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A rearguard is that part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or withdrawal. The term can also be used to describe forces protecting lines of communication behind an army.〔Oxford English Dictionary: *rearguard n.1.b: A body of troops detached from the main force to bring up and protect the rear, esp. in the case of a retreat. Also fig. and in extended use." *"rear guard, n.2: Chiefly Brit. The guard at the rear of a railway train." 〕 ==Origins== The term rearguard (also ''rereward'', ''rearward'') originates from the medieval custom of dividing an army into three ''battles'' or ''wards''; Van, Main or Middle and Rear. The Rear Ward usually followed the other wards on the march and during a battle usually formed the rearmost of the three if deployed in column or the left-hand ward if deployed in line. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rearguard」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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