Company Parade Night

The exact procedure for the opening ceremony of a Company Parade Night will obviously vary from Company to Company, but it is important that a high standard be set at the commencement of the evening.
The following procedure is followed in many Companies, and is given as a guide to be followed if Company arrangements and circumstances permit.
At the appointed time, the Company assembles on the left of the intended parade, facing inwards, the Boys standing at ease approximately opposite where their Squad will ultimately stand. The preliminaries are usually carried out by an Officer, Staff-Sergeant or N.C.O.

MARKERS FALL—IN
The Squad Commanders form up in line in numerical order as shown in the diagram above, take up dressing and stand at ease.
ATTEN—SHUN

COLUMN AT THREE PACES FROM THE RIGHT. OUTWARDS—TURN
No. 1 turns to the right, the remainder to the left.

QUICK—MARCH
All except No. 1 step off. No. 2 takes two paces and halts, No. 3 takes four paces and halts, No. 4 six paces, and so on. When the last marker has halted, they all turn about.

MARKERS, STAND AT—EASE

PARADE, FALL—IN
All, including the markers, come to attention, and after a pause equal to four paces in quick time, the remainder march smartly on to their respective markers, halt, turn left, and take up dressing in close formation (i.e. with no interval between Boys).

STAND AT—EASE

CALL THE ROLL
Squad Commanders come to attention, take one pace forward and turn left. They call out each Boy’s name and those present come to attention, answer “Here” and stand at ease. Having called the roll, Squad Commanders, taking their time from the left, turn to the left, take one pace forward, turn about and stand at ease.
NB In cases where the Boys’ names are not called out, the command “MARK THE ROLL” may be used.

MARKERS, ATTEN—SHUN

TO THE FRONT, QUICK—MARCH

MARKERS—HALT

RIGHT—TURN
The Squad Commanders march to the front, No. 1 leading, wheeling and marking time in single file in front of Squad 1 until they receive the command “MARKERS—HALT”.
Roll Books are collected.

RIGHT—TURN

TO YOUR SQUADS, QUICK—MARCH
The Squad Commanders return to their Squads, halting on arrival. Taking the time from the rear, they turn about, stand at ease, and distribute the hymn books.

PARADE, ATTEN—SHUN
At this point, the Officer or N.C.O. concerned brings the Company to attention and hands over to the Captain, salutes being exchanged. The other Officers will take up position in line on whichever side is more convenient, facing inward, and stand at ease.

OFFICERS, TAKE—POST
Officers come to attention, salute and take post on the right of their respective Squads, covering off from the front.
An Opening Service may now be held prior to which the Company will be stood at EASE, then EASY and the command CAPS—OFF given. The cap is removed with the right hand and placed across the left breast. At the conclusion of the Service and before continuing with the inspection, etc., the command CAPS—ON is given when the cap will be replaced on the head and the right hand cut to the side together after a pause equal to four paces in quick time.

At the end of the evening, the Company may again be brought together in a similar fashion for a brief Closing Service, after which the dismissal takes place, as follows:
OFFICERS, FALL—OUT
The Officers take position in line approximately two paces in front of the Captain, at one pace interval, salute, take five paces forward, and turn about.

DIS—MISS
The Boys dismiss as in Elementary Drill (page 4.6), and the Captain alone returns the salute.