Page 156 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Eton College CCF
We welcomed Second Lieutenant David Brewis to the ECCCF at the start of the year. Lieutenant Brewis has already contributed greatly by helping with shooting and flying. Having been without an Adjutant since the departure of Captain Tom Clinton PARA in December 2012, we were also delighted to welcome Captain Ed Martin RIFLES,
Leadership Award.
As usual after five weeks of initial
training, the new recruits in D Company took part in their Pass Off parade in October. Because this year was our biennial review and had to be carried out by the RAF, it was very good to welcome Wing Commander Bob Chalklin RAF MBE
1891 – a photograph of the original event by The Wall was projected onto the castle as our ‘Kaiser’ on horseback inspected the cadets who were wearing World War 1 uniforms in anticipation of 1914; secondly a minute’s silence was held after the National Anthem begun and ended by the firing of a recently restored First World War 18 pounder field gun. This year the Honourable Artillery Company sword of honour was presented to Senior Cadet Officer James Enoch.
There were two summer camps this year. 22 members of C Company attended a twelve day military and adventurous training camp in Cyprus hosted again by Major Ian Booth, OC JLS, COSU and run by ECCCF’s QM, Major Charlie Farley MBE. We were also ably supported by members of 7 Rifles; our very great thanks go to the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel James Bryant, for making this possible. 43 members of D Company have undertaken a week’s adventurous and leadership training in the Aldershot area and completed their Silver level of
the Colonel H Jones VC Leadership Award.
With about 70
new cadets joining
D Company in September, the Corps is in good shape and is now busy preparing for another year and
in particular the commemoration of the Battle of Waterloo next summer. Lieutenant Colonel Mike Wilcockson Commanding Officer
Eton College CCF
OE who follows his father’s footsteps (Colonel Robert Martin, Adjutant at Eton 1981- 83). We said farewell
as the inspecting officer at the parade.
It was a very damp and windy occasion but the drill was good and the event was well attended by parents.
Last year I wrote that because of
torrential rain we wondered whether
we would have to cancel the Tattoo but fortunately the skies had cleared just
long enough for us to pull it off; history repeated itself again this year. Despite
the mud, the drizzle and the distinct chill the cadets excelled themselves. We were delighted to welcome as the inspecting officer Air Vice-Marshal Stuart Atha DSO RAF in a break with
tradition where the
inspecting officer
is usually from the
Army. As a Scot the
inspecting officer was
particularly pleased
by the high quality of
the pipes and he was
also impressed by the Guard of Honour, the Band, and RAF silent drill. This year’s Tattoo was also a moment when we could commemorate the start of the Great War which we did in two ways: firstly, members of D Company, re-enacted the inspection of the Eton Corps by Kaiser Wilhelm II in
to Flying Officer Ed
Russell, thanking him
for so ably taking on
and running the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award for many years.
Very pleasingly this year two cadets have been awarded Army Scholarships: Cadet Corporal Alexis Reilly and Cadet Lance Corporal Jack Polhill. In addition Cadet Junior Corporal Harvey Klyne has been selected for an RAF Gliding Scholarship.
For various reasons it was decided that the Duke of Edinburgh Award did not fit easily into the CCF training programme and so we have developed our own leadership award programme, the award being validated and run by Adventure Lifeskills and called ‘The Colonel H Jones VC Leadership Award’ after Eton’s last VC holder. We are delighted that Colonel Jones’ son, Brigadier Rupert Jones has not only allowed us to use his father’s name but consented to become the first patron of the award. The programme
will also give cadets the opportunity
to obtain a clutch of national awards from emergency first aid to the ASDAN
Despite the mud, the drizzle and the distinct chill the cadets excelled themselves
Very pleasingly this year two cadets have been awarded Army Scholarships
The Pipe and Drums Band prepare for the annual Tattoo
154 CADETS
THE RIFLES