Rydal School OTC

Can anyone tell me anything about Rydal School OTC, please?

There seems to be no reference to in K&K, and I can find nothing here on the forum relating to it either.

DNW auctioned a cap badge back in 2011, so I'm wondering if anyone can throw some light on their history and perhaps why there is so little info about it, please?

With thanks,

Peter

[Alan O]

A number (half a dozen) of Rydal School OTC popped up on ebay last year. All well made but totaly repro. A couple were listed as repro. These are definately fake as are all SRS badges that I have seen. http://www.britishbadge.co.uk/produc...oducts_id=1216

As for Rydal Sch OTC if you look at my OTC album, it was not recorded as being in existance in 1911, nor in the 1919 list of fallen OTC members although the school did have 63 former pupils killed, nor in 1940' Army list. It must have been a very short lived OTC.

The school history suggests that the OTC was formed after the School's name change in 1915.

Rydal School 1885-1995
Thomas Osborn, Rydal Mount’s first Head, was a very able and inspiring teacher. Starting with 14 pupils in 1885, the number of pupils at Rydal Mount rose to 107 by 1899 and had dropped to 58 by 1910, when TGO died. TGO’s son, George FA Osborn, took over as Headmaster but the numbers continued to fall and by 1915, only 34 pupils attended the School which was threatened with closure.

A.J. Costain accepted the Headship of Rydal Mount in 1915. Change came fast: new school houses were bought; in 1915 Rydal Mount became Rydal; by 1920 the numbers had increased to 220; in 1922 Rydal became a public school; 1923 rugby took over from football as the main sport; 1923-28 New Field was bought and developed into a first rate games’ field; 1930 saw the opening of the impressive New Buildings which accommodated a large number of classrooms; in 1931 the Junior School opened. Between 1939-1945 Rydal was evacuated to Oakwood Park near Conwy. By 1946, the tiny, failing school AJC took over had become a mainstream public school with a national reputation.

These people will able to tell you more:

http://alumni.rydalpenrhos.com/history/archives/

[Peter Brydon]

It is in the Army List for November 1932.

P.B.

[badjez]

Army Order 45, published 31.03.28. announced the formation of Rydal School Contingent, Junior Division, OTC, at Colwyn Bay, N Wales.

I don't have any further info, but if anyone has time to browse the Army List it might reveal the last quarter of a year in which it was recognised by the War Office.

Stephen.

[Alan O]

Thanks. So formed in 1928 and still there in 1932.

[adb63]

Hi. Cadet Corps affiliated to 4th Royal Welch Fusiliers formed in 1916 and continued until they were 'promoted' to OTC in 1928 (AO 45). Disbanded by Army Order 104 of 1935. Never seen an original Rydal OTC cap badge but have still got one of their buttons. Don't think Cadets were reformed after 1935 but i believe they formed an ATC Squadron during WW2. Reason for disbandment in 1935 was the very small number of officer candidates they provided for the TA and SR during their short life. Regards, Andrew.

[Alan O]

Originally Posted by adb63

Hi. Cadet Corps affiliated to 4th Royal Welch Fusiliers formed in 1916 and continued until they were 'promoted' to OTC in 1928 (AO 45). Disbanded by Army Order 104 of 1935. Never seen an original Rydal OTC cap badge but have still got one of their buttons. Don't think Cadets were reformed after 1935 but i believe they formed an ATC Squadron during WW2. Reason for disbandment in 1935 was the very small number of officer candidates they provided for the TA and SR during their short life. Regards, Andrew.

The lack of Officer candiates is reflected in the fact that all of the school old-boys KIA in WW1 were ORs.

[Alan O]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-R...item4856cdd5fe

Here is another ebay one. I have yet to see one that I would regard as genuine and I suspect that the maker's name may not have been right either.

[Silver Tourist]

Good evening.

When this thread began I felt disinclined to participate. This is not my area of specialism and I lay no claim to any knowledge beyond that available to us all. However, two observations: first, I do have a Rydal School OTC in my Collection. It is ex-JJ Slaughter Collection Sale, and Mr. S was no fool when it came to selecting items for his Collection. My example looks nothing like the latter Ebay illustration posted immediately above, which is not a badge which looks like it has seen over 70 years of life.

Second, the man who did so much to collect together and publish information on OTC, CCF, ACF and Cadet badges said, in the introduction to his Fifth Edition:

"Fortunately, few cadet badges have been restruck: Louth, Grantham and St. Andrew's University are the only ones I know of. But I've only ever seen one Rydal School OTC and that at a militaria fair and it cost me £12. So it must have been a restrike at that price; and it was sitting next to Louth and Grantham, so that made me suspicious. But it fills a gap in my collection and provides an illustration for this book."

You pays your money and you takes your pick.

If anyone wants my example, they're welcome. But, it will be more than £12.

As I always say: give me a hallmark any day. A hallmarked Rydal School OTC? Now there is a thought to set the pulse racing.

Enjoy.

S.T.

PS. Do you think he means ".....their lack of ..." etc?

[Alan O]

http://clanfieldmilitaria.com/viewph...h=55130&phqu=2

I am really sure that I will not be buying this one.

[Silver Tourist]

Good evening

Funny you should say that. I had exactly the same thought when I saw it.

Enjoy. (Or not?)

S.T.

[Alan O]

https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/co...chool-history/

It would be really nice to think this badge was original but I have a nagging feeling there is now a spurious ebay purchase in their CCF archive!

[Alan O]

Originally Posted by Peter J

Can anyone tell me anything about Rydal School OTC, please?

There seems to be no reference to in K&K, and I can find nothing here on the forum relating to it either.

DNW auctioned a cap badge back in 2011, so I'm wondering if anyone can throw some light on their history and perhaps why there is so little info about it, please?

With thanks,

Peter

I have little doubt that this one from the 2011 auction is a fake. As are these aged ones on ebay today.

[Alan O]

For refernece - this is the fake die and now with a S&W mark