1927
Governor General's Inspection The Governor General of Canada, Lord Willingdon reciews Sea Cadets at Government House Winnipeg, April 23th, 1927. |
The Winnipeg Sea Cadets continued to improve and expand during 1927 with the addition of four officers and an increase in enrollment to 173 cadets. Of the four officers added to the corps, two were directly responsible for the band while the others, Sub. Lt. J.E. Lang and Chief Petty Officer George Walker participated in the regular training cycle. Lt. W. Shelton, with many years experience in the handling of the bands, filled the position of bandmaster with the able assistance of Sub. Lt. B. Thomson.
The inspection of the corps by Admiral W.O. Story C.B.E. honorary supervis or of the Dominion's sea cadets, on February 11, was the first major event of a very busy year. The admiral, on conclusion of the inspection and presentation of warrants to the sea cadet officers, expressed his pleasure with the efficiency, deportment, and knowledge shown by the cadets.
During March an event took place which was to eventually result in the Winnipeg Sea Cadet Corps adopting the name John Travers Cornwell V.C. Captain J.L.R. Sutcliffe, 10th Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, presented a scale working model of the British battleship H.M.S. Hood to the corps. In accepting the gift, LCdr. Millen, expressed his appreciation and renamed the model H.M.S. John Travers Cornwell in memory of the heroic young seaman who won the Victoria Cross during the Great War. It was from this ceremony that the corps was to adopt its name.
It was also announced in March, that the first aid class consisting of thirty cadets under the instruction of Capt. E. Campbell of the St. John Ambulance, had captured the provincial first aid championship. This was the beginning of a string of provincial and national titles to come to the corps through the efforts of Capt. Campbell and later Sgt. J.C. Day.
Later that spring the corps and its band participated in a church parade to Augustine Church for a sermon by Dr. R.B. Cochrane. Following the service the cadets marched to Government House where they had the honour, with the R.C.N.V.R., of being the first unit to be inspected in Winnipeg by Excellency the Governor General, Lord Willingdon.
It should be pointed out that, due to the limited space afforded at the barracks, the band and corps paraded either on separate nights or at different quarters. This practice was to continue for many years until suitable accommodation was acquired. Therefore, events in which the full corps participated were always a special occasion for all concerned.
The highlight of the summer training schedule was the July 9th picnic at Winnipeg Beach. Close to 140 members of the sea cadet corp and 30 participants from the Grenadier and Strathcona army cadet corps took part in the festivities sponsored by the Navy League. After a pleasant hour on the boardwalk the boys assembled on the sports ground for an afternoon of sporting events. The day was completed with a supper and a parade to the rail depot for their return home.
For the remainder of the year the Winnipeg Sea Cadets augmented to their training schedule with several church parades and inspections. This brought to a conclusion a very successful year.
The photograph shown above was kindly provided by Mrs. F. Thorgeirson of Winnipeg.
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