British Combined Cadet Forces: History


Figure 1.--This portrait was marked "Chesire Regiment". He is clearly in a school Army Cadet Force (ACF) program during World War I. We are not sure, but boys from indivudual schools may have joined specific regiments.

The Cadet program in Britain was a national program. Thus it was essentially the same throught Britain including Scotland. Only the unifoirm was different. Britain for many years had no standing army, a phenomenn dating back to the struggle between Parliament bnd the Crown. There was, however, a long history of local militias. The British fought the Crimean War with the French as an ally (1850s). Napoleon III and his asperations to empire caused some concern in England. The British Government began organizing local militia units into a nationwide Volunteer Reserve Force (VNF). Octavia Hill, a British social reformer, organized the first VCF unit on Castle Green--Robin Hood Rifles (1859). The VCF units responding to the interest of youths, bean forming Cadet Companies. Eight public schools decided to form independent cadet units. This was the genesis for what was to become the Army Casdet Force (ACF) which became the modern Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Adam Gray who was aleader in social reform founded more Independent Cadet Corps units (Late-19th century). The late 19th and early 20th century was a time of rising international tensions and rising military spending. Britain unlike the Continental countries did not have military conscription and a large standing army. The Govermnent decided to reoganized the VRF into the Territorial Army (TA), often called the Home Guard (1908). At this time both the Volunteer and Independent Cadet Companies came under the control of the Territorial Forces Association. The Public School units became part of the Officer Training Corps. The War Office took control of all independent Cadet units (1914). They becanme the Army Cadet Force (ACF) and a source of officers during World War I. After the War the Government made major curbacks in defense spending (Geddes Axe) (1923). A small part of the defense ciutbacks was terminating Governmental and Military support for the ACF. By this time, however, the ACF had become institutionalized ar several schools. Thus there was aprivate movement to msaintasin the program. Notable figures like Lord Allenby helped organize the British National Cadet Association (BNCA) which lobbied for renewed Governnent support. They succeeded in getting some limited support (1930s). The Cadet Forces supported the Home Guard durin the early partof Workd War when for a time it looked like aGerman invasion was iminent. The Government as a result decided to reestablish the ACF (1942). The public school units became part of the CCF (Army) (1948). The Government conducted a review of the overal military program (1957). As a result, the ACF became aecognized national youth organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

National Program

The British Cadet program was a national program. Thus it was essentially the same throught Britain including Scotland. Only the unifoirm was different.

Standing Army

Britain for many years had no standing army, a phenomenn dating back to the struggle between Parliament and the Crown. Even before Parliament was fully established, conflicts developed between the Barns and the Crown. This lead to the Magna Carta (1215). As a result, the Barons and subsequently Parlisment was disinclined to give the Crown a substantial standing army. And this reluctance was only strengthened by the experience of the Civil War and the Commonwealth.

Local Militias

There was, however, a long history of local militias. The term militia means a military force composed of ordinary citizens who did not have regular army training. They were meant to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service. They would suplement the regular armed forces when fscing invading foirces. Militia normally engaged in operastions close to home. The obligation of citizens to serve in the militia was based upon the Common Law tradition dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. The tradition was that able-bodied males were liable to be called out to serve in one of two organisations. The first was the posse comitatus, an ad hoc assembly called together by a law officer to apprehend lawbreakers. The second was the fyrd, a military body intended to preserve internal order or defend the locality against an invader. The fyrd developed into the militia which was formnalized by a royal warrant. As the feudal system declined, the military oblications of the nobels was gradually replaced by the militia which cam\e to be an important institution in English life. It was the mililtias which began the resistabce toi the Crown in the Civil War. This tradition was transferred to America and plsayed an important role in the Revolutinary War. In both cases, however, victories by the Roundheads and Colonists was only achieved after the organization of a regular army. The traditin of the ciizen soldier and resistance to a standing army was so strong that King George had to hire Hessiuan mercenaries ti fight the Revolutionary war. And even during the Napoleonic Wars that there was no conscription in Britain.

Volunteer Reserve Force (VRF)

Cadet training in British schools began in the 1860s. The British fought the Crimean War with the French as an ally (1850s). Napoleon III and his asperations to empire caused some concern in England. The mere name Napoleon was frigtening to many Brits. The usual reason advanced was fear of a French invasion. France especially under a new Bonaparte emperor (Napoleon III) was was still perceived as the principal enemy. The British Government began organizing local militia units into a nationwide Volunteer Reserve Force (VRF). Octavia Hill, a British social reformer, organized the first VCF unit on Castle Green--Robin Hood Rifles (1859).

VRF Cadet Companies

The VRF units responding to the interest of youths, bean forming Cadet Companies. Eight public schools decided to form independent cadet units. This was the genesis for what was to become the Army Cadet Force (ACF) which became the modern Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Adam Gray who was aleader in social reform founded more Independent Cadet Corps units (Late-19th century).

Territiorial Army (TA)

The late 19th and early 20th century was a time of rising international tensions and rising military spending. Britain unlike the Continental countries did not have military conscription and a large standing army. The Govermnent decided to reoganized the VCF into the Territorial Army (TA), often called the Home Guard (1908). At this time both the Volunteer and Independent Cadet Companies came under the control of the Territorial Forces Association. The Public School units became part of the Officer Training Corps.

World War I (1914-18)

The War Office took control of all independent Cadet units (1914). They became the Army Cadet Force (ACF) and a source of officers during World War I. We have only limited information on school cadet program during the War. Many of the first schools to have cadet programs were the public schools (private secondary) schools. The English program was functioning in England during World War I (1914-18). Presumably it was the genesis for cadet program in colonial countries like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The cadet programs were organized a both public (private secondary) and grammar (Selective secondary schools).

Inter-War Era (1920s-30s)

The ACF was disbanded at many British schools after World War I. Public revulsion with war may have been a factor. The Government made major cutbacks in defense spending (Geddes Axe) (1923). A small part of the defense cutbacks was terminating Governmental and Military support for the ACF. The ACF by this time, however, had become institutionalized at quite a number of British schools, especially the public (Private boarding) schools. Thus there was a private movement to maintain the program. Notable figures like Lord Allenby helped organize the British National Cadet Association (BNCA) which lobbied for renewed Government support. They succeeded in getting some limited support (1930s).

World War II (1939-45)

Many British people thought naively that there would never be another war. The rise of Fascism on the continent, especially the NAZIs in Germany gradually changed this outlook. Unfortunately the public mood and the outlook of the politicans did not change fast enough for Britain to prepare aequantely for war. The Hermans launched a massive rearmament program. When Germany invaded Poland, an unprepared Britain declared war on Germany (1939). In less than a year, the Germans had defeated France and the panzers stood at the Channel preparing to invade Britain. The Cadet Forces with only limited Governmnt support aided the Home Guard during the early part of World War when for a time it looked like a German invasion was iminent. The British National Cadet Association supported the Home Guard as a possible German invasion loomed. The Government as a result of the War decided to reestablish the ACF (1942). We do not yet have a good history of the Cadets. We have the impression that it was no longer a force reserved to secondary schools or even an entirely school based effort. Rather it was a kind of community based force like the Home Guards. Unlike the school based program of World War I, it does not seem to have been an officer training program. The boys at age 17 jound the Home Guard and at 18 the regular Army. Here we need to finf a serious history. Our understanding is that boys could join when they reach 13 1/2 years. There was a lot of marching and once Britain with american aid was rearmed they got gtheir hands on real weapins, including rifles and Bren Guns and eventually artillry pieces.

Post-War Era

The public school units became part of the CCF (Army) after the War (1948). The Government conducted a review of the overal military program (1957). As a result, the ACF became aecognized national youth organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).







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Created: 5:02 AM 12/14/2009
Last updated: 7:57 AM 12/14/2013