O.T.C. News

Two days after the School's return the contingent attended Military Sunday at York Minster. The marching to and from the Minster was excellent, and we gather that the march past was also good. The band, in view of the fact that it had had no practice since the preceeding term, deserves congratulations on a very creditable performance.

Last term the prades were changed to Monday afternoons and Friday mornings, thus allowing a whole afternoon a -week to practice for the General Inspection. The contingent was inspected on June 9th by Brigadier L. S. Daly, D.S.O., O.B.E., of the 147th Infantry Brigade. After the General salute and march past the N.C.O.s were tested in field drill and tacatical excercises.

The inspection over, practice for the Inter-House section competition began in earnest. Owing to rain the competition had to be held indoors. The winning section was that of L/Cpl. Whitney (Temple House), with L/Cpl. J. H. Butler's (Clifton Rise) and Cpl. J. M. Rucklidge's (School House) joint runners up.

Throughout the term the contingent paraded under the new organisation, that is to say, in three ranks and with three sections to a platoon, sections being in single file behind their section leader.

J. T. Brockbank, A. C. Ping, J. H. Butler, J. B. Shillitoe and S. Corner all passed Certificate A " Theoretical last term.

The following promotions took place last term:—

Cadet J. H. Butler was promoted to Lance-Corporal.

Cadet J. B. Shillitoe was promoted to Lance-Corporal.

Cadet M. S. Douglas was promoted to Lance-Corporal.

EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT ON THE GENERAL INSPECTION.

Drill. Excellent in every way. The march past in fours was the best the Inspecting Officer has seen by any contingent.

Weapon Training. Satisfactory.

Tactical Training. A very creditable exhibition of the new field drill was given.

Technical Training. A most efficient and smartly turned out bugle band was on parade. Their playing and marching did them the greatest credit. 65

Turn Out. Very good indeed.

General Remarks. The Inspecting Officer was very much impressed with this contingent. It undoubtedly fulfils the objects of the O.T.C., and should produce a large number of the right type of leaders if required.

O.T.C. CAMP, 1938.

The contingent attended camp at Tweseldown, Aldershot, on July 26th, leaving the School at about 9 a.m. and reaching camp about 4 p.m. The marching to the station was good and once in the station the band gave us their well known version of " The Campbells " which literally nearly brought the house down. The contingent, much to their surprise, were lustily cheered by a crowd of holidaymakers waiting for their trains.

In conjunction with Ley's School we formed a company of " B " Batallion under Major Catt, whose " Batallion, Shun !" will be remembered for years to come. The weather throughout was excellent. The parades, although unusually long, sometimes lasting five and a half hours, no doubt greatly increased the knowledge of the contingent. These parades usually took the form of a demonstration.

The camp, run by the Guards, was very well laid out, and, even more important, the " N.A.A.F.I." was not overcrowded. The guard, unfortunately, was not called upon until the last night, and these only took part in a swagger stick parade.

We were very pleased indeed to see Mr. Stevenson, who came down to say good-bye to the contingent. We gathered he is taking up his commission again in the Ellesmere College O.T.C.

The sports were not of the serious type, being designed rather to please the spectators. However, there were a large number of entries from the contingent. We also entered for the seven-a-side soccer and were beaten in the semi-final by Highgate, the eventual winners. Play at times was humorous, one of our players on one occasion bringing down the opposing goalkeeper with a beautiful Rugby tackle. And so it was a happy, if tired, contingent which left Aldershot camp on the morning of August 3rd.