THE OLDEST CADET CORPS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 25 October 1940, Page 7

THE OLDEST CADET CORPS

[To the Editor] Sir, —In your very excellent report of the proceedings at Nelson College recently, the Minister of Education is stated to have said, “The College Cadet Corps was the oldest in the Dominion, and had been in existence since 1875.” The writer attended Wellington College from 1874 to 1877 inclusive, and well remembers that a Cadet Corps existed during that period. Our uniforms were dark blue serge Garibaldi and trousers with green facings, and forage cap with strap. We were armed with carbines which apparently had been used in the latter part of the Maori War as the names of Wanganui troopers were cut on some of them. The Drill Instructor was SergeantMajor Bell, an Imperial Non-Com. On reference to “Early History of Wellington College,” a copy of the following “Gazette” notice appears. Colonial Defence Office, Wellington. 12th November. 1870. “His Excellency the Governor,

has been pleased to accept the services of the Wellington Grammar School Rifle Volunteer Cadet

It will be seen therefore that the date is five years prior to that stated by the Minister of Education. The march past of the Nelson College boys .under the command of Major McKay. V.D., 0.8. E., was an inspiration to those of us who have the welfare of our great Empire at heart, and 'it is to be hoped that all the Colleges in the Dominion will carry on to train the boys on similar lines to those of the great English schools’ “Officers’ Training Corps,” as it will be from such that our future leaders will be drawn.

New Zealand has already turned out many first class military leaders, and the present leader of our Overseas Forces, Major-General Freyberg, V.C., was an old boy of Wellington College.—l am etc.

F. J. JOHNS. Tahunanui, 24th October.