The camp at Razmak was strongly fortified with barbed wire and guard towers, as well as machine-gun and mortar positions. It was garrisoned by a brigade, which included a unit of mountain gunners and a number of Sappers from the Royal Engineers, as well as Poett's battalion. Upon arrival, he was attached to the battalion's 'A' Company, which was commanded by Oswald Paget, an old family friend. Only a short time later, Poett participated in an action by the battalion known as going on 'column', in which the battalion patrolled the area around the camp in order to 'show the flag' and highlight its continued presence at the camp. It was an extremely physical activity, and Poett found his first 'column' very trying, particularly due to the lack of water supplies carried by the troops during the process. Poett found that the hardest, and most dangerous part of the 'column', was when he commanded a picket that ranged in front of the battalion. When ordered by the battalion commander, the picket would occupy and then hold a hilltop that the battalion itself would later occupy; the danger was found in rushing the top of the hill, which would risk being fired upon by hostile tribesmen, as well as running fast down the often steep hill to withdraw and rejoin the battalion. Although his first 'column' was only a practice exercise, the political situation around Razmak rapidly worsered during Poett's time at the camp, and on further 'columns' he found himself fired upon a number of times. Poett did find one positive feature of the patrols, however – his fitness levels quickly increased, and he was later of the opinion that he reached the peak of his physical fitness whilst serving at Razmak. In the time between 'columns', Poett played polo with his fellow officers, and also helped level a patch of ground by hand, on which a permanent sports facility for the garrison was erected. Eventually the battalion's time at the camp came to an end and it transferred to Barrackpore, some fifteen miles from the city of Calcutta.