Would-be members of the Air Training Corps attended a meeting at the Boot and Shoe Technical School, Victoria-road, Rushden, on Monday, when Squadron-Leader Tysack (Northampton) spoke on the training and aims of the Corps. Alderman C. W. Horrell, J.P., was in the chair, and addressing the boys, said that it was pretty certain that they would get a full squadron. The A.T.C. would be a fine thing for them, as it would brush up their education, improve their health, and also be of great service to the nation.

Squadron-Leader Tysack said that he was very pleased to see the keenness of Rushden. They had been carrying on at Northampton as a Cadet Corps and were now in the process of changing over. The first thing to do was to choose a Commanding Officer, and he would get the other officers around him, who would have to be accepted by the committee.

Drill was the first thing to consider, for without drill there was no discipline. They liked drill at Northampton, for after all it was really smartness and good manners. When they saluted an officer, they did not salute the man – they saluted the uniform. Cadets would have the chance of promotion to N.C.Os., who would be chosen by the Commanding Officer. There were various things to consider, for they would have to be smart, tidy, have good manners, be good at drill, and, last but not least, have a good voice. This could be acquired by practice.

A good attendance was essential, and proficiency and examination results came last. A boy must be good on the parade ground to command respect and an N.C.O. who was not respected was a failure. Prefects at school had to be good at games to command respect. The strongest upholders of discipline were the cadets themselves, and the officers did not then have the unpleasant job of saying “Do this” and “Don’t do that.” If the committee could get a room set aside for the N.C.Os. it would be a great help, for they would be able to keep up their own discipline and drill.

Under the new scheme the cadets were divided into two groups – those who wanted to become members of an air crew and those who wanted to be members of the ground staff and technical experts. The first would have to be physically fit and to pass a medical officer, and they would also have to be good at mathematics. In the old planes, which he himself used to fly, you could look round and wonder where you were; but in a modern fighter, while you were wondering you would probably be travelling into another country. Thus it was essential that fighter pilots should be good at navigation, and this needed mathematics. Drill and physical training would want a good room, black-out and well ventilated.

The theory of flight was not on the Air Ministry syllabus, but he thought this was important, for it was little good doing things to a plane if you did not know why it stayed up in the air. A member of an air crew had to understand his plane, or he could not do all the many things that he had to. If his eyes were not quite right there was no reason for a man to be grounded, for he could become a rear-gunner or a wireless operator. This was the reason why it was always best to learn the Morse Code – so as to be able to have a second string to one’s bow. Another thing was to form a cadets’ committee, for the cadets often made valuable suggestions when they were not in the presence of their officers. There were many ways in which they could help themselves in the committee; for example they could form a library, and there were some exceptionally good books on flying in existence. These things could be looked after by the N.C.Os. At Northampton they had table tennis, darts and boxing, and these games took place on different nights.

Keenness was everything. If they were not keen it was no good. They could not carry passengers, and an efficient cadet was one who attended 75 per cent. of the meetings. When a boy joined the R.A.F. a testimonial would have to be given by his Commanding Officer in the A.T.C. The officer was put on his honour to be perfectly frank, and so it was up to the boys at what rank they commenced service.

The Northampton squadron would be willing to help in every way they could, and perhaps they would later be able to organise a joint parade.

Squadron-Leader Tysack answered questions, and a vote of thanks was proposed by Councillor J. Allen, J.P. There was a large attendance of boys and also of the committee. The boys were given enrolment forms, and it was stated that a Higham Ferrers flight would be formed in the squadron, and possibly a Raunds one.

With this approval the Squadron can proceed without delay to enrol officially the Cadets and to get busy with their training.

This news was conveyed to a very enthusiastic gathering of prospective Cadets and elected officials on Monday evening at the Corps Headquarters, situated at the Boot and Shoe Technical School, when Alderman C. W. Horrell took the chair, and enrolment cards were issued to the boys present.

Squadron Leader Tysack, the Commanding Officer of the Northampton Squadron, who had a great reception, gave a most interesting and amusing talk on the general running of an Air Training Squadron. The Squadron Leader, in the official A.T.C. uniform, impressed the whole meeting, and both boys and officials found his remarks and replies to questions very helpful. In one reply he made it clear that the Cadets themselves through their own committee and non-commissioned officers would enjoy the responsibility of maintaining their own discipline and welfare.

Instructional classes are being held at headquarters on Wednesday and Friday each week from 7.30 to 9 p.m., so that boys of between 16 and 18 years of age who were not present on Monday may still join on either of these nights.

Representatives were also present at the meeting on Monday from Higham Ferrers and Raunds, and boys in these areas who are anxious to join the A.T.C. should give their names, addresses, and date of birth to Councillor A. C. A. Colton or Mr. J. Riseborough at Higham Ferrers or to Mr. Roddis or Mr. Poole at Raunds.

Monday’s meeting is reported in another column, and details of the A.T.C. badge and button appear among the Royal Air Force news.

A.T.C. Notes
Physical Training in Rushden Hall Grounds

Most of the Higham Flight have been medically examined, and the Raunds Flight will have their turn when the longer evenings arrive, there being no black-out at the Sanatorium Clinic.

Raunds has issued a challenge to play a football team from Rushden on Easter Monday at 10.45 on the school ground in Park-street, Raunds. This will be the first inter-Flight attempt at sport, and we hope to have many battles in various aspects of field games.

With the arrival of warmer weather, P.T. will start in the Hall Grounds, where we have a quiet corner by the courtesy of the Parks Committee of the Urban District Council.

The route marches are still popular, the last one being, we think, an improvement on the others. That’s how it should be. [part of a longer article]

Rushden Echo & Argus, 30^th May 1941, transcribed by Kay Collins

Rotary’s Part in A.T.C. Scheme
War Service reviewed at Rushden Club’s Annual Meeting

Wartime work of Rushden Rotarians and their wives was described at the Rotary Club’s annual meeting, held on Tuesday at the Green Dragon Hotel, Higham Ferrers, Rotarian Arthur Neal presiding.

Reviewing the last 12 months, Rotarian A S Knight (sec) said that in July, as their adopted trawler “Dulcebell” had been put out of action, they adopted the “Strathughie” and many of them started a correspondence with members of the crew. The ladies began to knit garments for the new trawler, and it was arranged that, 1,400 cigarettes should be sent each month, with packs of cards and games when possible.

In order to organise concert parties the “R.A.D.S.E.C.” was formed, and during the year excellent concerts had been given, often at very short notice.

A large sum had already been given over to the wool fund, and a further sum of £23 12s. 6d. had been placed in a separate fund to form the nucleus of a big effort later on.

A.T.C. Adjutant
Mr. Sidney Hawkes Commissioned in Rushden Squadron

Mr. Sidney Hawkes, director of Messrs. Fred Hawkes (N.V. Engineers), Ltd., has received notification that he has been granted a commission in the R.A.F.V.R., in the rank of Acting Flying Officer as Adjutant of the Rushden Squadron of the A.T.C.

F/O Hawkes has been acting both as Adjutant of the Squadron and as joint secretary of the Town Committee, but under the rules and regulations of the organisation his duties as secretary will now be transferred to a non-commissioned member of the committee, and he will be able to devote the whole of his energies as Adjutant to the support of the Squadron Commanding Officer, Flt./Lt. A. H. Whitton, and to the other commissioned officers, Flying Officers O. L. Ash and H. Coggins and Pilot Officer S. Lawrence.