St Johns Ravenscourt School - Eagle Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 67 text:

c a det cction Inspected by Brigadier H. W. Sterne Manitoba Area Commander, DSO, MBE, CO. On Thursday, May 21, 1964, the No. 538 St. John’s-Ravenscourt School Cadet Corps formed up outside Thompson House for the annual Cadet Inspection. At 7:00 p.m. the corps marched down onto the lower soccer field where it halted to wait the arrival of Brigadier Sterne and his party. This night marked the climax to the year’s work. Since the beginning of school the previous fall, the Cadets had paraded every Monday. They had, throughout the year, received instruction and training in first aid, map-using, marksmanship, judo, rifle drill, national survival and signalling. The inspection had been practised and repractised to perfect the movements. The two weeks prior to the inspection had been busy ones for everyone. An obstacle course had been set up and other displays had been prepared. Brigadier Sterne arrived at 7:30 and was wel¬ comed by Captain Ainley, our Chief Instructor. Brigadier Sterne took the general salute and then proceeded to inspect the corps, along with other members of the inspecting party; Cdt. Lt. Col. Jock McDonald, Mr. Gordon, Captain Palmer, Lt. Col. Comack, and Captain Ainley. Music was supplied by the pipe band. Following the inspec¬ tion, the corps marched past the saluting base, advanced in review order, and formed a hollow square for the presentation of awards. The trophy for the best first-year cadet was awarded to J. Lawson, and the trophy for the most improved cadet was awarded to Cdt. Lt. R. Condo. The Lord Strathcona Ring for shooting was awarded to Cdt. J. McDonald. The MPRA Silver Spoon for the highest individual score in the O’Neill Trophy Competition was awarded to Cadet W. Cottick. Cdt. Lt. Col. Jock McDonald received the G. W. O’Neill Trophy for the highest Cadet Team score in the Whitehead Trophy Rifle Competition, on behalf of the Rifle Team. The Master Cadet certificates, the highest award a Cadet can receive, were presented to Cadet Captain P. Dodd, Cadet Lt. W. Everett, Cadet Sgt. R. Lay, Cadet Captain J. Lederman, Cdt. WOl R. Matthews, Cdt. W02 W. Ramsay, and Cdt. W02 R. Roper. After this the corps was retired and fallen out. The Cadets then put on various displays: the band performed, the signals unit co-ordinated the dis¬ plays, the Shooting Range and Driver Mechanics Room were on display, and the Obstacle Course provided a great deal of amusement among the spectators because the fact that the tunnel was filled with water was unknown to the contestants involved. After the outdoor displays the crowd gathered round in the gymnasium for a gym display. It was very successful; the boys executed many fine vault jumps and rope exercises. After the display, Major R. B. Cantlie of the Queen’s Own Cameron High¬ landers of Canada, presentd a cane to Cdt. Lt. Col. Jock McDonald for his fine work in the corps. Brigadier Sterne then said a few words after which refreshments were served in the Dining Hall. The efforts of Inspection Day did not go un¬ rewarded. The corps again won the Lord Strath¬ cona Trust Shield for the 7th time, for the most proficient corps in Manitoba for physical training. Altogether we won three trophies for the best Cadet Shooters in Manitoba. 63

Page 66 text:

c ovnman Off , ' icer s For most of this year, the Cadet Corps paraded Monday afternoons for training purposes. It was quite a successful year, with the strength of the corps being 128. Some of the older cadets, who had in some cases been subjected to the same training for as many as five years, were allowed to spend part of the Monday afternoon program in study periods. The prescribed training syllabus was completed with an additional number of option periods. These included shooting, first aid, signals, the band, and judo, which was once again under the expert instruction of “Tug” Wilson of the Winnipeg Judo Club. A noticeable lack of both interest and pride in the corps was evident this year. This was perhaps due on one hand to the syllabus itself, being a repetition to many cadets of over several years, and on the other hand to a lack of qualified in¬ structors in the corps. Practically all lessons had to be taught by Cadet Officers and NCO’s them¬ selves. The Cadet Shooting Team continued to benefit from the use of our shooting range. This year, again, the expert coaching given by Mr. Nelson Colville, a many-time member of Canada’s Bisley Team, improved our shooting immensely. The team won the Lt. Charles French Trophy with ease, as the top five members of the eight-man team took the first five places in the competition. The team brought credit to the school in the MPRA series of Winter shoots, and we are hope¬ ful that in the forthcoming competition for the Whitehead and O’Neill Trophies they will repeat last year’s victory as the top cadet team in the area. The new shooting equipment which the Ladies’ Guild gave to the corps has proved in¬ valuable in producing several expert marksmen. Cadet Major P. Dodd placed second in last year’s Master Cadet exam in the province, and as a reward for the excellent standing he achieved at the National Cadet Camp in Banff last year, he has earned a trip to the Barbados this coming summer. Last year the corps placed first in both general proficiency for closed corps as well as in physical training for the whole of the province. Trophies for these have been on display in the school for the past year. The Cameron Highlander Rgt. was unable to supply us with kilts this year because of a sud¬ den increase in their nominal strength. As a result, the annual Cadet Ball was replaced by a formal school dance. The dance was well-supported and all who attended enjoyed themselves in the full evening’s fun. On behalf of the Cadet Corps, I would like to thank Mr. Ainley, our Chief Instructor, for the many hours of work he spent in organizing the corps’ activities apart from his regular teaching assignments. Not to be forgotten is Mr. Glegg, who gave us many useful tips and much-needed help in our parades and inspections. I would also like to thank Mr. Parker for his faultless admin¬ istration during the year. Special thanks must go to Mr. Nelson Colville without whose patience and coaching the rifle team would not have reach¬ ed the record heights in the school’s history that it did during the year. Cdt. Maj. R. Clark Fraser. 62

Page 68 text:

A.-. In place of a proper Cadet Ball this year, a formal dance was held at which no cadet uniforms were seen. The reason for this was that the Cameron Highlanders could not supply the corps with kilts in time for the ball. However, preparations and decorations went on as usual, and at 8:30 p.m. on April 23rd, 1965’s Cadet Ball (?) officially be¬ gan. Everyone who was present had a great time, particularly the boys, because ticket prices were down from last year, proceeds from numerous small dances during the year having gone to allay the costs of the ball. As a matter of fact, some money was left over and it was planned to put it towards the Gradu¬ ation Dance in May. All the same we hope to go back to our “uni¬ formed” ball next year. ft I 1 1 ill In : 1 mrl