Summary

A group of school cadets outside St Augustine's Church Hall, Yarraville, circa 1906. They would have been Junior Cadets within the Victorian Volunteer Cadet Corps.

In March 1906 all military Australian cadets were brought under Commonwealth control, creating a uniform cadet system across Australia. At that time the Geelong Advertiser (30 March 1906, p.4) reported that Victoria had 4,000 cadets. The cadets in this photograph are not armed, but the article indicates that junior cadets in Victoria were furnished with Francotte rifles. The article explains that the Cadet Corps was formed under the Commonwealth Defence Acts 1903-1904, and the regulations required the cooperation of public schools in the formation of cadet corps and the recommendation of officers both permanent and volunteer) for appointment to the cadet force. The cadets were ganised into battalions and companies, approximating those in force for the senior branches. It was hoped that Victoria would soon have 6,000 cadets. Uniforms were decided by each state, to which cadets had to add shoulder straps bearing the number of the battalion to which they belonged; a special school badge could also be worn on the collar.

Description of Content

A group of school cadets in uniform in front of a building. There is a drum with crossed drumsticks in front of the group and an officer stands on the left. A teacher or leader stands to the left, and is holding a cane. The cadets in the front row are sitting with their legs crossed.

Physical Description

Black and white negative.

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