Ashbury College - Ashburian Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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THE ASHBURIAN organization, which could be handled with much more efficiency. A band of 5 drums and 6 bugles was formed, helping the marching a great deal. The officers of the Company were selected and were as follows: Cadet Major E. B. Pilgrim, commandingg Cadet Captain J. G. M. Hooper, second-in-command, Cadet Company Sergeant-Major J. F. Smith, and the platoon commanders, two of whom had formerly been in command of a company, the third a second-in-command. All other officers and N.C.O.'s reverted to the ranks, whereupon examinations for the ap- pointment of N.C.O.'s were held, and the Corps then began an intensive pre- paration for the Inspection. Not long after this Risorgimento , Cadet Major Pilgrim retired, his place being taken by Lieutenant H. W. Price. The annual Church Parade was held on October 29. The Corps marched to Christ Church Cathedral and attended a short service there, after which, to- gether with the other Cadet Corps of the city, it attended a general parade on Parliament Hill. Inspection The Annual Inspection of the Cadet Corps took place on Friday, May 18th, Captain Craig, Deputy District Cadet Officer, inspecting. Captain Riley of the G.G.F.G. Reserve accompanied him. The Company fell in on the Company Parade Ground at 1330 hours, the Inspecting Officer being expected at 1400 hours. Unfortunately a shower of rain which had been imminent for some time started and continued with increasing violence throughout the after- noon. We marched onto the fieid, accompanied by No. 29 Pipe Band of the Cameron Highlanders, and formed up in line opposite the saluting base. Captain Craig and Captain Riley 29 arrived, and with the Headmaster took their places under the flag. The Company presented arms, while our own band played the General Salute. Captain Craig thereupon inspected the Corps, complimenting Cadet Major Price on the smart turnout. After this, the Company marched past the saluting base in column of route and in close column ol' platoons, bringing the ceremonial to an end by advancing in Review Order and giving the General Salute. Company, platoon ant, section drill was then carried on, followed by the circus , In this, signalling by means of Semaphore and Morse lamp was displayed, a lesson with the Swift Training Rifle was held, a lecture on Map Reading was given, and instruc- tion in Aiming was demonstrated, all of which received praise from the offi- cers inspecting. The Company Sergeant-Major led a physical training class, followed by the Junior Cadet Corps in their whites, and a series of marches by the band. During this time, the rest of the Company had retired to the back quad, where a special platoon under Cadet Lieutenant, P. .W. Richardson was drawn up. Still the rain descended upon the already saturated ground, the stream- ing roofs and the dripping spectators. For some weeks, various parts of a Commando course were being set up v 1 .I ii G. F.

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28 CADET EARING the laurels of the Sherwood Cup, presented annually to the best Cadet Corps in the Ottawa District of M. D. No. 3, No. 137 R. C. A. C. Ashbury College Cadet Corps started this year in high spirits. Early in the Michaelmas term Colonel L. P. Sherwood himself came and pre- sented the Cup to us, who now felt that we had the reward of one year's hard work in the school, and that with another year of even harder and more loyal work, it would remain here. Mr. C. M. Henry, our instructor, now holding the rank of Lieutenant, arrived a week or two late. How- ever, this gave us time to arrange the Quarter- master Stores, to hand out the uniforms, and to inspect all the new material, weapons and cadets. Mr. Henry arriv- ed to put the battalion in order 3 things then pro- ceeded according to plan. In the actual Corps organization, the following arrangements were soon put into effect : Cadet Lieutenant-Colonel E. B. Pil- grim, ofiicer commanding the Battalion, Cadet Major J. G. M. Hooper, second- in-commandg Cadet Regimental Ser- geant-Major, J. F. Smith 5 Cadet Lieu- tenant C. W. J. Eliot, Adjutant. In addition to this there were two Cadet Majors, each commanding a company, and two Cadet Captains, their seconds- in-command. Each Company consisted of two platoons. As in the latter part of last year, the Junior School made up most of No. 2 Company. All N.C.Ofs, with the exception of the R.S.M. and the two C.S.M.'s, were THE ASHBURIAN CORPS holding their ranks temporarily. A class attended by all these N.iC..O.'s and those cadets wishing to become N.C.O.'s was held, in which all necessary drill, with and without arms, was taken up. The men were divided into three squads, each squad being instructed by a corps officer. The purpose of this class was to make N.'C.lO.'s who had a thorough knowledge of drill, and who could in- struct in drill. Map Reading was also included in this training. Work to gain chevrons was soon under way. In Defence classes various subjects were taken up, among which were: Me- teorology, Small Arms Training and the Inter- nal Combustion Engine, in which a demonstra- tion model of an old Ford engine helped con- siderably. Shooting on the ranges continued, but with rather disappointing re- sults. Despite this, how- ever, the Cadet Corps seemed to be showing promise. Early in the month of February, we received a mortal blow. Mr. Henry was called away. We were left in the middle of our training syllabus and it was here that we realiz- ed how much we depended on oiu' instructor. He handled most of the offi- cial correspondence, he could spend all his time on the Corps, and he had an infinite knowledge of the work done. In vain another instructor was sought, so we had to carry on as we could. With outside help, we were given lec- tures on some platoon weapons. At the beginning of the Trinity term, the Battalion returned to a Company

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30 on the lawn in front of the school, drawing inquisitive glances from pas- sers-by, and often gasps of amazement from the boys themselves. Armed with a revolver, Mr. Richard- son led his picked platoon through this maze of wood, rope, iron and wire. The whole course was done at the double and two rows of rubber tires, staggered slightly, presented some diffi- culty as they lifted their knees high and ran on their toes. Finally, fairly ex- hausted, they had to run up a sloping log, a task made even more difficult by the falling rain. The company fell in again and we marched out to the flag pole and formed square. Captain Craig then said a few words. He said that our inspec- tion was much better than he had ex- pected it to be, considering the loss of our instructor and the continual bad weather. Complimenting us on the steadiness on parade, he mentioned that THE ASHBURIAN this was a quality of a good soldier. Captain Craig also said that we, who hoped to lead our country in the future, could not do so until We had learned to be led ourselves, and from appear- ances we had learnt the basic principles of this. The Headmaster spoke very briefly, the Company marched off and the parents and friends who had brave- ly endured the elements dispersed. On our last parade of the year, the following Monday, a bright day for a change, Mr. Archdale thanked the Corps for the good show they had put up, and presented the Woods trophy for the best platoon to Cadet Lieu- tenant Richardson of No. 3 Platoon. It was won last year by No. 2 Platoon under Cadet Lieutenant Price, now our Commanding Officer. The Company then dismissed, with some of us still hoping, knowing that some honest effort had been given for the Sherwood Cup. DREAMING A hemlock tree stands in a glade, While the violets sleep beneath its shade. While the eagle soars aloft on high, The hemlock tree stands quietly by. The sordid city sprawls in the sun, The people toil till their work is done. But the hemlock tree just stands in state, While beneath its shade the violets wait. The sordid city I'll always hate, But there I 'm decreed to meet my fate. While a hemlock tree stands in a glade, With violets asleep beneath its shade. -By R. HEAVEN.