Unit History

The first New Glasgow Cadet Corps was organized under the leadership of Mr. H.G. Clarke in the year 1909. The original uniforms were the same as those worn by the Canadian Expeditionary Forces 1914-19. During World War 1, the Corps strength averaged 120 Cadets and maintained a 24 piece brass band. Despite the decline in Cadet training between the two World Wars, this Corps maintained two detachments (one in Junior and one in Senior High School averaging about 50 members each. At this time, the Corps consisted of only High School Boys, like Hugh MacPherson, who won the 1st prize as best shot in the Cadet Corps of the Dominion. The Corps kept up activities for two years but then interest lagged and the Corps ceased for a time. (There is no official documentation to support this information in 1909 by the Cadet League and Militia Orders.)

The Cadet Corps once again emerged and was formally formed on March 18, 1914 as the 78th Pictou Highlanders, with affiliation to the 78th Highland Regiment. At this time, twenty cadets signed on. In April of the same year, the name changed to 219 New Glasgow High School Cadet Battalion. About this time, Colonel Thomas Cantley (who later became Senator) took a lively interest in the Corps. He offered several prizes and gave the boys glengarries and badges. While in Ottawa, Col Cantley interviewed with the Militia Dept and shortly afterward, the Corps was equipped with “22” Ross Rifles. In 1930, it was changed from a battalion to a Corps. The credit for the upkeep and efficiency of the Corps must go to Lt Col L.M. Rhodenizer, E.D., who joined the High School staff in 1924. In 1936 the Corps was given the use of the Scottish uniforms of the Pictou Highlanders. It was in this year that the New Glasgow High School Cadet Corps was judged the most efficient Cadet unit in the Maritimes. This high standard was maintained until the outbreak of

World War 2 and the subsequent enlistment of Lt Col Rhodenizer. The training from 1939 to 1945 was carried out by several well meaning but rather ill-prepared instructors. In 1943, the Corps was affiliated with the 2nd Battalion Pictou Highlanders and was under the sponsorship of the Board of School Commissioners of New Glasgow. In the fall of 1945, Lt Col Rhodenizer returned to his teaching duties in New Glasgow and immediately took control of Cadet training again. Improvement was at once noticed and in 1946 Summer Camp the Corps was judged third in standing in Nova Scotia.