The companies of a battalion, after having been inspected on their private parades or in column, will form up in quarter column as shown in Plate VI. On the commanding officer’s order TELL OFF BY COMPANIES, the companies will be numbered from the leading company. When the companies are numbered, the commanding officer will divide the battalion thus:-- No. 1 to No. -- RIGHT HALF-BATTALION. No. -- to No. -- LEFT HALF-BATTALION. If the number of companies is uneven, the right half-battalion will be stronger by one company than the left. Unless otherwise ordered a battalion in quarter column will assemble and move by the left. The machine guns, drums and band, mules, wagons and stretcher bearers will usually be on the outer flank of the battalion, as when in column, _see_ Plate VII (cyclist sections, if present, will be in rear of machine guns). The second in command will be four paces from the centre of the directing flank of the leading half-battalion. If a third field officer be present, he will be four paces from the centre of the directing flank of the rear half-battalion. The position of the company commanders and serjeant-major are shown in Plate VI. When ranks are changed, the second in command will gain his position by moving round in rear of the battalion. Company commanders will move in rear of their companies. Company officers and section commanders and supernumeraries will act as in S. =63=. [Illustration: PLATE VI. A BATTALION IN QUARTER COLUMN.] =94.= _Movements in quarter column._ THE BATTALION { 1. On the word MARCH the whole will step WILL { off together. The squad commander on the ADVANCE. { directing flank of the leading company QUICK--MARCH. { (_i.e._, on the left unless otherwise { ordered) selecting points to march on. { 2. The whole will act as in Squad Drill, S. RIGHT--INCLINE. { =28=. On the command LEFT--INCLINE the { battalion will resume its original { direction. { 3. A flank company will be ordered to { direct, the remainder being led by the FORM FOURS--RIGHT, { leading squad commanders on the flank nearer NO. -- WILL { the company of direction. DIRECT. { { The second in command will post himself on { the flank of the directing company in line { with the leading section of fours. =95.= _A quarter column wheeling._