Museum of the Manchester Regiment

Cadets

Manchester and Salford Universities Officer Training Corps Cadet Youth was at the heart of this exhibition at the award-winning Museum of the Manchester Regiment, Ashton-under-Lyne, which ran from January 4 until June 25 2011

Entitled “Cadets”, it reflects the long and affectionate relationships the Manchesters and their successor regiments developed with the Army Cadet Force, Combined Cadet Force and Officer Training Corps. Photograph of Fred Finucane

The exhibition also highlights the poignant stories of boys such as 15-year-old Fred Finucane who made the ultimate sacrifice in defensive of crown and country.

Fred, of The Brow, Bardsley, enlisted into the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment in 1914 and was posted to Egypt. He died of dysentery barely three months after the start of the First World War, on November 27, 1914, and is buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.

Manchester and Salford Universities Officer Training Corps Cadets on remembrance day Among the material on display for the first time are examples of the uniform worn by cadets down the years, along with equipment and rations.

The museum would be interested to hear from anyone who served as a cadet with the Manchester Regiment and is willing to share their memories or to donate any items.

Cllr Jackie Lane, Tameside Council’s assistant executive member for heritage and tourism, said: “The museum can always be relied upon to stage fascinating exhibitions. Given that thousands of local men must have been cadets at some point, I’m sure this one will prove especially popular.”

Officer Cadet Travers on the General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG). 2 members of the MUOTC, February 1958, including Mr R.M. Smith on the right. Some of the William Hulme CCF Cadets, 2006. 14 year old Ben Adams on right. Ben became one of the oldest survivors of the Gallipoli Campaign and died in 1995.