Lines

Lines: The term applies to various phases of military operations. "Regiments of the Line" are those which are kept in a high state of efficiency and usually ordered immediately to the front on proclamation of war.

The honour of being on the "right of the line" in the British Army belongs to the Royal Regiment of Artillery.

"Lines of communication" are guarded roads, usually railways, along with our reinforcements and supplies travel from the military bases to the fighting front. When an army cuts such a line of communication the belligerent army is seriously impeded. The lines of communications are often sea routes, as was often the case in the Peninsula War, when Wellington kept in touch with his base, i.e., England, by altering his disembarkating points as he proceeded on the campaign.

When an army is in camp the tents of the various regiments are arranged in "lines" across which the other regiments are not supposed to pass.

See also Exterior lines.

References / notes

The above term is listed in our Compendium of the Great War.

This compendium forms the central hub of words, phrases, people, and places relative to the Great War period of 1914–1918. These also include battles, political events, ships, trench slang, British and American service terms and expressions in everyday use, nicknames, sobriquets, the titles of British and Commonwealth Regiments and their origins, and also warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary with the war, which is reflected in the language used, some of which may seem derogatory by today's standards. Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.

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