Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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20 arduous ' task in carrying the largest of the wreaths for some min ' utes while they marched in slow time immediately behind the gun-carriage, VISIT TO B. V. E. CAMP. The Band was invited to spend a night at the B. V. E. camp at St. David ' s Island, They went down on the evening of Friday, May 20th. and stayed down until the middle of the following morning. As was the case last year, the boys were very warmly welcomed and kindly treated. After supper, they were shown the wireless section — a new institution there — and spent some time exchanging riddles with a man in a boat a mile off shore. The next morning, the B, V. E ' s fell-in at six o ' clock and went for a route march headed by our Band. For them to have played as; well as they did was almost more of a gymnastic than musical achievement because St, David ' s Island is not noted for its broad highways and, at some places , marching practically amounted to jumping from boulder to boulder. However, they acquited themselves well and were rewarded by praise which was as hearty as was their breakfast. After breakfast, they were shown the guns, range finders and magazines, the intricacies of which were most interestingly and care- fully explained. They then had to leave rather hurriedly to catch a train. The boat whiqh was to act as ferry refused to start until only fifteen minutes were left in which to accomplish a twenty minute trip. Thus in spite of the throttle being fully opened, we were still about a hundred yards off shore when we saw the train begin to move. With one accord, everyone started to roar and gesticulate furiously, and someone had the presence of mind to blow one long blast on his bugle. This had the miraculous effect of making the train stop, with the result that despair gave way to frenzied delight and we were able to rush and get on board in time. Once back in Bermuda and in the train, the strain of the pre- ceding night began to tell. From all accounts, no-one had had so much as one wink of sleep. There was no-one who was not blamed for having kept the others awake for part of the time, and yet, no- one admitted having done anything except endeavour to keep the others quiet. Anyway, although they were like so many corpses in the train, the visit to the B, V. E, camp was highly successful and extremely enjoyable. The Cadets were very pleased at being asked to take part in the Test Mobilization schemes for Bermuda. We had to provide four patrols, each consisting of one N. C. O. and six cadets. In this ima- ginary emergency, the function of these patrols would be coast watch-

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19 CADETS. During the last year the members of the Cadets have greatly Increased and the Corps is now seventy five strong. Henceforward we are going to be organised into three platoons, No. 3 consisting mainly of recruits. In this way we shall be able to add a good deal more company drill to our usual programme. The factor which has contributed most to our large increase in numbers has been, of course, the new drum and bugle band. This was acquired for us by the Saltus Old Boys ' Association and wasi pre- sented shortly after the beginning of the Christmas term. There was naturally tremendous competition for taking on an instrument and learning to beat it or blow through it as the case might be, but it seems that the final selection wasi fairly apt, judging by the remark- able progress that the ' musicians ' have made. On the other hand, such progress as has been made ought to be attributed almost en- tirely to our good fortune in obtaining the services of Sgt. Emerson from Prospect. His ability as. an instructor is great and is only equalled by his astounding patience and perseverence. It was large- ly due to his initiative that it was decided to increase the size of the band by the addition of four more bugles and a pair of cymbals. The new bugles that have been added to the band are really splen- did instruments. Silver plated with a frosted finish, they have a delightful appearance as well as and excellent tone. We are not yet quite sure whom to thank for having presented them, but all we can do is. to pour our effusions on to Mr. John Bluck, who originfally un- dertook to find them. The Band first ventured outside the School gates on March 23rd. on the occasion of the Cadet Field Day. They did not play too bad- ly and on the whole, people did not seem to mind, but a few carriage horses objected and were really rather rude about it, so rude, in fact, that at one juncture the Drum Major thought it best to stop altogether before the matter came to a head. Apart from playing marches, the Band are learning to perform other functions such as falling-in the parade to a drum. At Camp, guard-mounting will be able to be done to a drum, and it is under- stood that all bugle calls will be expected to be done by us as well. In addition to the usual Armistice parade, the Cadets assisted at the ceremonies conjoint with the landing of the body of the late J. Ramsay Macdonald. They were responsible for carrying the wreaths from the Cathedral on to the tender in which the coffin was to be conveyed to II. M. S. Appollo. Four of the senior N. C. O.s had an

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21 ing by day, and furnishing watches for possible landing places by night. Actually, on Sunday, May 15th, the day of the Test, opera- tions, as ' far as we were concerned, only took place in th« afternoon, thus night patrolling had to be practised by daylight. We were allotted four areas for which to be responsible. The Posts had naturally to be established in those positions which com- manded the best view of the area, and we set up one at each of the following places — Spanish Point, Ducking Stool, Shelly Bay and El- bow Beach. These, as no doubt will be observed, were considerable distances apart, and consequently rather difficult to be adequately supervisied by any one officer. When they were visited, however, they seemed to have the situation well in hand, the only trouble being that they did not have enough to do to keep them well occupied through- out the afternoon. The main part of their activity, in fact, was tele- phoning. Each post was by a telephone and there was also a group H. Q. for the two posts in the Pembroke area. Each one of these was in touch with Command H. Q. and with each- other. The telephone for the Ducking Stool was at Government House which was very fortunate for those on duty there, as they received afternoon tea for their pains. It is the fervent hope of all that an emergency such as the one envisaged in this Test will never arise. If it should arise, however, surely it would be as unreasonable as it would be impossible to try to restrain the youth of Bermuda from going out and doing what they could to defend their country and protect their home. The Cadet Camp begins this: year on Tuesday, June 24th. In the last camp, the Saltus Platoon was very successful and won most of the competitions. Everyone enjoyed himself and seemed to be ex- tremely glad that he went. It is hoped that we will get an even better turn-out this year. BERMUDA CADET CORPS FIELD DAY. March 23rd., 1938. ' Way back in early 38, before the days of Test Mobilization, operations were carried on in no small way along the North shore of the Bermuda Islands, approximately Lat. 32° 18 ' N and between Long. 64° 46 ' W and 64° 47 ' W. Except for a few vendettas, there had been no bloodshed on the Bermoothes for a twelvemonth; the rival chiefs of Saltus and Whitney having been silenced by debt and loss of fighting strength sustained in their last campaign, the islands: had known peace.