Page 117 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

CADET CCF
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME SCHOOL CCF
With the highest number of cadets
for several years, the contingent life
has continued to be as busy as ever
at Newcastle-under-Lyme School. October 2014 saw the Biennial Review
at Swynnerton, with the Head of Naval Security as the Reviewing Officer. An excellent report followed, paying tribute to both the dedication of the adult staff and the leadership of the senior cadets.
The autumn also saw the first of a number of “community” based events, during the academic year. Ten cadets attended the rededication of the Normandy Veterans Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Staffordshire. The contingent carried the standard of the Newcastle- under-Lyme Branch, which is laid up in
the School Memorial Hall. The Duke of Gloucester was in attendance and spoke with a number of the cadets. Cadets
also returned to the Arboretum in April to represent the CCF at another memorial rededication, which is dedicated to ex-cadets who died, whilst serving their country in the armed forces.
A large group of veterans and members of the present day services attended the School Remembrance Service in November. Major James Green, an old boy of the
school and reserve officer in the Regiment, was in attendance and he laid a wreath on behalf of the Regiment. Warrant Officer
Joe Smith, RSM 11 Sigt & WM Bde CTT, laid a wreath. On Remembrance Sunday, cadets joined the Town Remembrance Parade in Newcastle-under-Lyme. On its completion, 92 wooden crosses were laid
at the Cenotaph: one for each of the Old Boys of the School who had died in the First World War.
The Duke of Gloucester was in attendance and spoke with a number of the cadets
The final community event was Armed Forces Day in Stoke-on-Trent, where the contingent has taken part in the parade in Longton Park for several years. This year’s parade was combined with the local Sea Cadet Unit, with the combined platoon led in the March (in the rain!) by Commander Nick Carter, CCF Contingent Commander. The contingent Standard was on display during the short service that followed.
The Army Section Annual Camp is the highlight of the year. After all the training, it is an opportunity to use the skills in the field over a sustained period of time. This year the section travelled north to Wathgill Camp and the nearby Catterick Training Area. Joined by two former pupils in the UOTC, Hannah Ralphs and Martin Collis, four cadet force adult volunteers and thirty-five cadets spent an enjoyable week on the area. The weather was generally good with only half
a days training having to be curtailed due
to poor weather conditions: water based activities due to torrential rain!
The highlight of the camp was the contingent exercise. Once the checks had been undertaken and the training approved, the section headed off to its Harbour for
the night. Once it was dark, the cadets undertook recce patrols, found the advanced party of the enemy and then proceeded to ambush them. For the recruits it was their first experience of the use of trip flares and illumination flares – they were well impressed!
The next morning saw the cadets fighting through three enemy positions before returning to camp tired and triumphant. The three hours of weapon cleaning that followed did, however, dampen spirits somewhat.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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