Bayonet Training

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“Bayonet Training” from Elements of Trench Warfare by William Henry Waldron, 1917.

The system of Bayonet Training stated herein is taken from the provisional Manual of Bayonet Training of the British Army. In the vernacular of the day, it is the "real dope."

Every battalion should have a bayonet assault practice course constructed along the lines indicated and the work of training should be systematically conducted. The noncommissioned officers should be taken out on a "Tactical Walk" on the course and all the features of the exercises explained. This is followed by their practical training over the course and this in turn is followed by the instruction of the privates of the organization.

Features of the Bayonet

To attack with the bayonet effectively requires good direction, strength and quickness, during a state of wild excitement and probable physical exhaustion. The limit of the range of a bayonet is about 5 feet (measured from the opponent's eyes) but more often the killing is at close quarters, at a range of 2 feet or less, when troops are struggling hand to hand in trenches or darkness.

The bayonet is essentially an offensive weapon—go straight at an opponent with the point threatening his throat and deliver the point wherever an opening presents itself. If no opening is obvious, one must be created by beating off the opponents weapon or making a "feint point" in order to make him uncover himself.

Hand to hand fighting with the bayonet is individual, which means that a man must think and act for himself and rely on his own resources and skill; but, as in all games, he must play for his side and not only for himself. In a bayonet assault all ranks go forward to kill or be killed, and only those who have developed skill and strength by constant training will be able to kill.

The spirit of the bayonet must be inculcated into all ranks so that they go forward with that aggressive determination and confidence of superiority born of continual practice, without which a bayonet assault will not be effective.

The technical points of bayonet fighting are extremely few and simple. The essence of bayonet training is continuity of practice.

Method of Carrying out Bayonet Training and Hints to Instructors

An important point to be kept in mind in Bayonet Training is the development of the individual by teaching him to think and act for himself. The simplest means of attaining this end is to make men use their brains and eyes to the fullest extent by carrying out the practices so far as possible, without words of command, i. e., to point at a shifting target as soon as it is stationary, to parry sticks, etc. The class should, whenever possible, work in pairs and act on the principle of "master and teacher.'* This procedure in itself, develops individuality and confidence.

Sharp jerky words of command which tend to make men act mechanically, should be omitted. Rapidity of movement and alertness are taught by competition in fixing and unfixing the bayonet and by other such quickening movements.

As the technique of bayonet fighting is so simple, long detail is quite unnecessary and makes the work monotonous. All instructions should be carried out on common-sense lines. It should seldom be necessary to give the details of a "point" or ''parry" more than two or three times, after which the class should acquire the correct positions by practice. For this reason a lesson or daily practice should rarely last more than half an hour. Remember that nothing kills interest so easily as monotony.

The spirit of the bayonet is to be inculcated by describing the special features of bayonet and hand to hand fighting. The men must learn to practice bayonet fighting in the spirit and with the enthusiasm that animates them when training for their games, and to look upon their instructor as a trainer and helper. Interest in the work is to be created by explaining the reasons for the various positions, the method of handling the rifle and bayonet and the uses of the points. Questions should be put to the men to find out if they understand these reasons. When men realize the object of their work they naturally take a greater interest in it.

Progression in bayonet training is regulated by obtaining first correct position and good direction, then quickness. Strength is the outcome of continual practice.

In order to encourage dash and gradually strengthen the leg muscles from the commencement of the training, classes should be frequently practiced in charging short distances over the bayonet practice courses.

All company officers and noncommissioned officers should be taught how to instruct in bayonet training in order that they may be able to teach their squads and platoons this very important part of a soldier's training, which must be regularly practiced during the whole of his service at home, and during his periods of rest behind the firing-lines.

The greatest care should be taken that the object representing the opponent and its support should be incapable of injuring the bayonet or butt. Only light sticks are to be used for parrying practice.

The chief causes of injury to the bayonet are insufficient instruction, in the bayonet training lessons, failure to withdraw the bayonet clear of the dummy, and placing the dummies on hard, unprepared ground.

Formation.—Intervals or distances are taken as prescribed in paragraphs 109 and 111 I. D. R, Bayonets are fixed, paragraph 95, I. D. R.

Technique of Instruction. Before requiring the soldier to take a position or execute a movement for the first time, the instructor should show him the position or how to execute the movement, stating the essential elements and explaining the purpose that they serve.

Illustrate the position or movement a second time, requiring careful observation so that the men will be taught to use their eyes and brains right from the beginning.

Now, require the men to assume the position or execute the movement under consideration. Accuracy and expertness will be developed by practice.

Fatigue and exhaustion should be carefully guarded against. They prevent proper interest being taken in the exercises and delay the progress of the instruction.

The training consists of five lessons and the Final Assault practice.

Lesson No. 1

The First lesson is divided into :

1. The position of Guard, from which the various bayonet attacks are made.

2. The position of High Port, which is assumed when advancing.

3. The Long Point, which is the normal method of bayonet attack.

4. The Withdrawal, which follows the attack.

The Position of Guard

Being at the Order Arms: Raise the piece with the right hand, throw it to the front. Grasp with both hands, the left at a convenient place above the rear sight so that the left arm is only slightly bent; right hand at the small of the stock and held just in front of the navel. The rifle is held naturally and easily, without constraint, barrel inclined slightly to the left. At the same time the left foot is carried forward to a point in a natural position such as a man walking might adopt on meeting with resistance. The left knee is slightly bent, right leg straight and braced. The right foot is flat on the ground with the toe inclined to the right front.

The common faults that will be noted in assuming the position are:

1. The body will be leaned back from the hips, which causes unsteadiness and does not permit quick and aggressive action.

2. The left arm is bent too much, which raises the point of the bayonet too high and produces a certain amount of constraint. The left hand should grasp the piece at such a point that will avoid this defect. A little practice will show the exact place to hold the hand to obtain the maximum effect.

3. The right hand may be held too low and too far back, which has the effect of raising the point of the bayonet and giving a faulty position to the left arm and hand.

4. The rifle may be grasped too tightly with the hands, which produces rigidity and restrains freedom of movement. The left hand merely guides the bayonet in the attack, the right furnishes the power behind the thrust, hence great care should be taken to see that the left arm is not deprived of its freedom of action by gripping the rifle too hard with the left hand.

The Position of "Rest"

The feet are retained at the position of Guard. The piece is lowered and held in the easiest and most comfortable position.

The Position of High Port

Being at the position of Guard. Without changing the position of the hands on the piece, carry the rifle so that the left wrist is level with and directly in front of the left shoulder. The right hand is level with the belt.

Practice will be had at the position of High Port with the right hand quitting the piece, it being held approximately in position with the left hand alone. This will be found advantageous when jumping ditches, climbing out of trenches, surmounting obstacles, etc., leaving the right hand free.

The Position of Long Point

Being at the position of Guard. Thrust the point of the bayonet vigorously towards the point of the objective, to the full extent of the left arm, the stock running along side of and kept close to the right inner fore arm. The body is inclined forward; left knee well bent; right leg braced, and weight of body pressed well forward with the sole of the right foot, heel raised. The chief power in the Point is derived from the right arm with the weight of the body behind it, the left arm and hand being employed to direct the point of the bayonet at the objective.

The eyes must be fixed on the objective. In making the point other than straight to the front the left foot will be moved laterally in the direction to which the point is made. After progress has been made in the execution of the simple point as indicated above, practice should include stepping forward with the rear foot when the assault is delivered.

The common faults in the execution of the Long Point will be noted as follows:

1. The rifle is drawn back slightly before delivering the point, which makes for a momentary loss of time that may give an opponent the advantage and should be assiduously guarded against.

2. The stock of the piece is held too high, which makes the guiding of the point of the bayonet with the left hand more difficult, and reduces accuracy in delivering the point at the exact spot intended.

3. The eyes are not directed on the point of the attack. This is an error. One that may cause a man to miss his mark. The soldier must realize what this means in hand to hand fighting. The opponent will get him.

4. The left knee is not sufficiently bent, which does not allow the point to be made with the force intended.

5. The body is not thrust sufficiently forward, which reduces just that much the force of the attack.

6. The point is started at too great a distance from the objective to make a hit. Practice must be conducted in making the point until the soldier knows the exact distance at which he will have to start to produce the maximum effect. This distance is between four and five feet.

During the later stages of the instruction the men should also be taught to step forward with the rear foot when delivering the point.

The Withdrawal After a Long Point

Being at the position of Long Point. To withdraw the bayonet Draw the piece straight back until the right hand is well behind the hip. Immediately assume the position of Guard. If the leverage or proximity of the object transfixed with the bayonet renders it necessary, prior to the withdrawal, the left hand is slipped up close to the stacking swivel.

In the preliminary instruction all Points will be immediately followed by a withdrawal, prior to assuming the position of guard.

Progression

After the several positions hereinbefore described have been learned, the Points should be made at a definite place on a target, such as the throat, the stomach, the head, etc.

As progress is made, the pause between the point and the withdrawal is shortened until the soldier comes directly to the position of Guard from the point. Proficiency will finally be attained in making a "feint point" at one part of the target and the real point at another, for example: Feint at the head and point at the right thigh; feint at the stomach and point at the neck, etc.

Attacks at a retreating foe should be made against the kidneys, the position of which should be shown to the soldier.

Vulnerable Parts of the Body

If possible, the point of the bayonet should be directed against the opponents throat, especially in hand to hand fighting. The point of the bayonet will easily enter and make a fatal wound on penetrating a few inches. Other and more or less exposed parts are the face, chest, lower abdomen, thighs and the region of the kidneys when the back is turned. Four to six inches penetration is sufficient to incapacitate and allow for a quick withdrawal, whereas if a bayonet is driven home too far it is often impossible to withdraw it.

As soon as the nomenclature of the positions and movements are learned the men should work in pairs. They should be practiced in pointing in various directions. 1. At the opposite man's hand, which be places in various positions on and of the body. 2. At thrusting rings tied on the end of a stick.

This practice is conducted without word of command, so that the eyes and brain may be trained

It is not sufficient that a dummy be merely transfixed. Some particular spot on the dummy should constitute the target. Discs or numbers should be placed on the dummy and the men required to point at a distance of about five feet from it and later as they become more proficient, to point after advancing several paces. The advance must be made in a practical manner and the point delivered with either foot to the front.

The rifle must never be drawn back when making a Long Point in a forward movement. The impetus of the body and the forward stretching of the arms supply sufficient force.

The bayonet must be withdrawn immediately after the Point has been delivered, and a forward threatening attitude assumed by the side of or beyond the dummy.

To guard against accidents the men must be at least five feet apart and the bayonet scabbard should be on the bayonet.

The principles of this practice should be observed when pointing at dummies in trenches, standing upright on the ground or suspended from gallows. They should be applied at first slowly and deliberately. No attempt must be made to carry out the Final Assault Practice until the men have been carefully instructed in and have thoroughly mastered the preliminary lessons.

Lesson No. 2

The Parries

Being at the position of Guard: The right or left parry is executed by vigorously straightening the left arm, without bending the wrist or twisting the rifle in the hand, and forcing the piece to the right or left far enough to fend off the adversary's weapon. The eyes must be kept on the weapon that is being parried and not on the eyes of the opponent as indicated in our bayonet combat training.

The common faults in the execution of the parries consist of:

1. Making a wide, sweeping parry, with no forward movement of the bayonet or body in it.

2. The eyes are taken off the weapon that is being parried.

The men should be taught to regard the parry as a part of an offensive movement, namely of the Point, which would immediately follow it in actual combat. For this reason, as soon as the movements of the parries have been learned they should always be accompanied by a slight forward movement of the body.

Parries will be practiced with the right as well as with the left foot forward, preparatory to the practice of parrying when advancing.

Practice

Men when learning the parries should be required to observe the movements of the rifle carefully, and should not be kept longer at this practice than is necessary for them to understand what is required, that is vigorous, yet controlled action.

The men work in pairs with scabbards on the bayonets, one man pointing with the stick and the other parrying it. The position of guard is resumed after each parry. At first this practice must be slow and deliberate, without being allowed to become mechanical, and will be progressively increased in rapidity and vigor.

Later a point at that part of the body indicated by the opposite man's hand should immediately follow the parry, and, finally sticks long enough to represent the opponents weapon at the position of guard should be attached to dummies and parried before delivering the point. (See Targets.)

The men must be taught to parry points made at them:

1. By an enemy in a trench when they are themselves on the parapet.

2. By an enemy on the parapet when they are on the trench.

3. When both are fighting on the same level at close quarters in a deep trench.

Lesson No. 3

The Short Point

Being at the position of Guard: Shift the left hand quickly towards the muzzle and draw the rifle back to the full extent of the right arm, the butt either upwards or downwards, according as a low point or high point is to be made. Deliver the point vigorously to the full extent of the left arm.

The short point is used at a range of about three feet. In close fighting it is the natural point to make when the bayonet has just been withdrawn after a long point. If a strong withdrawal is necessary the right hand should be slipped above the back sight after the short point has been made.

By placing two discs on a dummy the short point should be taught in conjunction with the long point, the first disc being transfixed with the latter and the second with the former. On delivery of the long point if the left foot is forward, the short point would take place with the right foot forward and vice versa.

The parries should be practiced from the position of the short point.

Lesson No. 4

The Jab or Upward Point

Being at the position of Short Point: Shift the right hand up the rifle and grasp it above the balance, at the same time bringing the piece to an almost vertical position close to the body. From this position, bend the knees and jab the point of the bayonet upwards into the throat or under the chin of the opponent.

The common faults in this movement are:

1. The rifle is drawn backward and not held sufficiently upright.

2. The rifle is grasped too low with the right hand.

From the position of Jab, the men will be practiced in fending off an attack made on any part of their body by an opponent.

When making a Jab from the position of guard, the right, being the thrusting hand, will be brought up first.

The Jab can be employed successfully in close quarter fighting in narrow trenches or when embraced by an enemy.

Methods of Injuring an Opponent

It should be impressed upon the soldier that, although a man's point 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 Strike I. Swing the butt up at the opponent's crotch, ribs, forearm, etc., using a half arm blow and advancing the rear foot.

This is essentially a half arm blow from the shoulder, keeping the elbow rigid. It can be executed only when the rifle is grasped at the small of the stock.

Butt Strike II. If the opponent jumps back so that the first butt strike misses, the rifle will come into a horizontal position over the left shoulder, butt to the front. The attacker will then step in with the rear foot and dash the butt into his opponent's face.

Butt Strike III. If the opponent retires still further out of distance, the attacker again closes up and slashes his bayonet down on his opponent's head or neck.

Butt Strike IV. If the point is beaten or brought down, 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 Strike 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.

The men must be impressed with the fact that the butt must never be used when it is possible to use the point of the bayonet effectively.

Butt Strikes can be used only under certain conditions and in certain positions. If the soldier acquires absolute control of his weapon under these conditions he will be able to adapt himself to all other phases of close in fighting. For example, when a man is gripped by an opponent, so that neither the point 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 may be tripped by forcing his weight. On to one leg and then kicking that leg from under him. These methods will only temporarily disable an enemy, who must be killed with the bayonet.

Practice

When the men have been shown the methods of using the butt and the knee, they should be practiced by affixing several discs on a dummy and executing combination exercises at them. For example, point at one disc, use the knee on another fixed low down, jab at a third, etc. For practice with the Butt, light dummies should be used to prevent injury to the piece.

Tactical Application of the Bayonet

A bayonet assault should preferably be made under cover of fire, or darkness or as a surprise. Under these circumstances the prospect of success is greatest, for a bayonet is useless at any range except in hand to hand fighting.

The bayonet is essentially a weapon of offense to be used with skill and vigor. To await an opportunity for using the bayonet entails defeat. An approaching enemy will simply stand out of bayonet range and shoot down the defenders.

In an assault the enemy should be killed with the bayonet. Firing should be avoided. A bullet passing through an opponent's body may kill a friend who happens to be in the line of fire.

The Bayonet Assault

Training in the final assault is conducted only after the soldier has received a thorough course of instruction in the preliminary lessons and has acquired complete control over his weapons. This training must approximate as nearly as possible the conditions of actual fighting. Instructors should endeavor by every means in their power to arouse the interest and imagination of the men. Each problem should be carefully explained beforehand so that every man may have a complete knowledge of just exactly what is being attempted. Each target must be regarded as an armed opponent and each line of targets as an enemy line, attacking, defending or retiring, to be disposed of accordingly.

Any tendency towards carelessness and slackness must be corrected at once and all the men must be impressed with the fact that a practice assault that is not carried out with quickness, vigor and determination is worse than useless.

Lack of imagination or lack of understanding of what is being attempted, leading to a violation of the principles of tactics in practice assaults against dummy targets, can only lead to disaster in a real assault against the enemy.

Nervous tension, due to the anticipation of an attack, the advance across the open and the final dash at the enemy all combine to tire an assaulting party. It is only by their physical fitness and superior skill with the bayonet that they can overcome a comparatively fresh foe.

Accuracy in directing the bayonet when moving rapidly or surmounting obstacles; a thrust of sufficient force to penetrate clothing and equipment; a clean withdrawal, which requires no small effort, especially when the bayonet is fixed by a bone; are all of the greatest importance.

Method of Carrying the Rifle with Bayonet Fixed

1. A quick, short advance. Carry the rifle at the position of "High Port." This position is suitable for close formations. It minimizes risks of accidents when surmounting obstacles. It can be maintained with the left hand alone, allowing a free use of the right when necessary

2. Long advance, in close formation. Carry the rifle slung over the left shoulder, barrel perpendicular, sling to the front. This allows the free use of both hands.

3. Long advance, in open order. Carry the rifle at the "Trail."

Teamwork

The importance of teamwork, discipline, and organized control throughout the conduct of the bayonet assault cannot be too strongly impressed upon the men. In this, as well as in all other tactical operations, success can only be achieved through the closest cooperation of all concerned. While individual initiative is to be encouraged, it must be strictly subordinated to the will of the leader of the assaulting party. The failure of an enterprize can usually be traced to the lack of this close cooperation.

The Advance

1. All members of the attacking party must "go over the top," that is, leave the trench, or rise from cover simultaneously.

2. The first stage, especially of a long advance, is slow and steady—not faster than the pace of the slowest man.

Such an advance has a decided moral effect on the enemy. It will produce the maximum shock at the moment of impact. It allows the attacking force to reach its objective without undue exhaustion. On the other hand, if the assault is allowed to develop without control and in a haphazard fashion, the moral effect of the steady advance of a resistless wall of men is lost and the defenders will be given time to dispose of their opponents in detail.

The Charge

The actual charge will not be delivered over a greater distance than 20 paces. Within the last ten paces the piece will be brought to the position of guard. The alignment will be maintained as far as possible until actual contact is gained.

As soon as a position is carried and prior to any further advance or any other operation whatsoever, the line must be reformed and every precaution taken against a counter attack. In Trench Warfare, the indiscriminate pursuit with the bayonet must never be permitted unless orders to that effect have been given by the leaders of the assaulting party. The attacking troops are not so fresh as the enemy and experience has shown that unorganized pursuit is exposed to ambuscades and machine gun fire. In most cases the work of immediate pursuit is better accomplished by the supporting artillery assisted by the rapid fire of the infantry on the retreating enemy.

Waldron, William Henry, Elements of Trench Warfare, Edwin N. Appleton, 1917.

William Henry Waldron

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