The war establishment of an infantry battalion is about 1,046 men divided into four companies. There are four platoons to a company, and four sections to a platoon.
The platoon is the smallest unit in the field. It is often said that this is a platoon or junior officers' war, and I believe this is quite true. I must mention something about the organisation of this compact little unit.
As previously stated, a platoon consists of four sections. Taking for example an average strength of 49 O.R. (other ranks), a suitable organisation would be as follows:
Platoon Headquarters: 1 Officer 1 Platoon Sergeant 1 Officer's Batman 1 Stretcher Bearer 1 Cook
No. 1 Section 1 N.C.O. 9 Riflemen 3 Snipers 1 Scout
No. 2 Section 1 N.C.O. 6 Rifle Grenadiers 3 Carriers
No. 3 Section 1 N.C.O. 2 Scouts 8 Lewis Gunners
Sometimes each section may wear a different coloured cloth armlet, so that you can tell at a glance what section a man belongs to. The platoon commander has at all times to look out for his men's comfort first--is own comfort and safety being a second consideration.
EQUIPMENT OF AN INFANTRY SOLDIER WHEN GOING "OVER THE TOP"
1 Steel Helmet which seems to him to weigh a ton when he is marching out of reach of shell fire, but when under shell fire, he thinks it is as light as a feather and he wishes it were much heavier and bigger.
1 Iron Rations. A small, white bag containing 3 hardtack biscuits, a tin of bully beef, sometimes a tin of mixed tea and sugar.
1 Small Box Respirator or gas mask, at the alert position. This is lying flat on his chest.
1 P.H. or Smoke Helmet. This is a spare gas helmet, which is out of use, but is perfectly effective, and may be used if the small box respirator is damaged.
1 Haversack. This is fastened on the back of the man. D-shaped buckles are provided on the Webb equipment to allow for this.
1 Rubber Sheet. Fastened on the outside of the haversack.
2 Mills Bombs per man. Ten bombs to bombers and rifle grenadiers. The latter have grenade cups, and copper rods about 12 inches long which are screwed into the base of the Mills bomb and are fired from a rifle.
1 Wire Cutter. Usually the riflemen have wire cutters attached to their rifle. There are about seven men supplied with wire cutters in a platoon.