Royal Military College of Canada - Review Yearbook (Kingston, Ontario Canada)

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12 R. M. C. REVIEW June 1st of this year 1936 was the Diamond Jubilee of the Royal Military College of Canada. On that date sixty years ago the College opened in H.M.S. Stone Frigate with sixteen cadets.- A few days later two more recruits joined, and thus came into being the immortal Old Eighteen . Colonel E. O. Hewett, R.E., had been appointed the first Com- mandant in the previous year. The first cadet, as everyone knows, was No. 1, Alfred George Godfrey Wurtele, the number of the latest joined recruit, now at the College, is 2507. The original staff consisted of the Commandant, Captain J. B. Rid- out, 90th L.I., Captain of Cadets, Captain E. Kensington, R.A., Professor of Mathematics and Artillery, Captain G. W. Hawkins, R.A., Professor of Fortification and Military Topography, and Professor G. O. Ferguson, Pro- fessor of French and German. The course of study laid down for this first class included mathematics, geometrical drawing, modern languages, in- fantry drill and swimming. In September, 1876, the first regular quarterly examination was held, at which the cadets showed moderate but not marked improvement . The first senior gentleman cadet was No. 7, L. H. Irving, who also had the great distinction of being the first cadet to hold the successive ranks of lance-corporal, corporal, sergeant, company ser- geant-major, and battalion sergeant-major. He was also in 1884 the first president of the R.M.C. Club. The original building, used by both staff and cadets, for sleeping, eat- ing and working fthe order in which these three essentials are named has, of course, no significancej was the old Stone Frigate, then lighted by 108 coal oil-lamps, but in 1878 took place the opening of the Educational Build- ing, now the Administration Building. This building is in a most pleasing and distinctive style of Canadian architecture. Since then many other buildings have been added, and those who were responsible for their design have been consistent in one respect, at any rate, they have never permitted any two buildings on the College grounds to have the same style of archi- tecture. This, of course, enables the cadet, if he be so minded, to study, right on the premises, the various kinds of architecture which have at- tained popularity in Canada during the last sixty years. The growth in the number of cadets is perhaps best shown by com- paring the size of the first recruit class, 18, with that of 1935, 71. As mentioned above the number of buildings has also greatly increased, but in .this connection the obvious fact should not be forgotten that the more buildings you place on a circumscribed area of land, such as the Inner Enclosure, the less space you have left for playing fields, in fact we now have one where we had three. The Outer Enclosure, though it has plenty of open space, is so cut up that there is only room for one playing field, it looks as though we shall have to go across to Barriefield Common for addi- tional recreation grounds in the very near future. Pls Dk Pk bk The death of No. 47, Lt.-'Colonel E. F. Wurtele was a very great loss to the College and to all connected with it. The Editor loses not only a personal friend but also one who has always given him the greatest assist- ance since the inauguration of the Review. His unrivalled knowledge of the early history of the College, his unceasing kindness in sending the editor items of news about ex-cadets and the College, sometimes three times a week, and above all his unqualified love and enthusiasm for his old College

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14 R. M. C. REVIEW can never be forgotten. Mrs. Wurtele has most kindly handed over to the College a number of his books, pictures, uniforms, etc. This collection will help to carry on his memory among succeeding generations. Dk Dk Dk Pk We were very happy to welcome to the College once again the Execu- tive Committee of the R.M.C. Club and later the members who attended the Annual Meeting. This annual getting together of past and present, at the College, is in our opinion a most excellent thing for all concerned. Dk Pk Pk Pk The parade of approximately 130 ex-cadets on the College Square on Saturday morning, May 9th, was a most inspiring sight, especially as, under the command of No. 154, Colonel F. M. Gaudet, C.M.G., they marched past two of the Old Eighteen No. 6, Brig.-General S. J. A. Denison, C.M.G., and No. 18, Colonel Duncan MacPherson, and No. 65, Colonel G. H. Ogilvie, who all took the salute from the steps of the Educational Building. The Service at the Memorial Arch was a most impressive one, it was taken by No. 1394, The Rev. S. W. Williams and the memorial wreath was placed in position by No. 727, Major D. A. White, D.S.O., retiring president of the R.M.C. Club. In the evening the record number of 149 attended the annual dinner in Kingston. We were also very glad to see the large number who turned out for the Church parade at St. George's Cathedral the next morn- ing. May we here offer our sincere congratulations to the Commandant on the great distinction conferred upon him when he was made an honorary member of the R.M.C. Club and may we also congratulate the R.M.C. Club on their new honorary member. Pk 96 Pk Pk We were honoured at the beginning of May by a visit from the Com- mandant of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Major-General A. A. Goschen, D.S.O. It was a great privilege and pleasure to listen to the address which he gave to the Staff and cadets, and to meet him personally. It 1S noteworthy that our College was to a large extent modelled on the R.M.A. which was founded nearly 200 years ago. Pk Dk Dk Dk On April 9th, 1936, the new Mess and Gymnasium Building was taken over by the College from the builder's hands. Next term we hope to be in full occupation of these fine new quarters. A description and a series of pictures, the work of two present cadets of the second class, will be found elsewhere in this number, and also a picture of the new six-roomed ward which has been added to the College Hospital. Dk 96 Pk Pk An account of the part taken by two ex-cadets in the great rescue workat the Moose River Mining Disaster will also be found on another page of this issue.