It is hard for present day Calgarians to imagine how the world looked in the Fall of 1943! Canada and the entire Commonwealth had already endured four years of the war. The assault on Pearl Harbour had brought the USA into the struggle against the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis less than two years earlier: the Allied battle up the Italian Peninsula had started but the N.W. European Campaign, which started on D-Day, June 6th 1944, lay in the future. Almost all of Europe was suffering under the jackbooted hell of Germany and vast areas of the Pacific and SE Asia were being brutalized by the Japanese.
Canada, with a population of under twelve million, had recruited a large army, navy, and air force, who numbers exceeded 1.1 million. The Royal Canadian Navy was the third largest in the world and patriotic feelings were profound. National identity was not in doubt!
It was in this setting that the Second Reserve Battalion, the Calgary Highlanders started training young men aged between twelve and eighteen who wished to contribute to the war effort as Cadets. The paperwork to formalize the new Cadet Corps, then as now, took a whole year to pass the bureaucracy. The necessary forms were finally submitted a year later on September 18th, 1944. There were twenty-five names on the original Nominal Roll. It was officially formed on 16 January 1945.
The unit was disbanded on 17 February 1950 and became a part of 2378 Calgary Cadet Corps in which the various corps then in existence (1622, 1292 and 1955) were linked as a battalion, however, each corps retained their several regimental and corps’ links. On 26 Apr 1954, the Corps reformed under its former title, affiliation and sponsor.
Lieutenant (later Captain) David J Oaks commanded the fledgling Corps from its formation until 1945. It is unknown who took over from Capt Oaks, but Captain Paul Jones CD took command briefly in 1949 before the corps was amalgamated into 2378 RCACC. When the corps reformed again in 1954, Capt Jones again took command until 1968.
In the early years many of the cadets were recruited from Woods’ Christian Homes. The cadets all wore kilts and only male cadets were enrolled and it operated both a bugle and a pipe band.
The cadet movement in recent years has de-emphasized military training, focusing increasingly on citizenship and adventure training. It still provides an opportunity, in a national youth movement, at no cost to the participants, for young men, and since 1978, to young women also, to gain an insight into the Armed Services which can be a rewarding career. Cadets are not members of the Armed Forces, but if they decide to join, they do so with a sound idea of what they are doing! Most of Canada’s senior naval, army, and air force personnel were once cadets.
We are proudly sponsored by the 264 Kensington Royal Canadian Legion and continue to hold a strong relationship with our affiliated unit, the Calgary Highlanders.
Corps Flag
The flag for this Cadet Corps was presented when the Corps received its Charter. Its design is a white silk background with red, white, and gold fringe. The Canada Flag is displayed in the upper left hand corner, the insignia of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets is in the centre, and the insignia of the Calgary Highlanders Regiment is in the lower right hand corner. The Corps number designation “2137” is in the bottom centre.
The Corps flag is not referred to as a standard or colour nor is it consecrated or dedicated. It does display battle honours and is paid complements at all times by all officers and cadets.
Army, Navy, Air Force Colours (A.N.A.F)
At the annual inspection held 8 Jun 1983, 2137 Calgary Highlanders Cadet Corps was honoured by the presentation of the A.N.A.F Colours. Cadet/Private Justin Muma, the youngest cadet in the corps, received the colours from A.N.A.F President, Comrade Edward Connell.
This presentation gave the Cadet Corps the distinction of being the only cadet corps in Alberta to carry a veteran unit’s colours.
Cadet Marches
The Corps’ March Past is “Blue Bonnets Over the Border.” Other marches used by the 2137 Calgary Highlanders Cadet Corps are:
a) Highland Laddie
b) The Barren Rocks of Aden
c) The Black Bear
Many thanks to Major (Rtd) R.S. Westbury, CD, CGeol, P.Geol for providing a brief history on the cadet corps.
Corps RSMs Corps COs
