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Background
The 1st Cadet Battalion KRRC owes its foundation to the
Reverend Freeman Willis, who was commissioned into the
Volunteer Army in 1890. Initially titled the 2nd Cadet
Battalion, The Royal West Surrey Regiment, in 1894
Willis applied successfully to HRH Prince George, Duke
of Cambridge, Colonel-in-Chief of the KRRC, to affiliate
the Cadet Battalion to the KRRC.
In 1900, when volunteers were urgently needed for the
South African War, the Reverend Willis persuaded the War
Office to accept a company of the older cadets,
principally NCOs, to enrol in the City Imperial
Volunteers. Over 100 did so, with others joining other
units. Four were killed. As a result the Battalion was
awarded the Battle Honour ‘South Africa, 1900-02’, the
only Cadet battalion ever to have received a battle
honour. It was also permitted to call its cadets
‘Riflemen’.
The 1st Cadet Battalion KRRC exists today and is the
only unit of the KRRC still to wear the Regimental cap
badge. |
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