This change was not limited to the UK. I just read this last night in the regimental history of the British Columbia Dragoons concerning their arrival in Camp Borden in early June 1941: "The size of Camp Borden was a surprise to the Dragoons and, in one way at least, the unit surprised the camp. When it arrived on 2 June it was met by the divisional and brigade commanders, Major-General E. W. Sansom, DSO, and Brigadier A. C. Spencer, respectively. When the Dragoons prepared to march to their barracks, instead of forming up in sections of three as was the accepted drill for the past year and a half, the unit, to quote the Commanding Officer, . . . carried on with the old cavalry drill, sections right and sections left, etc., in the usual four to a section. We had had numerous in¬ spections and no one had remarked on the drill. It was worthy of a cartoon ... to see the G.O.C's. and Brigadier's faces when -we marched past in sections of four. We might have been returning from the Crimea. It need hardly be added that very quickly the regiment had to learn modern drill to conform with the rest of the Canadian Army. The lack of equipment might curb a unit's ability to learn modern tactics, but as long as there were drill sergeants in good voice, modern foot drill was available to all."
The new company drill simplified, with squad, section and platoon drill - Australia - 1915 Form fours - 'look this way and I will give a complete demonstration of the movement' ...............................cont'd above : The 'Troop' changed from 4 to three ranks late 1930s. See 8# above
