Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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12 Apart from our own precautions, we have been promised that the schools will be closed if the authorities have reason to consider an attack imminent. This may comfort those parents who would, naturally enough, like to have their children with them in an emergency. For very definite instructions have been given that, if an attack takes place during school hours, no boy is to leave the school. It would obviously be playing right into the enemy ' s hands to have numbers of children running wildly through the streets in the midst of an air raid; they would not merely be an ideal target for machine guns, but would hamper the rapid movement of troops or air raid services. Cadets Promotions C.S.M.— Sgt. Welch, P. S. Sergeants — Cpls. Campbell, D. E., Trimingham, J. B., Spurling P. N., Leseur, H. A. Corporals — L Cpls. Brown, C. R., Brooks, P. N., Lough, J. I., Darling, P. H., Motyer, A. J. L Corporals — Cadets King, H., Pantry L., Burland D., Critchley D., Burland J., Moniz S. A., Barnard R. L., Dennett P. Efficiency Badges obtained by L Cpl. Trimingham, J. B., Watlington, H. P., Cadets Harvey, A., Dennett, P., Pantry, L., Trott, F. N., Moniz, S. A., King, H., Browne, C. R., Burland, J., Motyer, A. J., Petty, G., Tucker, R., Hassell, H., Critchley, D., Darling, P. H., Barnard, R. L., Brooks, P. N., Dickenson, W., McLay, J., Burland, D., Segal D., Parker, W. R. Strength— 85. CAMP. Held at Warwick from July 4-11, 1941. The School was represented by two full platoons, No. 3 (Sgt. Welch) and No. 4 (Sgt. Petty). Both platoons showed keenness in the various activi- ties, No. 3 again winning the Inter-Platoon Cricket cup and No. 4 the Guard mounting competition. His Excellency the Governor paid a visit of inspection and saw an excellent display of Field Work, P.T., and Shooting. In the latter, the falling plate competition was an innovation this year, and aroused keen interest. INSPECTION. B. Company was inspected by the G.S.O. II on Nov. 18th, 1941. Ceremonial was largely dispensed with, and the inspection consisted mainly in viewing the cadets perform- ing normal routine work. FIELD DAYS. A tactical exercise in which the School com- pany operated on the Coral Island golf course against the Whitney company, was held on Dec. 18th, 1941 Saltus was in the attack, and an encircling movement by their right flank almost succeeded in surrounding the main Whitney force in their first defensive

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11 was work where the smallest mistake would not only blow him to fragments, but might devastate a district for nearly a mile round. Sub-Lieut. Burney, R.N.V.R., gave a talk on submarines. Lieut. Darlow, R.E., went over the various theatres of war and showed the special importance of each. Lieut. Stewart Smith, U.S.N, creating a precedent as the first American officer to address the School, stressed the vital need for Anglo-American co-operation, and used the U.S. Bases here as an example. Bermuda was in a peculiarly suitable position as a base for operations off the coast of America and relations between the British and American forces had been very cordial. Capt. R. G. Robinson, B.V.R.C., an old boy of the School, gave a general talk on the progress of the war, and stressed the necessity for everyone to do his part; even those who were still at school could do something by contributing liberally to the War Fund and by buying War Savings Certificates. Incidentally, the School ' s total to date for the latter is £225. A. R. P. During the year we have been gradually learning what per- cautions we can take against the danger of enemy attack on these islands. It has not been altogether easy for a variety of reasons. At first it seemed strange that there was no unanimity of opinion even among those who had come from England after personal experience of the blitzkrieg. But England herself had to learn by the method of trial and error, and many methods were tried at different times and in different places, so that our informants naturally did not agree. Consequently instructions were at first changed with bewildering frequency; two sets of typed regulations were, as a matter of fact, cancelled even before they were pub- lished. By this time, however, the A.R.P. Commissioners for the Island were developing their organisation, lectures were arranged and official rulings on debatable points laid down. A further diffculty has been the general shortage of labour, materials and equipment; much of what we have been advised to do has been a counsel of perfection, though we should probably discover undreamed-of abilities in the direction of improvisation if the real thing suddenly descended on us. Still, what we could do we have done; we have arranged for moving the boys out of the most dangerous parts of the building; we have acquired a certain amount of equipment for dealing with fire, whether caused by incendiary bombs or otherwise, and demolition work; wherever a form is moved, the register accompanies it, so that, if any boy is missing, his absence will be noticed; and the school has had such practice in moving that the whole operation can be carried out without confusion in less than three and a half minutes.

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13 position, but they managed to escape by beating a very hasty retreat. The final charge against the Peak was well carried out and enjoyed by all. The full Corps Field Day was held on March 17th, 1942. in the Warwick Camp area. The whole Corps was in the attack against opposition supplied by the Cameron Highlanders. Saltus carried out their operations in a businesslike manner and were especially good in their attack on the final obiective. AIR TRAINING. This new section was formed in Spetember, 1941. Its object is to give some preliminary training in aviation to cadets. A series of lectures and classes have been arranged, and text-books and apparatus obtained after some delay. Fifteen cadets from Saltus were selected for the course, and have found it very interesting, especially as some of the lecturers have been experienced airmen from England. SHOOTING. Sgt. Leseur and L Cpl. Critchley were suc- cessful in obtaining their shooting badges in April. Plate-shooting at 200 yards was organised at camp this year, an innovation which caused plenty of excitement. In the final round of the inter-sectional competition, H. E. the Governor, Lt. General Sir D. K. Bernard, offered £1 to the first team to hit all plates. In the final shoot of the meeting. Cadets Barnard and Trimingham fired simultaneously — and each knocked down the fifth and final plate. H. E. then demonstrated his own ability by hitting 3 plates out of 5,, in a match between Staff and Cadet Officers. We recommend the use of snadbags in future during initial training, especially when a heavier type of rifle is used. A neighbour of the School has complained of the unchanging repetition and similarity of the band ' s marching numbers, but as well request the British to substitute Wagner ' s Valkyries for ' Rule Britannia ' as to ask the band to replace, ' Saltus, ' ' Watling- ton ' or ' King Edward ' with any other tune. Even Lt. G. Oute ' r- bridge; B.V.R.C. a keen adviser at camp this last summer, could not induce them to adopt a march of his own composition. This year the Band has been exceptionally lucky to have as instructors Sapper Aitken, B.V.E., and C.S.M. Welch, late Drum- Major. When the occasion demanded, Welch could by his own efforts, carry the Band to a pitch far beyond their usual exertions, thus demonstrating not only the significance of a capable Drum-Major, but that the duties of an orchestra leader are not merely those of waving a baton to keep time. Band