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Order to break rank and spread out as skirmishers on the battlefield.

As Skirmishers

Order to break rank and spread out as skirmishers on the battlefield.

Order to break rank and spread out as skirmishers on the battlefield.

As Skirmishers Right

Order to break rank and spread out as skirmishers on the battlefield.

"Raise both arms laterally until horizontal; swing both simultaneously upward until vertical and return to the horizontal; repeat several times." — Moss, 1914

As Skirmishers, Guide Center, March Signal

"Raise both arms laterally until horizontal; swing both simultaneously upward until vertical and return…

"Raise both arms laterally until horizontal; hold the arm on the side of the guide steadily in the horizontal position; swing the other upward until vertical and return it to the horizontal; repeat several times." — Moss, 1914

As Skirmishers, Guide Right (Left), March Signal

"Raise both arms laterally until horizontal; hold the arm on the side of the guide steadily in the horizontal…

"Raise both arms laterally until horizontal." — Moss, 1914

As Skirmishers, March Signal

"Raise both arms laterally until horizontal." — Moss, 1914

Order given to assemble the troops.

Assemble

Order given to assemble the troops.

"Raise the arm vertically to its full extent and describe horizontal circles." — Moss, 1914

Assemble, March

"Raise the arm vertically to its full extent and describe horizontal circles." — Moss, 1914

"At the command <em>attention</em> resume the order saber and the position of the soldier." &mdash; Moss, 1914

Attention

"At the command attention resume the order saber and the position of the soldier." —…

Order given to stop hostilities on the battlefield. Soldiers stop shooting their weapons when this signal is given.

Cease Firing

Order given to stop hostilities on the battlefield. Soldiers stop shooting their weapons when this signal…

This is the command used to instruct the unit to change direction.

Change Direction

This is the command used to instruct the unit to change direction.

"The hand on the side toward which the change of direction is to be made is carried across the body to the opposite shoulder, forearm horizontal; then swing in a horizontal plane, arm extended, pointing in the new direction." — Moss, 1914

Change Direction Signal

"The hand on the side toward which the change of direction is to be made is carried across the body…

Command signal used to order troops to begin firing their weapons.

Commence Firing

Command signal used to order troops to begin firing their weapons.

An army general commanding his troop not to shoot until he takes the first shot.

Do Not Shoot Till I Do

An army general commanding his troop not to shoot until he takes the first shot.

Marching at twice the cadence of "Forward March;" 100 to 180 steps per min. something of a light jog. The unit is still required to keep in step.

Double Time

Marching at twice the cadence of "Forward March;" 100 to 180 steps per min. something of a light jog.…

At the command right, turn the head to the right oblique, eyes fixed on the line of eyes of the men in, or supposed to be in, the same rank." &mdash; Moss, 1914

Eyes right

At the command right, turn the head to the right oblique, eyes fixed on the line of eyes of the men…

Order give to soldiers instructing them to attach their bayonets to the end of their rifles.

Fix Bayonet

Order give to soldiers instructing them to attach their bayonets to the end of their rifles.

Demonstration of the command to go forward.

Forward, Etc.

Demonstration of the command to go forward.

"Carry the hand to the shoulder; rapidly thrust the hand upward the full extent of the arm several times." &mdash; Moss, 1914

Halt

"Carry the hand to the shoulder; rapidly thrust the hand upward the full extent of the arm several times."…

Used to stop a unit (formation) from marching by calling it ether on the right or left foot.

Halt

Used to stop a unit (formation) from marching by calling it ether on the right or left foot.

"To announce range, extend the arm toward the leaders or men for whom the signal is intended, fist closed; by keeping the fist closed battle sight is indicated; by opening and closing the fist, expose thumb and fingers to a number equal to the hundreds of yards." &mdash; Moss, 1914

Hand signal

"To announce range, extend the arm toward the leaders or men for whom the signal is intended, fist closed;…

"To add 50 yards describe a short horizontal line with forefinger." &mdash; Moss, 1914

Hand signal

"To add 50 yards describe a short horizontal line with forefinger." — Moss, 1914

"To change elevation, indicate the amount of increase or decrease by fingers; point upward to indicate increase and downward to indicate decrease." &mdash; Moss, 1914

Hand signal

"To change elevation, indicate the amount of increase or decrease by fingers; point upward to indicate…

"Extend the arm horizontally toward the platoon leader; describe small circles with the hand." &mdash; Moss, 1914

Hand signal

"Extend the arm horizontally toward the platoon leader; describe small circles with the hand." —…

"Kneel on right knee, sitting as nearly as possible on the right heel; left forearm across left thigh; piece remains in position of order arms, right hand grasping it above lower band." &mdash; Moss, 1914

Kneel

"Kneel on right knee, sitting as nearly as possible on the right heel; left forearm across left thigh;…

Command used to instruct soldiers to lie flat on the ground.

Lie Down

Command used to instruct soldiers to lie flat on the ground.

"Carry back the left foot and lie flat on the belly, inclining the body about 35 degree to the right." — Moss, 1914

Lie Down

"Carry back the left foot and lie flat on the belly, inclining the body about 35 degree to the right."…

"Carry back the left foot and lie flat on the belly, inclining the body about 35 degree to the right." — Moss, 1914

Lie Down

"Carry back the left foot and lie flat on the belly, inclining the body about 35 degree to the right."…

"And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount." Exodus 32:19 ASV <p>Illustration of Moses throwing down the stone tablets and breaking them after finding the Israelites worshiping an idol in the shape of a golden calf. One tablet lies broken on the ground and he is raising the second one, ready to smash it. Aaron stands next to him, distressed and trying to stop him. The people can be seen in the background, crowded around the golden calf. The tents are behind them.

Moses Breaks the Stone Tablets on Which the Ten Commandments are Written

"And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing: and…

"Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." Exodus 17:6 ASV <p>Illustration of the Israelites collecting water from the stream that flows after Moses strikes a rock at God's command. Moses stands at the head of the stream with his left arm raised. The staff he holds in his right hand is touching the stream of water. Men, women, and children kneel at the stream and dip jars in the flow. Several women give water to a baby. A man drinks from a jar. Some men in the background look to Moses with arms raised in a gesture of worship. Mountains are pictured in the background.

Moses Strikes the Rock and Water Flows in the Desert

"Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there…

Command given to order troops to select a new target.

New Target

Command given to order troops to select a new target.

The signal to march at the faster pace of 'quick time.' The Royal Navy marches at a cadence of 116 paces to the minute in quick time.

Quick Time

The signal to march at the faster pace of 'quick time.' The Royal Navy marches at a cadence of 116 paces…

The distance to a target, or to the subject of discussion. Reach of a detector or weapon.

Range

The distance to a target, or to the subject of discussion. Reach of a detector or weapon.

Command given to order troops to prepare for battle.

Ready

Command given to order troops to prepare for battle.

Signal to inform the troops that the next signal will be directed at a certain 'section' rather than everyone.

Section

Signal to inform the troops that the next signal will be directed at a certain 'section' rather than…

"Extend the arm horizontally toward the platoon leader; swing the hand up and down from the wrist." &mdash; Moss, 1914

Squad

"Extend the arm horizontally toward the platoon leader; swing the hand up and down from the wrist."…

Signal to inform the troops that the next signal will be directed at a certain 'squad' rather than everyone.

Squad

Signal to inform the troops that the next signal will be directed at a certain 'squad' rather than everyone.

"Extend the arm vertically above the head; carry it laterally downward to the side and swing it several times between the vertical and downward positions." — Moss, 1914

Squad Right About, March

"Extend the arm vertically above the head; carry it laterally downward to the side and swing it several…

"Throws the butt about 2 feet in advance of that of his own piece and opposite the right of the interval, the right hand slipping to the upper band, the thumb and forefinger raising the stacking swivel, which he engages with that of his own piece." — Moss, 1914

Stack Arms

"Throws the butt about 2 feet in advance of that of his own piece and opposite the right of the interval,…

"He then turns the barrel outward into the angle formed by the other two pieces and lowers the butt to the ground, to the right and against the toe of his right shoe." — Moss, 1914

Stack Arms

"He then turns the barrel outward into the angle formed by the other two pieces and lowers the butt…

Order given to troops instructing them to stop firing. Weapons are held, locked and loaded so that they may resume fire at an instant.

Suspend Firing

Order given to troops instructing them to stop firing. Weapons are held, locked and loaded so that they…

"Raise and hold the forearm steadily in a horizontal position in front of the forehead, palm of the hand to the front." — Moss, 1914

Suspend Firing

"Raise and hold the forearm steadily in a horizontal position in front of the forehead, palm of the…

"Each even number of the front rank diengages and detaches his piece by turning it to the left." — Moss, 1914

Take Aarms

"Each even number of the front rank diengages and detaches his piece by turning it to the left." —…