instep may momentarily
disable him and make him release his hold.
When wrestling, the opponent can be tripped by forcing his weight on
to one leg and kicking that leg away from under him, or any other
wrestler’s trip; _e.g._, “back heel.”
The above methods will only temporarily disable an enemy, who must be
killed with the bayonet, etc.
Practice:
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