1931
With the colours gaily flying in impressive decoration, the Winnipeg Sea Cadets, 240 strong, attended a banquet April 14th in the Royal Alexandra Hotel as guests of the executive committee of the Navy League of Canada.
In the unavoidable absence of D.C. Coleman, president of the Manitoba Division of the Navy League, the chair was taken by Jules Preudhomme K.C., vice-president. Among those at the Head Table were Mayor Webb of Winnipeg, Brigadier T.V. Anderson, officer commanding M.D. 10; Col. Gillespie, cadet officer commanding; and Commander Nares, R.C.N.V.R. Lt. Cdr. J.R.K. Millen sat at the left arm of the chairman. At the conclusion of the dinner and when the speeches of the guests had been completed, a musical program was presented by the cadets.
Included in the musical program were two selections from the band; a cornet rendition from Petty Officer Andy Cunningham and mouth organ selections by Cadet Edward Kuchowski. Leading Seaman McIntosh and Cadet H. Hughes rendered a piano duet while cadets Kent, Stubbington, Brown, Latourneau, Patrick, and Kohut danced the "Sailor's Hornpipe."
The Corps' annual inspection for 1931 was carried out on Friday evening April 17 by Col. Gillespie at the Sea Cadet Barracks. The Colonel was received on his arrival by Lt. Cdr. J.R.K. Millen and Lt. A.E. Tamkin. Following an inspection of the guard of honour under the command of Warrant Officer Ray Holmes, the Bugle sounded the general assembly and Col. Gillespie inspected the four divisions as well as the band.
At the conclusion of the inspection by the Colonel congratulated the boys on their excellent showing and encouraged them to continue their good work. The divisions then went to classes, which included seamanship, knots and bends, signalling, first aid and squad drill.
With the steadiness of veterans, the precision that can only come to a highly trained unit, and yet with all the ardour of youth, Winnipeg Sea Cadets staged their Assault-at-Arms on the evening of May 19th in the Amphitheatre Rink. Under the direction of Lt. Cdr. J.R.K. Millen, 240 cadets carried out their manoeuvers to the complete satisfaction of the large audience. The band, fifty-three strong, under the baton of bandmaster J.P. O'Donnell, gave a fine performance. His Honour J.D. McGregor, Lieutenant-Governor, was present, as were Premier J. Bracken and Mayor Webb. Other guests included members of the executive of the Manitoba Division of the Navy League of Canada, and the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire.
During the Fall of 1931, the Corps was presented with colours by local organizations and individuals. The first presentation took place on September 27th at the Manitoba Legislative grounds when Mr. T. Haddick of the Order of Elks presented a silk Union Jack to Warrant Officer R. Holmes. Photographs of the presentation and subsequent march past are shown on Pages 26 and 27.
The highlight of the Trafalgar Day church parade to All Saints' Church was a double colours presentation. Lady Nanton, a long-time supporter of the Winnipeg Sea Cadets, presented the naval white ensign shown on Page 27. The tattered ensign was flown by H.M.S. Courageous during the Battle of Jutland. At the same ceremony, Mrs. A.J. Hughes, on behalf of the I.O.D.E., donated a blue ensign.
The photographs shown for 1931 were donated by Mr. T.V. Baird, Grand Marais, Manitoba; Mr. J. Lang, Winnipeg; Mr. J. Freestone, Regina; Mr. W.J. Rooke, Scarborough, Ontario; and Mr. C. Deely, Winnipeg.
Pages 25-27