Cadets

Rank Structure

This Detachment selects its Student Officers (SO’s), Warrant Officers (WO’s) and non-commissioned officers (NCO’s) only from the Grade 12’s. Grade 11’s undergo Candidate Officer training (CO training) throughout the year and approximately 60 are selected for promotion.

The Detachment is structured like an Armoured Car Regiment (this stems from our affiliation with Prince Alfred’s Guard), and has an HQ with four squadrons attached. Additional troops are: the drill troops (senior and junior), first-aid troop and the armoury staff.

The senior pupil is the Senior Student Officer (SSO), who is assisted by the Adjutant, the Ensign and the Regimental Sergeant-Major (RSM). Each squadron is commanded by a Squadron Commander. He also has Student Officers, a Squadron Sergeant-Major, a Squadron Quarter-master-Sergeant, Sergeants and Corporals to assist him.

Student Officers are saluted, as are staff and visitors to the school. They wear Sam Brownes and, on parade, swords.

The RSM functions in the same way that a regular army RSM does – he holds tight control over neatness, discipline and parade work. Dress Parade or Extra Parade is meted out for breaches of discipline.

The traditions of the Cadet Detachment are maintained and fostered in this way. Discipline from without helps to develop self-discipline in the cadets. Cadet training is an important part of our young men’s education for life in the real world where teamwork, leadership, giving and taking orders, and doing the right thing, is vital.

Heritage March by Matrics and Military Band

Remembrance Day Wreath laying ceremony

The Retreat Ceremony

The modern retreat originated in the 16th Century when it was referred to as guard mounting. The Drum Major of the regiment would summon, by the beat of the drum, those required for guard duty.

In 1727 Humphrey Bland wrote: “Half an hour before gates are shut, which is generally at the setting of the sun, the drummers of the Port-guards are to go onto the ramparts and beat a Retreat to give notice to those without that the gates are to be shut. As soon as the drummers have finished the Retreat, the officer must order the gate to be shut”. Towards the latter part of the eighteenth century the Retreat was described as follows:

“Retreat is also a beat of a drum, at the firing of the evening gun at which the Drum Major with all the drums of the battalion, beats from the camp colours … the trumpets at the same time sounding at the head of their respective troops.”

The Retreat Ceremony is performed by B and C squadrons which consist mainly of students in Grades 9 and 10, and commanded by Grade 12’s.

Number 1 Guard is the senior drill troop. Number 2, 3 and 4 Guards consist of students in Grades 9, 10 and 11 who also form the main contingent of the Trooping the Colour the following year. The only matrics participating in this parade are the Officers and NCO’s of B and C squadron. 

The present day ceremony of Beating the Retreat has evolved with a Guard of Honour forming up and dividing into four sections, with the Band and the Drums formed on the spectators’ right; the band and drums then perform by marching up and down in front of the Guard. On the completion of their performance they take up position in front of the flagpole. The National Anthem is played in honour of the flag. By “presenting arms”, the troops pay respect by proffering their weapons in unison, as a token of trust and homage. As the Retreat is sounded by the trumpets the flag is slowly lowered.

History

Starting in 1892, applications were made for the formation of a Cadet Corps at the Grey Institute (as the school was then known) but it was only in September 1897 that it was approved by the Governor General and duly gazetted. The Board of Governors then resolved “that all pupils of proper age shall belong to the Cadet Corps, unless excused on account of conscientious objection or by a medical certificate of physical inability.” Few students evaded the ruling and the first parade was held on October 11, 1897. In 1914 South Africa, then still a Union and part of the British Empire, entered the First World War on the side of the Allies.  Of the nearly 700 Old Greys who served in this war, 59 sacrificed their lives. On March 15, 1923, a memorial to these men was unveiled in the school quadrangle by Major-General Sir Henry Timson Lukin, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.

Mr Lang took over as Rector of the Grey in 1928 and became the new Commanding Officer on 1 September of that year. At about that time the old A and B companies were joined to form a full company of four platoons.  The parades were then introduced into school time, rather than being held after school. Officers and NCO’s began to attend extra classes on Friday afternoons and were taught the not-so-subtle art of drilling.

It was also in 1928 that the Grey High School Cadets became affiliated to the Prince Alfred’s Guard Regiment. The link between Prince Alfred’s Guard and the Grey High School is kept alive by the annual presentation of the Prince Alfred’s Guard Sword of Honour to the Senior Student Officer at the Detachment’s Promotion Parade held on Cadet Day. The best bandsman is also presented with a trophy from P.A.G. 

Another milestone in the Detachment’s history was reached when the Brass Band joined the Cadet Band to make its first public appearance on parade on 28 August 1930.  Three years later the Cadet Detachment acquired an Ambulance Corps which taught Cadets the skills of ambulance work. 1937 saw the uniforms take on a new shade of khaki and the construction of the shooting range.

The first Trooping the Colour was performed in 1938 but only from 1957 onwards did it become an annual event. 

By 1940 Physical Training was a regular part of Cadets and the enrolment age of cadets had been lowered to 12, thus including all standard sixes. In 1944 the Ambulance Corps was dropped and the number of companies increased so that the Detachment consisted of the Bands, Three Companies and a Signalling Section.

During the Second World War over 1800 old boys of the school were on active service. At the end of the war a Thanksgiving Service parade was held in Port Elizabeth and the Grey Cadet Corps attended it. Major Gamble and Captains Marais and Taylor returned to the Detachment after active service – 120 Old Greys, however, were not to return.

In 1947 the British Royal Family visited Port Elizabeth. Cadets of Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage lined the route of the visit, 150 being from Grey’s Detachment. This was also the year in which the uniform’s stiff caps were replaced by the beret. On Wednesday, 10 March, of the following year, a memorial service of quiet dignity was held in the school quadrangle and Field-Marshall the Rt. Hon. J.C. Smuts unveiled a granite memorial to the 120 Old Greys who died in the Second World War.

In 1967 Cadet Army Courses were held for WO’s and NCO’s at Forest Hill. By that year almost one hundred cadets had become involved in the bands. In 1970 the Grey Cadets performed ceremonies to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the landing of the British Settlers in 1820.

In 1983 this Detachment had to affiliate with Donkin Commando, whilst maintaining its P.A.G. ties as a social affiliation. These affiliations were strengthened at a number of Formal Mess dinners. Currently, the Detachment holds its own Formal Dinners in the School’s Restaurant. 

When the SADF withdrew from all cadet activities in the late 1990’s, most schools ceased to have cadet training or parades. Not so at the Grey. The Detachment went ahead and designed its own khaki uniform and blue beret worn by the students today. Students purchase these as part of their uniform. All students at Grey take part in cadets which is held for an hour every week.

The existence of two military bands at Grey came to an end in 2001. The Brass Band (wearing the Reds) and the Cadet Band (dressed in cadet uniform) amalgamated to form the new Military Band of about 65 members.

Shooting continued as a school sport until the end of 2002 when the SANDF withdrew all .22 rifles from schools. Unfortunately, the swords used by the SO’s and officers were also withdrawn – some actually the property of Grey High. Those used in parades today are on loan from P.A.G Regiment and 1st City Regiment. The Detachment is in the process of trying to purchase its own swords.