Under the Commonwealth Defence Act (effective from 1911), male youths aged 14 to 18 were required to train as Senior Cadets. In 1912, at the age of 14, William Harrison was an army cadet with the 87B battalion under Captain Morgan.
March of Senior Cadets.
The metropolitan battalions of senior cadets belonging to the 22nd brigade will parade for the first time as a brigade to-night and march through the principal streets of the city. The brigade comprises the 86th, 87th, 88th and 89th battalions. and should there be a good muster, as is anticipated, over 2,000 young soldiers will take part in the march. The ‘brigade is timed to leave the Drill Hall in Francis-street, at half-past 8 o’clock, and will be accompanied by the bands of the 86th and 88th Infantry. [1]
CADET ‘ COMPETITIONS.
AN INTERESTING DISPLAY.
THE SUCCESS OF AREA 87B.
It was a happy inspiration on the part of the officers of the 22nd brigade of senior cadets to hold military sports and athletic competitions for the young soldiers, and all concerned in the carrying out of the first annual gathering on the W.A. Cricket Association’s Ground on Saturday are to be congratulated upon the very successful result of their labours. The attendance of the general public was disappointing, but the cadets were present in large force, and those participating in the events were remarkably keen. His Excellency the Governor (Sir
Gerald Strickland), attended by Major Wilkinson, A.D.C., arrived on the ground at half-past 2 o clock, and was received by a guard of honour from D Company 87th Battalion (Perth Modern School) and the Bunbury boys. The District Commandant (Colonel Irving) and his staff officers were present throughout the whole of the day, Colonel Irving acting as umpire-in-chief, and the other officers as umpires. A large number of militia officers attended and took great interest in the proceedings. The officers forming the committee of management
worked indefatigably on the ground, and for some time previously in perfecting the arrangements. Particularly to the president (Lieutenant Jackson), the vice-president (Captain Annear), and the hon. Secretary (Lieutenant Williams), is a large share of the measure of success due. All of the events were carried out with military punctuality.
It must have been very gratifying to all present to see such a fine body of the youth
of Western Australia as was formed by the senior cadets of the 22nd Brigade. Sturdy, well set up, and clean, they provide an object-lesson of what can be done by a system of training such as that laid down by the military authorities. The officers, and more particularly the area officers, were justified in viewing the young soldiers with feelings of pride, and these feelings can also be participated in by those unconnected with the movement. The boys contested the various events as only keen healthy boys can, and both victor and vanquished took their honours and defeats like sportsmen, there were no complaints, and no recriminations. One accident occurred, Sergeant Heagney, of 86B, straining himself during
the 100yds, race. He was removed in an ambulance to his home at Victoria Park,
where he is progressing favourably towards recovery. Sergeant Heagney’s accident was the more regrettable as he was the commander of the section which competed for the best-turned-out section. A substitute had to be impressed at the last moment, and the section secured second place. In recognition of the section coming second in adverse circumstances, the residents of Victoria Park have decided to present silver medals to the members of the team. An interesting feature of the day’s programme was the presentation by Sir Gerald Strickland of the Countess of Dudley’s banners and the Adelaide Tailoring Company’s shield to D Company of the 87th Battalion for the best company in the State, and the medal given by the Australian Natives’ Association for being the best rifle shot in the senior cadets for the year 1911-12, to Cadet Tilley. The banners were received by Lieutenants Kirkpatrick and Brine, and His Excellency warmly congratulated the company upon the proud position it had won. The Imperial service medal was also handed to Mr. Varley, formerly an officer of the Imperial Prisons Department, by Sir Gerald Strickland.
It was unfortunate that the Bunbury boys, who had on the previous evening completed a trek from Bunbury, could not participate in the military events. Their uniforms bore traces of the week’s march and consequently they could not enter for the best-turned-out cadet, in which competition cleanliness of uniform and equipment was a determining factor, and as the boys forming the detachment were drawn from various portions of the area, they could not compete for the prizes offered for the best permanent section. However, they were very successful in the athletic events, winning all in which they took part. Lieutenant O’Donnell’s young
soldiers sturdy and bronzed, naturally came in for a good share of attention on the part of the public, the universal opinion being that they form a body the command of whom any officer would be proud to have.
To 87B (Subiaco-Leederville) belong the proud privilege of being the most successful area as far as the military competitions are concerned. This honour carries with it the possession of a complete bugle band, consisting of a base drum, two side drums., and eight bugles, valued at £25, which was presented by Messrs. Dobbie and Co. Colonel Irving warmly congratulated the officer and boys of the winning area on the fine performance put up.
The following are the results of the competitions : …
Athletic Events.
Wrestling.-llst. 4lb. or over: Corporal Woods (86C), 1; Cadet Harrison (88A), 2.
Boxing.-llst. 4lb. or over: Corporal Woods (86t), 1; Cadet Harrison, 2. [2]
87B (Subiaco-Leederville) Senior Cadets bugle band equipment presented to them by Messrs. Dobbie and Co. following their victory in regional military training competitions. Because they were named the “most successful area,” they were awarded a premium musical setup consisting of a bass drum, two side drums, and eight bugles.
Historical Context of the Clipping
- The Benefactor: Messrs. A.W. Dobbie & Co. was a well-known engineering, brass foundry, and musical instrument retail firm operating in Perth during the early 1900s.
- The Instrument Details: A band kit valued at £25 in the 1910s was a substantial community prize, equivalent to several months of wages for a typical working-class family at the time.
Cadets’ March Out
The first opportunity afforded to the public to see the naval and military cadets of the metropolitan area on parade will be given tomorrow afternoon, when a march through the streets will take place. The Minister tor Defence (Senator Pearce) intimated to the District Commandant (Colonel Irving) his special approval for the Albany naval cadets, a team from which won the Empire shield, as well as the military cadets, to take part in the parade. The naval cadets will head the column, and they will be followed by the senior military cadets of the 86th, 87th, 88th, and 89th battalions, at the head of whom will be the team which won the Lady Dudley banner (87a Perth Modern School). The parade is timed to move off from the Beaufort-street bridge at half-past 3 o’clock, and will proceed along Barrack Street, St. George’s-terrace, Malcolm-street, and Harvest-terrace. In front of Parliament House the young sailors and soldiers will pass in review before his Excellency the Governor (Sir Gerald Strickland) at 4 o’clock, after which they will march along Hay Street, William-street, and Wellington-street. The various battalions will be marched to their private parades from Wellington-street. [3]
Top of Form
SENIOR CADETS
The greater part of Saturday was spent. by the State Military Commandant (Colonel Irving) and a number of officers in supervising and judging the senior cadet competitions for the title of State champions and the right to go to Brisbane to compete in the Commonwealth contests. For some time past tests have been held and, inspections made in the several military areas with a view to selecting the best teams available in the respective districts so that by means
of an inter-area tournament in which picked companies might compete, the championship could be allocated on points to the most soldier-like and smart corps. By this means the following teams won the right to enter a claim for the championship, which was fought out
at. the week end :–Kalgoorlie, D Company ‘of 84th Battalion, under Lieut. Melnerny; Wagin, B Company of 85th Battalion, under Lieut. Nenke; Fremantle, A Company of 86th Battalion, under Lieut. Jenner; Claremont, B Company of 87th Battalion, under Captain Morgan; Perth,. B Company of 88th Battalion, under Lieut. Hatfield; Victoria Park, E Company of 89th Battalion, under Lieut. Guy. At 10 o’clock on Saturday morning the half-dozen teams, looking spick and span in their serviceable uniforms, were lined up on the Esplanade. Half an hour later His Excellency the Governor (Major-General Sir Harry Barron) attended by Major Wilkinson, arrived and was met by the Commandant. The cadets came to the salute and were inspected by His Excellency, subsequent to which the competitions which had been commenced by an inspection of arms, equipment, and turn out, were continued by means of a march past the Governor. The marching in some instances was disappointing. Probably this was due to nervousness, for later in the morning, when the lads were warmed up to their work, the marching was excellent and left little to be desired. At the conclusion of the march past the several companies were distributed in different position so as to enable the physical training exercises and company drill to be carried out concur gently. This comprised the whole of the work carried out on the Esplanade, and during the morning the Commandant stated that he was very well pleased with the work done. Points were allotted for the various competitions by the judges, who had charge of the operations, as follow :
Inspection of arms, equipment, and turn out, District Commandant, and Col. J. T. Hobbs, V.D., A.D.C.; march past, District Commandant and Col. J. T. Hobbs;
physical training, Captain Rogers, P.T.I.S. and Lieut. Saunders; P.T.I.S.;
company drill, Lieut. Col.11. B. Collett,. C.O., 88th Infantry.
At the conclusion of the morning’s work the points recorded were as follow:
Maximum points 100 50 150 290
Company
Kalgoorlie 81 39 85 179
Wagin 89 38 65 169
Fremantle 75 45 70 171
Claremont 91 46 112 184
Perth 87 48 124 187
Victoria Park 83 38 73 l82
After lunch the cadets proceeded to Osborne for the completion of the tests in a course of musketry and skirmishing. Lieut. Col. J. Battye, C.O., 86th Infantry, and Lieut. J.
H. Peck, A and I. Staff, were the judges for the musketry operations, and Major A. H. Bridges, G.S.O., was the judge for the skirmishing. The merits of the companies’ performances were reflected in the points gained, which were as follows :-
Maximum points 242 250
Kalgoorlie 94 200
Wagin 51 195
Fremantle 85 190
Claremont 95 210
Perth 103 215
Victoria Park 99 190
With the conclusion of the two competitions at Osborne, the whole of the heats for the championship honours were completed. The aggregate points scored showed that the Claremont and Perth teams had had the fight pretty much in their own hands. The latter, however, with a total of 766 points secured pride of place and the right to the title of champions of the State for the ensuing year. Claremont came secund with 741 points, followed by Kalgoorlie, 678 points; Victoria Park, 665 points; Fremantle, 636 points; and Wagin, 607 points.
Taking the work as a whole, there was a decided improvement upon that shown in the competitions in previous years. The standard set was higher, and practically every team evidenced progress and careful training in their movements. The most marked advance was demonstrated in the physical drill, which was exceptionally good all round. The judges were occasioned considerable difficulty at times in the allocation of points. The company drill as well as the skirmishing, in which the teams were uniformly good, were regarded with approval.
The Perth team will leave West Australia not later than May 18 en route to Brisbane, where they will represent the State in competition with selected companies from the cadets of the eastern States in the Commonwealth series of tests. The Commonwealth competitions have already been held in Melbourne and Sydney in succeeding years, and on June 5 and 6 of this year the tests will be carried out in Brisbane. [4]
By 1916, the pressure on the men of Subiaco to enlist was immense, with twice as many West Australians in favour of conscription as were against it as reflected in the 1916 and 1917 referendums. Those who did not enlist were often harassed by the families of those who did with white feathers deposited in letter boxes to indicate cowardice. At recruitment drives, they would sing “We Don’t Want to Lose You, but We Think You Ought to Go” and there was an unwritten consensus that at least one member of a family should enlist. It is estimated that ten percent of Subiaco’s entire population enlisted and therefore absent from the district throughout the war years. [5]
Many Senior Cadets or those turning 18 began enlisting.
One of them was my grandfather, William Edward Harrison.
[1] The West Australian Thursday 24 October 1912 page 6
[2] The West Australian Monday 9 December 1912 page 7
[3] Western Mail Friday 28 February 1913 page 36
[4] The Kalgoorlie Miner Wednesday 28 April 1914 page 8
[5] Spillman, page 203