The Forces at Harrow County
by Alex Bateman
One of the most visual faces of Harrow County School in the post-war years was its Cadet Force, an enjoyable activity for most, but a weekly chore for others which could not be avoided. Its roots lay in the formation of a flight of the Air Training Corps, raised to meet a need for manpower during the dark days of World War Two.
The ATC itself evolved from a unit known as the Air Defence Cadet Corps which had been raised in 1938, to '…create a body of uniformed, disciplined and instructed young men to be of immediate service to the Country in time of crisis'. When that crisis came in 1939, the Air Ministry soon realised the value of such a formation, and took it under its wing, renaming it in the process. Staff at the school proposed that a unit of the ATC should be formed, and so, on February 1st 1941, No. 551 Flight, ATC was born, one of only 19 active from that first day.
The first call for volunteers brought in 40 boys and several members of staff. Within the first year, it had become No. 551 Squadron, and the numbers had almost doubled. Senior cadets performed many valuable tasks, including fire watching, and manning a telephone system to warn of air raids. They also learnt aircraft recognition, drill, sport, anti-gas measures, and being attached to nearby RAF Northolt, attended flying days, and camps.
With the end of the war in 1945, the need for such a formation had diminished, to the point that parades were held just once a month, while only 'interest' activities such as shooting and flying were continued. In February 1947, several members of staff put forward the idea of raising a new formation in the school, with the emphasis on leadership, and adventure training. March 7th that year saw the first parade of 'J Company, No. 1 Cadet Battalion, the Middlesex Regiment', some 95 strong, but this added competition meant that the flagging ATC unit was to fold. Permission for its disbandment was accepted the following month.
By the end of the first year, the new unit had grown to some 140 members, and had added a Corps of Drums, a Signals Section, and had progressed through being an Independent Company of the Army Cadet Force, to becoming a Combined Cadet Force, initially with just a Basic and Army Section. 1949 saw the formation of an RAF Section, and 1950, a Royal Navy Section. Membership of the cadets grew steadily, but this was not entirely voluntary. The then Headmaster was very keen on the Cadet Force, arguably more than the School Scout Troop, and made it quite clear that boys were expected to join one or the other. Those that did not were labelled as 'saboteurs, pacifists and cynics'. This did not apply just to the boys either. At least one member of staff believes his appointment to the school was dependent on his joining the CCF, having had Naval experience during the war.
In 1952, HCS CCF was the first in the country to add an MT Wing and RAC Section to its ranks, giving the cadets experience in engineering and vehicle maintenance. It also gained a Pipe Section, to make up the Corps of Pipes and Drums, and this went on to become internationally famous, through appearances at Twickenham, The Royal Tournament, White City Stadium and on television. The standard of turnout in the Corps as a whole was often compared to the Brigade of Guards. Prior to one Annual Inspection, the two most senior NCO's asked about the possibility of parading on horses. "I think that might be going a little too far" came the reply!! Numbers in the Corps rose to over 400, and the following year, it began to produce its own magazine, 'Cadet' which gave details of the sections, records of cadet achievement, camps and the like.
With its growing reputation, the CCF was able to gain several noteworthy items of equipment. The RN Section took possession of a 14ft 'Whaler' moored on the Welsh Harp, while the RAF Section added a Slingsby 'Grasshopper' to its inventory. Despite being an accomplished pilot and flying instructor during the war, the Contingent Training Officer, Major M G Venn almost crashed the glider through the canteen roof during a demonstration one Review Day, managing to rescue it and complete a circuit of the school field!! Over the next few years, further expansion took place, and more sections added, including a Civil Defence Platoon, where boys learn about rescue and first aid, and also how to use geiger counters, and the effects of a nuclear explosion. With the cold war at its height, it was a firm sign of the times. By 1965, the CCF as a whole was able to boast some 600 members, but with the retirement of Dr. Simpson that year, one half of its driving force had gone too. The 'conscription' of the Simpson era began to dwindle and so did the numbers, falling to around 350 by the end of the 1960's. Support from the local community, once so strong, also turned, and at one point, a CND demonstration presented itself outside the school gates.
In 1970, the Corps' founding CO, Lt Col. W M Bigham retired, and with it went the end of an era. Along with Dr. Simpson, this was now the backbone of the unit gone in a relatively short space of time. The 1970's also became an uncertain time for the school, and in turn the CCF. With confirmation that Harrow County was to change to a High School (Gayton High), it was not certain if the CCF would survive at all. Several members of staff serving with the CCF retired, and the upper two years were lost, while numbers continued to fall. In 1977, the Royal Navy Section closed, as had most of the individual sections within the corps, although at the same time, the Contingent at nearby John Lyon School closed completely. Lt. Col. Venn, who was by then the CO, made an offer for any interested boys to continue with our unit, and this helped to swell the ranks a little.
The early 1980's saw the retirement of Lt. Col. Venn, who had been with the CCF from 1949. New activities, and an attachment to the Parachute Regiment brought some fresh interest, but the numbers by this time were down to some 25 for a parade night. In 1983, they were asked to accompany the Parent Unit on a parade through Hammersmith for a 'Freedom of Entry' ceremony, and this was to be the start of many joint exercises. A camp in Germany (the first overseas camp for a number of years) came in 1984, and it seemed that things might be on the up.
The RAF Section was on the point of closing in 1991(literally hours away), when a former TA Officer stepped in to run it. A new Commanding Officer in M J Chapman (the Deputy Head) brought a number of new activities to the training programme, and extra interest items, such as an invite from the Parachute Regiment to join them in Arnhem for the 48th, 49th and 50th anniversaries of that famous battle. Things seemed to be looking up once more, with the unit in its most healthy position for some 25 years.
In 1994, a new Headmaster was appointed, who was keen on increasing the range of extra curricular activities for the school, and introducing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. Although the CCF was about the only extra activity left, and it was already undertaking the D of E Scheme (having previously suspended it), the Head put forward a proposal to formally close the unit. He was supported by several Governors, but his reasons were unclear. It appears that officers and cadets of the unit were not consulted, nor was a visit made to see the unit at work. Despite a plea to reverse his decision, the Contingent closed in August 1994.
The previous 53 years of cadet activities had produced many officers for all three services, including W A Allen who was runner up for the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst in 1953, becoming well known throughout the Country and abroad. It became the largest CCF unit within a State School, and was only exceeded in size by four Public Schools. Whatever memories you have of the ATC or CCF, they are unlikely to be forgotten. Times change, as do the interests of youth, but with such a distinguished record, the 'old lady' suffered something of an ungainly demob.