As I read it if you move into contact you can only do so as a column - you can do any of the other options as individual elements, but not moving into contact if starting in a column.
I disagree. I think you can choose both options for all cases. What I'm not sure of is if that column should be bent. I would say you should line up all elements with the heading one.
Figure 16 clearly shows that a column CAN be bent if need be to avoid contacting other elements. The notes to the figure seem to suggest that you only do so, however, to avoid making what would be in that example an illegal contact.
Unfortunately, I think that there are two ways of reading the "unless in a column" bullet-point on p.30.
The first line of the second paragraph "Impetuous troops must make a spontaneous advance as either individual elements or a column unless", makes it clear that impetuous movement can be a group move as a column if so chosen.
That leaves the "Unless in a column behind another moving element" section as having two possible alternatives:-
1. The "Unless in a column" is prohibitive - If you start in a column you can't move into front edge combat or overlap; or
2. The "Unless in a column" is permissive - If you choose to move as column, it is not necessary for the second and subsequent elements of the column to end up in front edge combat or overlap positions (which clearly they would not do).
My view is that 1 is probably right, i.e. that Phil's intention was to stop the Norman Mounted Display Team effect.
Tim Child
