South African Cadets

[Traist]

I look forward to that Jim. Regards Andrew

[Brian Conyngham]

Andrew

This one is for you and to enlighten the SA Collectors regards Cadet Badges.

I have for the past 10 years been compiling our family tree and when my dad last visited us he gave me a family photo album, in it was this rather interesting picture taken of my second cousin Clive King taken whilst he was in Matric, at Glenwood Boys High School in 1951. He was a Student Cadet Officer (2nd Lieut) and interestingly his beret badge was a large NMR cap badge Owens 474 and the collar badges are the UDF collar badges, Owens 1461 and 1462, unfortunately not clear in these pictures but using a magnifying glass it is clearer with the original photo's.

Glenwood High School was affiliated with the NMR. I too attended this famous Durban School in the 1970's and NMR was still "our" unit, not sure if any such bonds still exist?

Clive King is still alive, 80 odd and living in Kirkintilloch, Glasgow.

Brian

[Traist]

Thanks Brian, this is good to know. Most schools don't even have these type of records. Regards Andrew

[Milmed]

Hi,
Thought I would revive this thread with some info on SA Cadets badges belonging to a family member c.1940's. During this period the universal UDF Springbok badge was worn in white metal by cadets.

The posted picture is of a group of cadets at Sea Point Boys High School. Note Khaki uniforms and sloach hats. The school badge on ribbon was worn as a hat ribbon with springbok badge worn on turn up of sloach hat. A school badge was also worn on the pocket along with standard rank badges.

Note school teacher/cadet officer wearing service dress. His badges are also standard UDF springbok badges but in bronze (wartime issue).

Besides the photo, displayed is the school badge, school ribbon and springbok badge in white metal.

I believe most school cadets not having there own unique badges would have been kitted out similar to these cadets of SPBHS, so if there are collectors of cadet badges, they may want to add the school blazer badges to there collections

Regards
Steven

[Milmed]

Was digging through some old Government Gazettes etc to see what I could find on the Cadets system.

The following all relate to the Cape of Good Hope:

In a 1890 reference I found the following:

South African College Cadet Corps - Formed January 1878
Queen Victoria's Cadet Battalion - Not sure who these were and what became of them
St Andrews College Cadets (Grahamstown) - Formed October 1877
Grahamstown Public School Cadets - Formed July 1879
Panmure Public School Cadets - Formed June 1885 (Became Selbourne College Cadet Corps in 1907)
Queens Town High School Cadet Corps - Formed October 1877
King Williams Town Cadet Corps - Formed August 1880 (Became Dale College Cadet Corps
Stellenbosch College Cadet Corps - Formed October 1885 (Became Victoria College Volunteer Rifles in 1888)
Leicester Cadet Corps March 1885 - Not sure who these were and what became of them


From Official Army List December 1894:

South African College Cadet Corps
Diocesan College Cadet Corps - Formed October 1879
St Andrews College Cadets (Grahamstown)
Grahamstown Public School Cadets
Panmure Public School Cadets
Queenstown High School Cadet Corps
St Aidens College Cadet Battery of Grahamstown Volunteer Horse Art.
Kimberley Cadet Corps - Formed 1891
Worcester Cadet Corps
Graaff Reinet College Cadet Corps
Beaufort West Cadet Corps
Dale College Cadet Corps - 12th Cadet Unit in order of precedence as at 1894/1895, s/t reflects this with DC over C12C


Government Gazette 1906

Cadets shown to be either School Cadets (Boys aged 14-17 attending a school)
OR
Cadet Companies of Volunteer Corps for boys aged 14-17 not enrolled in a school - They wear the uniform of the volunteer corps but with a w/m 'C' on shoulder strap

List of Schools in CofGH with Cadets as seen in 1906 Gazette:
Adelaide Public School Cadet Corps
Alice Cadet Corps
Aliwal North High School Cadet Corps
Barkly East Public School Cadet Corps
Beaufort West Cadet Corps
Cala Public School Cadet Corps
Cambridge Public School Cadet Corps
Christian Brothers College Cadet Corps
Cradock High School Cadet Corps
Dale College Cadet Corps
Diocesan College Cadet Corps
East London Cadet Corps
Gill College High School Cadet Corps
Graaff Reinet College Cadet Corps
Grahamstown Public School Cadets
Grey Institute Cadet Corps
Keiskama Hoek Cadet Corps
Kingswood College Cadet Corps, Grahamstown
Mafeking Cadet Corps
Marist Brothers Cadet Corps, Cala
Marist Brothers Cadet Corps, Cape Town
Marist Brothers Cadet Corps, Port Elizabeth
Marist Brothers Cadet Corps, Uitenhage
Middelburg Public School Cadet Corps
Mossel Bay Cadet Corps
Muir High School Cadet Corps
Normal College Cadet Corps
Observatory School Cadet Corps
Oudtshoorn High School Cadet Corps
Queenstown High School Cadet Corps
Rondebosch High School Cadet Corps
Sea Point Cadet Corps
Selbourne College Cadet Corps
Simon's Town High School Cadet Corps
South African College Cadet Corps
St Aidan's College Cadet Corps, Grahamstown
St Andrews College Cadets, Grahamstown
St. Paul's School Cadet Corps
Stutterheim Public School Cadet Corps
Tarkastad Public School Cadet Corps
Victoria West Public School Cadet Corps
Woodstock Naval Cadet Corps
Woodstock Public School Cadet Corps

[Traist]

Hi Steven, this is great information. Thank you for sharing. Regards Andrew

[Milmed]

A pleasure Andrew. I had some space formatting in the text but I see when it is saved, the formatting is removed - rather annoying.

I understand both Natal Cadet and Transvaal Cadet system was post Boer War and there is a fare amount of info on them.

The Cape Cadets are older and this is a start to piece what we can together. I suspect most of these had there own form of insignia. The 1906 Government Gazette does have some details on dress regulations and I suspect other years would have the same.

[shahldm]

I must confess that I have a real soft spot for my cadet badges, WBC, buttons and shooting medals.

Attached is where the collection stands ... only taken me 40 years to get there, but it is one of the few collections that has been maintained. Time to share them with fellow collectors .

[shahldm]

Waist Belt clasps. For the eagle-eyed you will notice that I have included the Victoria College Volunteers ... not strictly cadets as this was University of Stellenbosch.

[Milmed]

Originally Posted by shahldm

Waist Belt clasps. For the eagle-eyed you will notice that I have included the Victoria College Volunteers ... not strictly cadets as this was University of Stellenbosch.

Impressive collection Shahl. The VCV did however start out as Stellenbosch Cadet Corps, so they were pre 1888 a School Cadet unit.

It would be nice if your collection and maybe Andrews as well could be put into a small publication on Cadets in SA. I would add that to my book shelf any day.

Steven

[Alex Rice]

Jeez Shahl, that is an incredible collection, well done!
The only comment is that the 'N' in wreath appears to be upside down

[Arthur R]

That's a really impressive collection, Shahldm. Thanks for posting the pics.

[Arthur R]

Originally Posted by Milmed

The Cape Cadets are older and this is a start to piece what we can together. I suspect most of these had there own form of insignia. The 1906 Government Gazette does have some details on dress regulations and I suspect other years would have the same.

The attached list may be helpful. Some years ago, I compiled a list of Cape Colonial Forces dress regs, including cadets, which were published in Colonial Forces Orders (from 1901, Cape Colonial Forces Orders). The list - which is E&OE - gives the number and date of the CFOs - they normally appeared in the Government Gazette a few weeks later.

[Milmed]

That's a great list Arthur.

Are you able to share the lists of the other Cape Colonial Forces dress regs.

Will give me a running start to know which years to pull at the SA Library when I next visit there.

Steven

[Traist]

Originally Posted by shahldm

I must confess that I have a real soft spot for my cadet badges, WBC, buttons and shooting medals.

Attached is where the collection stands ... only taken me 40 years to get there, but it is one of the few collections that has been maintained. Time to share them with fellow collectors .

Very impressive indeed. Well done. Regards Andrew