Читать книгу The Montreal Highland Cadets - Ernest J. Chambers - Страница 11

A chapter on the cadet corps of the mother country, would be incomplete without some reference to another important phase of military training there.

In addition to the cadets attached to the big schools and to the volunteer battalions, there are a great many boys’ brigade companies and church brigade corps, all doing good work and receiving the help of the citizens, particularly of the smaller towns and villages.

The following appeal by Lord Chelmsford, whose name is familiar throughout the English-speaking world, gives a fair idea of the importance attached to the military training of boys by expert military authorities. It appeared in the “Broad Arrow,” October 7th, 1893, and was addressed to editor:

“Sir,

“I should feel grateful if you will allow me to make an appeal through your columns, for donations and subscriptions towards the expenses of the Church Lads Brigade, of which H. R. H. the Duke of Connaught is president, and the Archbishop of Canterbury is vice-president. Although only two years in existence, this admirable movement has developed with a rapidity which shows how completely it has met the approval of parish workers. There are at present, in different parishes throughout the United Kingdom, upwards of two hundred companies of lads ranging between twelve and eighteen years of age, organized by and working under clergyman and lay-workers, and application to headquarters for the formation of new companies are continually received. The rapid development of the movement has, however, brought a serious strain upon the finances, and the executive committee fear that unless they receive substantial aid, the progress of the movement will be seriously restricted. I trust that this appeal will not be in vain, and that all who recognize the value of training lads before going out into the world, in obedience, discipline, good manners and respect for authority and religion, will help us liberally and according to their means. Donations may be sent to Brigade Secretary “Church Lads Brigade,” Church House, Westminster, or to the London Joint Stock Bank, Pall Mall, S. W. The secretary, moreover, will be ready to afford the fullest information on all points connected with the brigade, to any person who may desire it.

“I am, etc., etc.

“CHELMSFORD,

“Chairman Exec. Com.”

KNARESBOROUGH PLACE,

THE CORNWALL ROAD, S. W.

The editor of the “Broad Arrow” added the following: “This organization is confined to the Church of England, though the Boys Brigade, I believe, is open to all denominations, but the object of all is drill and cultivation of temperance, discipline and good behavior, and the result is that the army-militia and volunteers are reaping large harvests of the very element that will go a great way to elevate the moral tone of the active forces of Great Britain.”

On the 31st of July, 1897, the “Army and Navy Gazette” published the following:

“We hail with satisfaction the recent inspection by Royalty of the Church Lads’ Brigade and the Boy Messenger Battalion, Peace Radicals and Little Englanders. The formation of these cadet battalions tends to foster that very desirable spirit, a military spirit, and we could wish that in all board schools similar cadet corps were formed. Military training and discipline cannot but produce both a good physical and moral effect on the youth of the country. From a purely professional point of view also, cadet battalions are of great value, for if a boy has been thoroughly taught to march, wheel, turn about and go through the manual exercise, he can, in the event of an emergency, be soon converted into an efficient soldier. Indeed, we should like to see each cadet battalion a compagnie d’élite in which the elder boys should be named in the mere advanced part of a soldier’s work.”

The “Christian World,” about the same time, published the following reference to the interest taken in these cadet corps:

“The Archbishop of Canterbury heads an appeal for £4,000, to endow the Southwark Cadet Corps, consisting of six battalions of lads with the Amalgamated Hackney and Wittingden Cadet Corps of one battalion each. The Southwark Corps was formed in 1889. Lord Wolseley whose name follows the primates in the appeal, presided at the inauguration. Each lad pays five shillings on entering, the government provides him with a rifle, and his uniform and other equipment are provided by public subscription. The complete corps of six battalions are attached to the Fourth Volunteers Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment. The effect of order, discipline and esprit de corps it is said, has been striking, and the significant statement is made that many of the youths have already passed into the navy, the royal artillery, the line militia volunteers, and it has become plain that an excellent source for the supply of recruits has been tapped.

“People will differ as to whether it is any part of the business of the primate to act as chief recruiting sergeant. The Duke of Westminster, Colonel Howard Vincent and Miss Octavia Hill also join in the appeal.”

And it is not alone in the mother country that the authorities show some proper appreciation of the importance of cadet training. The “Canadian Military Gazette,” on November 15th, 1894, published the following:

“In New South Wales, the government is kinder to its volunteers than Canada. We do not know the figures of its grant to them, but from the following which applies to cadets, it would seem that the seniors must presumably be still better treated than the senior cadets. The following is a synopsis of the instructions issued for the affiliation of cadet companies and units to existing regiments and corps. The Major-General Commanding (who was at General Hutton’s) is prepared to sanction the advance of £1 ($5) to the clothing fund of regiments (which sum will be recovered from cadet grant for 1895), making £2 ($10) in all per head available, directly officers are appointed, and is further prepared to recommend a grant to captains of £5 ($25), and to subalterns of £3 ($15) to assist in expense of uniform on joining. Uniform beyond that of undress will not be insisted upon. Officers of cadet corps will rank junior of their respective ranks, and will not hold executive command except in the cadet force. Arms and accoutrements will be supplied. Cadets may be enrolled between the ages of fifteen and twenty years, and as cadets they will not be liable for active service. Cadets now serving, may be allowed to remain until they attain the age of twenty-one years. Officers will be expected to pass an examination for their commission twelve months after “Gazette” notice of same.

“Night parades may be held where considered advisable and convenient. Cadets medically fit, of requisite standard and otherwise eligible, may be transferred to partially-paid regiments and corps, as vacancies occur, on approval of commanding officers responsible. Ammunition will be granted to cadets in similar proportion to that granted to the regiment or corps to which they are affiliated. They will also be entitled to similar privileges as regards travelling, meal allowances and train fares.

“This would show that the value of cadet companies as a training school for volunteers, is well recognized by the Australians.”

And now let us see what the record of the cadet movement in Canada can show, and what encouragement the cadets have received.