Army cadets

During an action packed two week Annual camp at Swynnerton, Staffordshire. 30 senior cadets from South West London Army Cadet Force visited the National Memorial Arboretum. At a service given by the Units Padre, a representative of the senior cadets laid a wreath in memory of cadets and instructors who have died in service.

Annual camp is the highlight of an Army cadet’s year and gives the cadets a chance to experience activities and events that may not be available at home. This year’s senior cadets have had an action packed fortnight. During these two weeks they have visited Alton Towers theme park, improved their military skills with a two day range package and a three day exercise.

They have also had the opportunity to visit the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire. On the visit the senior cadets and instructors took part in a private wreath laying at the Cadets forces own memorial under the caring eye of Padre Lynch, South West London’s own padre before going onto the National Armed Forces Memorial and attending the daily service in the sites very own chapel.

It was the first time any of the group had visited the memorial and proved emotional for both the Senior cadets and Instructors of South West London Army cadet force as over the last two years a number of ex cadets who have joined the British Army and have been deployed to Afghanistan were killed in action.

Cadet Sgt Antony Peries, (16 from 134 Detachment Morden) said” it brought it home seeing their names on the wall amongst hundreds of brave soldiers from both world wars and other conflicts.

Lt Shaun Sullivan, second in command of the senior cadet company and a current serving member of the London Ambulance service said “both the memorials and the grounds are thought provoking and fitting for the organisations and groups represented around the site. I was able to pay my respects at the ambulance service memorial.

Cadet Corporal, Archie Norman (17 from 131 Detachment, Battersea) said “it was a great honour the be chosen to lay the wreath at the Army cadet Memorial. All of the cadets who visited the gardens enjoyed it and paid respects to the regiments that their unit is affiliated with as well as thinking about friends and family members that they have lost. It was a great experience and I am going to try and get my family to visit.

The Army Cadet Force (ACF) has over 46,000 cadets in almost 1,700 detachments all over the country and is one of the biggest and best gangs around. When it comes to action, excitement and adventure, it’s hard to find anything that beats the Army Cadets.

To find out more information about becoming an army cadet ,an Adult Instructor or to find out where your nearest unit is go to www.armycadets.com.

More information about this event or the two week annual camp please contact the Press relations Officer Lt Karen Lorimer on 07811 460772 or email kaz.lorimer@btinternet.com Based on information supplied by Lt Karen Lorimer.