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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1974-08-21, Page 21Just Arrived New FALL FABRICS SEW FOR YOURSELF at SAMS Newest Easy-Sew Materials and Acces- sories now available. BOOKS and STATIONERY STORE The Friendly Store in Seaforth — "the friendly town?' WEST END GARAGE OF MITCHELL LIMITED 82 HURON ST. 348-8932 TODAY every dollar counts - before Price on all Men's and Boys' Band, free ice cream welcomed cadets back from comp London, July, 1913 By Harry Hinchley At Seaforth Collegiate Institute in the days before World. War the cadet movement was never taken too seriously. For a few weeks after Easter each year the boys used to finish dinner a bit early so that they could line up at 1.00 o'clock for thd Cadet Corps. Then Col. Wilson would instruct them and march them around the yard for drill for half an hour. On in May there was Inspection Day and an officer from Military Headquarters resplendent in his well-preSsed uniform would watch the cadets go through their manouvers. Afterwards they would all line up and the inspector would congratulate., them on their smart appearance and on their general excellence. Then the whole company would march off down town to Oscar Neil's REstaurant - where the McConnell and Stewart law office now is - to be treated to ice cream sodas - vanilla. strawberry and chocolate. For arms the cadets had large bore Enfield rifles dating back to ti -e va The cadets of SCI - on short notice a company of about 15 cadets was rounded up and to swell their number to more respectable proportions 8 or 10 public school boys were also recruited. A uniform was a necessity for a trip like this so each boy had to buy at Stewart Bros. a pair of khaki breeks and a military style shirt with brass buttons. The Board provided a hat -- a sort of cross between a Mounty 's Stetson and a rather under-sized cowboy hat. No two hats were of just quite the same shape but they all had one thing in common - they drooped. On Monday morning, July 22nd, the contingent assembled at the Seaforth station and took the 8.00 o'clock train for London. In charge were G.F.Rogers and Col. Alex Wilson. The former went along more or less because he could not get out of it and the latter because as Colonel of Huron's 33rd Regiment he could not very well do otherwise. They travelled together and once they reached camp at London neither one ,vas afterwards very_ much in Seaforth's -plain shirts and pants apparently just bought for the cocasion. They seemed sort of the poor relations and were more or less kept in the background. Not that there was anything wrong with their drill but their appearance went against them. Seaford] was placed in C. Battalion. But 'in sports and athletic events it was a different story. C. Battalion with half the team from Seaforth won all the football games. The city boys just did not seem able to compete. In athletic events it was the same only here it was Seaforth all the way.The boys cleaned up. They took first prize in most of the events and in several took 2nd and 3rd prizes as well. In rifle shooting it was the same-. In the corps were a few boys who had been well trained by Col. Wilson, an old Bisley man. They had done a ,lot of practising at the old rifle butts cast of Egmondville and had competed in the big Association matches at Long Branch and to the Grip House dressed up in their blue tunics and white pants stood the Citizens Band all ready to head the parade. The Cadets fell in behind the band and were marched to the Town Hall. Here, on the steps, the reception Committee gave them a proper welcome back home, Mayor Greig spoke and so did Rev. Berry, Chairman of the School Board. When their congratulations , were over G.F.Rogers and Col. Wilson with fitting modesty made replies on behalf of the boys. Then to do it up right and assure the Cadets that the welcome was real, the company adjourned to Oscar, Neil's Restaurant` or a treat on the town - ice cream sodas - vanilla, strawberry or chocolate. • Every week more and more people discover what mighty .jobs are accomplished by low cost Expositor IllTarit Ads. Dial 527-0240.