The growing tension in pre World War One Europe was reflected At Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle through the creation of a cadet corps for the Boys’ School on 2 May 1913. 104 years, two World Wars, three monarchs and 24 Prime Ministers later, Dame Allan’s Schools and St Thomas More School launched their Royal Marines Combined Cadet Force (CCF) at Dame Allan’s Schools on 2 May 2017.

As the cadets posed for their official photographs in July 1913 there is no doubt that the world with which they were confronted was very different to that which faces cadets photographed over 100 years later.

The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 quickly affected Dame Allan’s and the cadet corps remained active throughout with training, inspections, parades and rifle competitions. 652 Dame Allan’s boys served in WW1 and 84 died.

In April 1920 the cadets provided a guard of honour for and were inspected by Prince Albert the Duke of York (later King George VI) outside the Commercial Exchange. In May 1920 the cadets again formed a guard of honour, this time for Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, who held the ceremony in which their own Headmaster, Colonel Brewer, received an O.B.E.

The Dame Allan’s cadet corps thrived under Colonel Brewer in the immediate years following WW1, however in 1926 Colonel Brewer passed away and between 1927 and 1939 government support for the initiative weakened, the name changed to ‘school camps’ and in 1930 government recognition, funding and support was withdrawn completely.  It was also made unlawful to wear military uniform or take part in military instruction in an organisation that was not recognised by the war office. However, under the new Commanding Officer, Captain Mallinson, the boys continued with swimming, physical drill and attended the annual camp in Ponteland.

By 1939 Captain Mallinson’s efforts to maintain some form of military type training seemed wise. Again, global tensions were being felt and in April 1939 plans were drawn up for the evacuation of Dame Allan’s students. It was also decided that two flights of air cadets would be formed. By September Britain had declared war on Germany and Dame Allan’s students were evacuated to Wigton, Cumbria. Eight months later the threat to the North East appeared to have receded and so the children returned to their home in the North East.

However, Newcastle was a centre for heavy industry and so was a key target during the war. In July 1940 a German raider attempted to drop a bomb on the high-level bridge between Newcastle and Gateshead. It missed, but struck Spiller’s Mill nearby. At the time Dame Allan’s Schools were holding an evensong service at St Nicholas’ Cathedral in the city centre. The bomb, which killed 13 people and injured 100 more, caused the whole cathedral and the vicinity to shake so violently that  three-quarters of Dame Allan’s parents decided to evacuate their children to the safer countryside. 

On 7th July 1940, just five days after the bombing, 150 children from Dame Allan’s Boys’ School took the train to Windermere, carrying a few possessions and a gas mask. The Girls’ School followed the next day and the children would spend the next four years of their lives living in Windermere.

Both the air and army cadets had lapsed during the turbulent times, however once at Windermere the cadets became very active, assisted by Windermere Grammar School staff and the Windermere Home Guard. The cadets were even able to help the war effort, which included searching the woods for escaped German prisoners.   

The air and army cadets had become so successful that in 1942 the sea cadet corps was formed and cadets were able to make the most of their location on the Lake District’s largest lake. 

In 1944 the end of the war was in sight and the cadets returned to continue at Dame Allan’s, re-forming in Fenham and becoming affiliated to the Northumberland Fusiliers. In 1945 they attended the cadet peace parade camps and continued to attend camps for the following 14 years. The three sections of the newly re-branded Combined Cadet Force were now operating successfully. However, for reasons unknown, the CCF at Dame Allan’s dwindled after 1960 and 57 years on a new Royal Marines CCF contingent has been founded at the Schools. This contingent is made up of cadets from Dame Allan’s Schools and St Thomas More School, Blaydon

The opening parade was held 104 years to the day that the first Dame Allan’s cadet corps became one of the first cadet corps in the North East.

The second most senior Royal Marine in the country, Brigadier Richard Spencer OBE, was joined by the Mayor of Newcastle, the Deputy Mayor of Gateshead and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, amongst other dignitaries, as he presided over the opening parade by cadets.

Reflecting on this, Dr John Hind, Principal at Dame Allan’s Schools said: ‘No one could have known what our cadets would have gone through when the cadet corps was first launched. I hope that none of our cadets have to experience much of what those before them did. However, the CCF offers young people a broad range of challenging, exciting, adventurous and educational activities. The aim is to enable the development of personal responsibility, leadership and self-discipline, all valuable tools for life and which are attractive to employers. We are delighted to have worked together with St Thomas More to launch this CCF contingent which will have a hugely positive impact on those cadets who choose to be a part of it.’

Diya Varghese, 15, a cadet from Dame Allan’s said: ‘I feel really privileged to be a part of the Royal Marines CCF. I see myself as a leader so it’s brilliant to be able to develop my leadership skills. There are so many opportunities as a cadet, I’m really looking forward to making the most of the opportunity!’