Eton College

[matti467]

Just a thought, the sign to the College CCF says 4th Ox and Bucks LI, any thoughts? The sign is quite new and up to date. Sadly no badge on the sign.
Matti

[Mike H]

Not a clue,as far as im aware they always wore their own badge anyway.

[4966Ian]

Hi Matti,

As Mike says, as far as I know Eton still have their own cap badge. (KK2552).

Had a quick look and found this on the Eton website (http://www.etoncollege.com/ccf.aspx)

The Combined Cadet Force - (4 Ox and Bucks LI (V))

The Eton College CCF was founded in 1860 as the Eton College rifle corps as a volunteer battalion of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire light infantry (4 Ox and Bucks LI (V)) at a time when it was thought that Napoleon III was threatening to invade Britain. It was the first continuous school corps of its kind. On 16th June 1930 King George V presented the corps with its new colours when it became the 'Eton College Officers’ Training Corps'. Later when schools’ OTCs became combined cadet forces, the Duke of Gloucester presented the corps with new colours in June 1961.




Just looked in Ray Westalkes book on "Directory of Rifle Volunteers".
It states:
"...Eton College designated 4th (Eton College) Volunteer Battalion of Oxfordshire Light Infantry in 1887...... and to OTC in 1908".

So I would guess that the "4th Ox and Bucks LI" is an old title that they have held onto.

Ian

[Peter Brydon]

I guess military history is not one of the most popular subjects at Eton then !!! ( especially the period 1860- 1881 )


P.B.

[Voltigeur]

Hello Gentlemen, just wanted to add this photograph to the discussion.From Life Magazine files.The caption says 1948, but I wonder if it should be 1938....
Jo
http://images.google.com/hosted/life...8bf1c06f7bf04a

[Peter Brydon]

I understand the history of the unit was as follows:

Raised as 8th Buckinghamshire Rifle Volunteers in 1860
Reformed as 2nd Bucks ( Eton College ) Rifle Vols 15 June 1878
Redesignated 4th (Eton College ) V.B. Oxfordshire Light Infantry Dec 1887
Reverted to 2nd Bucks( Eton College ) VRC 1902
Joined junior Division OTC 1908

Hence my comments about military history and Eton College

P.B.

[Stanley_C_Jenkins]

I have just spotted this moribund thread, which began with a query regarding the tenuous relationship between the 4th Bn Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Eton OTC. Without going into the full, contorted history, It may be worth mentioning (albeit belatedly) that the Eton Rifle Volunteers were associated with the Bucks RVC, rather than the Oxfordshire corps. The Bucks volunteers eventually became the "Bucks Battalion", which was in effect the 5th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. So if the sign refers to a 4th Bn, it is more likely to be the 4th (V) Bucks Battalion - if that makes any sense? To complicate the matter still further, the Eton Rifles became an OTC unit in 1908, whereas the county RV corps became part of the TF.

[REMEVMBEA1]

Originally Posted by Peter Brydon

I guess military history is not one of the most popular subjects at Eton then !!! ( especially the period 1860- 1881 )


P.B.

I would imagine with a WWI Roll of Honour of 50 ex students including 2 VC, 1 DSO and 6 MCs not to mention the other officers who learned on The Playing Fields of Eton they are fairly well informed on matters military.