Throwley House, Faversham, November 9th, 1914.
To Ties PRESIDENT OF TRH BOARD OF EDUCATION.
beg to be allowed to put before you a proposition which has not hitherto obtained any sanction, but which I am induced to hope may, in the present time of the nation's needs, be more favourably considered. It refers to the subject of elementary military training in parish schools. Nine years ago I formed a small Cadet Corps in the parish of Sheldwich, near Faversham, with, of course, the approval of the parents—including in it boys from ten to fourteen years of age, and Reservists' of from four- teen to seventeen years old. There is weekly drill for the former, and also instruction in rifle shooting under a sergeant (Territorial). Rifles, ammunition, uniforms, &c., provided by myself. Commencing with twelve boys, the numbers have yearly increased till at the present we have forty on the books. It has been a great success, as from its ranks quite a number of boys have joined the Army, and some are now at the front. Some also, I learn, have gained dis- tinction on Service ranges at Aldershot and elsewhere. These boys willingly give up one and a half hours of their playtime once a week for this purpose, but it is attended with difficulty, especially in the winter months, and I would respectfully but earnestly submit that the time has come when this patriotic work might be recognized at Headquarters so far as to allow the boys the privilege of being absent from school from eleven to twelve on one day in the week for the purpose of this training. If this could be granted it would be a great boon to the boys and a help to those who are trying to educate them, at the most impression- able age, not only to do their duty to themselves, but to their country first.—Your obedient servant,
(Signed) H. lloansarr."
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