Brentwood College School - Brentonian Yearbook (Mill Bay, British Columbia Canada)

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Brentwood College Magazine In November our Spotter Trainer arrived. It was through the generosity and help of Captain A. J. R. Buller, late of the Royal Flying Corps, that this training device was obtained. Its primary object was to train aeroplane ob- servers to pick out quickly objects on the ground, and to give their co-ordinates. The map used in conjunction with the Trainer had been drawn to give a height of 6,000 feet. Much very interesting and useful training has been obtained from it. In December we heard that there was some future chance of the Unit being affiliated with the Air Force, this, however, could only be done by becoming a Cadet Corps Unit under Military District No. 1 1. Application was, therefore, made early in January. On January 25th the Company Commander was confirmed in his rank of Sergeant and promoted to the rank of Company Sergeant Major W.O. 2, the Platoon Commanders and Musketry Instructor were confirmed in their ranks of Corporal and promoted to Sergeants. On January 27th Major W. R. Critchley, D.S.O., General Staff Officer, 3, Cadets, came to the College, saw the training in progress and inspected the Corps. He congratu lated the Unit on the work it was doing and on its efficiency. Training proceeded more keenly, as we had an Official Inspection to face sometime in the Summer Term. All ranks are to be praised for the hard work they put in. The Corps Orderly Room was established in February, and all matters per- taining to the Corps are now dealt with through this Office. On March 24th Squadron Leader W. Jacobi, R.C.A.F., accompanied by Flying Officer McNeil, R.C.A.F., came over and saw the Corps at work. After the March Past Squadron Leader Jacobi spoke to all ranks on parade. We were very grateful to him for his remarks and suggestions. In April came a bomb which rather shattered us for the time being. We were informed by the Cadet Headquarters, M.D. 11, that we would not have an Official Inspection this year, and that we would be officially recognized in the near future. Representations were made to the Pacific Command, with the result, we were notified that we could have an Unofficial Inspection, and that a General Staff Officer would carry out this Inspection, when we so wished. We much appreciated this recognition of our efforts. Through the kindness and help of the G.S.O. 2 Training, Pacific Command, Sergeant A. O. Newberry was sent out to help us to put the finishing touches on our Infantry, Rifle Drill and P.T., which he did in a most praiseworthy and efficient manner. Official authorization of the Corps was published in Cadet Corps Orders, Military District 11, dated May 10th, 1941. The authorization to date as from April 1st, 1941. Lieut.-Colonel H. W. Landon, O.B.E., M.C., G.S.O. 1 Training, Pacific Command, accompanied by Major A. G. Dobbie, G.S.O. 2 Training, Pacific [Page Twenty-Five]

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Brentwood College Magazine Cadet Corps HE early growth of the Corps can be likened to grain sown on stony ground, but continuous watering, kept it alive, though it had but little official soil in which to grow. Our original idea, that of forming an Air Force Cadet Corps, had to be discarded, as no further Air Force units were then being authorized by the Department of National Defence. On the opening of school in September, membership was made compulsory and the corps was organized with one Company comprising three Platoons. The rank of A Sergeant to be held by the Company Commander, the three Platoon Commanders to hold the rank of A Corporal, the Musketry Instructor to be an A Corporal, with one A Corporal as supernumary to the establishment. The uniform to be white shirts with black ties, grey trousers, black belts, black shoes, a black forage cap with white piping, and bearing the College Crest in brass as a cap badge. All cadets were to be given Musketry instruction and shooting practice. This practice was to take place by Platoons, one Platoon to shoot each week. On the first Monday of the term, the Corps was paraded. We had but little idea of the new drill except from a book obtained from a local store, but we went ahead, making many mistakes, which were overcome as time went on. An outline drawing of a Service Rifle was obtained, from which a wooden pattern was made, seventy-two were cut out in the rough, then finished off in the Manual Training Room, painted, and brass number discs let into the butt of each rifle. Though these were light to handle, they certainly filled the bill, and Arms Drill was started. Group training in Semaphore was carried out by all ranks, though not required for Military training, an essential for the Navy and Air Force. Specialist Classes in Morse and First Aid were started in October. For the training of Mores, two buzzers were constructed which were fitted with lamps for visual operation. First Aid books were obtained, and splints and bandages were made so that the practical side of this course could be learned. No Cadet was allowed to specialize until he had passed out in Infantry and Arms Drill. No. 3 Platoon was turned into a training Platoon for this purpose. On October 14th, Commander J. M. Grant, R.C.N. , came out and saw the training in progress, inspected the Corps, and addressed all ranks on parade. We were most grateful to him for giving up his time and for his comments. [Page Twenty -Four]

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Brentwood College Magazine Command, came to the College on June 4th, to carry out the promised Inspec- tion. After the General Salute, Colonel Landon inspected the Corps, which then marched past and advanced in Review Order. P.T. was then carried out, after this Company Drill and Platoon Drill by the Company Commander and Platoon Commanders. First Aid, Signalling, Field Engineering and Spotter Trainer Classes were then inspected, and after the Orderly Room and Shooting records had been inspected, Colonel Landon expressed himself as being very pleased and satisfied with everything, and said that the Corps was the smartest he had ever seen. The Corps on parade that day was as follows: — Company Commander: C.S.M. A. W. Gillespie. No. i Platoon — Sgt. A. Brown. Second in Command, A Cpl. J. Clarke. No. 2 Platoon — Sgt. I. G. Gillespie. Second in Command: A Cpl. R. Whittall. No. 3 Platoon — Sgt. J. A. Angus. Second in Command: A L. Cpl. N. Worsley. First Aid Class — Instructor: A L. Cpl. R. Stephens. Signalling Class — Instructor: A L. Cpl. A. Underbakke. Spotter Trainer — Instructor: C.S.M. A. W. Gillespie. Field Engineering — Instructors: Sgts. A. Brown and J. A. Angus. Musketry — Instructor: A L. Cpl. J. Berry. and 50 Cadets. Five Cadets were absent, owing to sickness. No more parades were held for the rest of the term. Since then, informa- tion has been received from the newly-formed Air League of Canada, in relation to the formation of an Air Cadet Corps Unit, but at present, there seem to be various snags. These concern the minimum number required for the formation of a Corps, the age limits, and, last but not least, the question of cost which would be high for uniform and equipment and for which the Government makes no grant. These problems have been put forward to the representative of the Air League for British Columbia, who will bring them forward to the Council of the Air League of Canada at Ottawa in the near future. No alteration is being made to the status of the Corps for the time being, and will not be made, unless some clear-cut solution is forthcoming. [Page Twenty-Six]