Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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13 Now that the Garrison has gone, it may seem ibelated to thank Major Marsh for his fascinating account of recce work behind the enemy lines : and the cadets presentation to Brigadier Rice-Evans was destined to mark not merely our aippreciation of past assistance, but also fthe un- timely end of an era in Bermuda. J. L. M. Annual Cadet Camp The Annual Camp of the Bermuda Cadet Corp is usually held during the first week of the summer holidays. Attendance is entirely vo ' luntary, yet this ensures a large number of cadets in camp, some being recruits, but most of them veterans of previous camps, who re- turn partly for the fun of it all, partly because of an irresistible urge. Camp qpens on Sunday afternoon, during which the necessary ar- ticles such as bilankets and spare clothes are Issued. After an even- ing lecture by the Camp Commandant, everyone is supposed to go to bed, that is to say, the lights go out, at ten. The first night is al- ways the worst (or the best), whichever way one takes it), because hardly anyone is tired, and those who are, had better watch out. iFor the favourite trick isi to ease anyone who is asleep outside, and that boy is in for a rude awakening, especially if it rains. Early in the week, shooting on the .303 and Bren at 100 and 20ft yards is held, for which badges are awarded for accurate firing of each weapon. An assault course is also run down on the Range, in which a team from each platoon competes. The course is run up and down hilJ, and on the beaches, along which cliffs have to be climbed by ropes, and fences and other obstacles surmounted. At various pointte thunder flashes are thrown at the runners, who fire at tin plates at the end of the course with rifles which are carried with them. Tin plates are put up at 10.0 yards and points are scored accordingly for the number knocked down. Thursday is Visitors ' Day, when a Guard Mounting Competition is held, and also a Father and Son Shooting Competition. On Friday, a route march is made from Warwick Camp to Whale Bay Fort, which has provided some rather amusing incidents on oc- casion, for example, on my first march, half of the way was made through the hills of Southampton, where at one point my section was forced to take cover, when it was supposed that the enemy (the

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12 Officers for the season 1956 — 57. President Mr. J. H. Kerry Secretary . .......... H. G. F. Pierce (to Deer.) P. S. Seupham (from Jany.) Committee B. R. Hall, D. M. McCann, B. M. McCann, H. B. Hallett, and the Secretary. Cadet Notes The usual programme of cadet training at Saltus was followed this year, with interruptions for ceremonial drill before the Queen ' s Birthday and Armistice Parades. Most boys attended the annual camp in July for six days, and had a further day in November. At the annual camp, platoon schemes of attack and defence were carried out, the experience gained being used in an enjoyable ' fire-and-movement ' attack which took most of the final Saifcua day. Shooting for markmen ' s badges, a drill competition or- ganised by Sgt. Davis, and signalling with 88 equipment kept differ- ent groups busy, but most cadets would agree that the night attack on Whaile Island Fort was — paradoxically — the highlight of camp. Trophies, cups, and badges were presented by Major Murdock. The Field day in February consisted largely of demonstrations: there were too few instructors to allow more than half-a-dozen Salltus boys to practice shooting. Nevertheless extra shooting has taken place at the Armoury. Old Boys will have noticed that Saltus Cadets are predominant in the Cadet Pipe Band, formed a year ago. The pipes arrived in Nov- ember, and were played at the Armistice parade, the Agricultural Show, and the Floral Pageant. In a short time, under the painstaking instruction of Major Horlington, and Corporal Stewart, the pipes-and- drums reached a remarkable standard. The players undoubtedly think themselves the elite of the Cadet Corps, and their smartness and record of attendance at exftra practice nearly persuade us of it. We must thank our principal instructor, Sgt.-Major Burnard, for dealing exhaustively with weapon-training and faithfully with mis- creants. His task has been increased both through the growrth of Saltus cadet unit, the departure of the D. C.L.I, and, for a time, the ceremonial and guard duties required for the Two-Power Conference.

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14 D.C.L.I.) had been encountered. What was thought to be ' ' hostile signals being whistled back and forth was really some kind of bird. When the objective was reached, a mass attack was launched against the Fort, held by the D. ' C.LJ., when, on a given signal, the cadets charged madly through the undergrowth, wildly firing blanks rom their .303 ' s. At night, the positions were changed, and the cadets defended the Fort. At the last camp, an added feature was hejid on Saturday even- ing, when a Feu de Joie was fired, watched by a large crov d of spectators. Rifle drill on the march was performed by a section of platoon No. 3, and prizes were awarded for shooting and either com- petitions. Finally, there is the last night, which is just as bad (or good) as ithe first, when practical jokes are played, until everyone collapses through sheer exhaustion. The next morning. Camp breaks up and everyone goes home to enjoy a peaceful sleep, which is very gratifying to most cadets, after a strenuous but enjoyable week. SL G. All Ant ' s Life at Saltus I am an ant named David and I am now writing at my desk un- der Stonehenge Rock, just below the hated humans ' Saltus Grammar School main door, which is over one thousand feeHers tall. Oh, ant-eaters! there goes the bell six times. This means a long trek. I hurriedly put The Ant Gazette away and walk out to the back door in our rock and wait for all the others to come. Then we start out, first came five soldiers and then about one hundred and fifty workers including me, and ithen about twenty more soldiers. We had walked about one antimetre when we came upon about four hundred more ants from Green Grass Territories, outside the schooil ' s east door. Then guess what happened? The humans came out for their break and we were just below their big steps when they came charging down, dropping paper and bread everywhere and also putting their great weight down on us little creatures, and killing at least one hundred; but we calmly went and started gathering up