Queen's University Officers' Training Corps
Encyclopedia
The Queen's University Officers' Training Corps is one of nineteen University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) in the UK, and the only one in Northern Ireland
. It is the only surviving Irish UOTC.
As part of the Territorial Army, the OTC's mission is to develop the leadership potential of selected university students through enjoyable and challenging training in order to communicate the values, ethos and career opportunities of the wider British Army
.
surmounted by a flattened crown and with a scroll below inscribed Queen's. This pattern was sealed on 24 August 1950. An amended design, with St Edward's Crown, was sealed on 11 February 1957. This latter design is used for the current capbadge.
Dark green caubeen
s are worn with a St Patrick's blue
hackle. Pipers wear saffron
kilt
s.
In October 1908 therefore, authorised by Army Order 160 of July 1908, as part the Haldane Reforms
of the Volunteer forces, the contingent was formally established as the Belfast University Contingent of the Officers' Training Corps and incorporated in the new Territorial Force
, which was created by the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907
.
Parades were held in the old gymnasium which occupied the site of the former Drill Hall on the ground south of the previous Queen's University of Belfast Students' Union. A Drill Hall was subsequently built at the cost of £4000 and officially opened on 20 November 1912 by Brigadier General Count Gleichen
, who deputised for the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Ireland.
During the First World War, training was increased for OTC members being commissioned into newly formed battalions. By the end of the war almost 1,200 commissions had been obtained by cadets who had passed through the ranks of the contingent.
In 1930 the Corps' title was changed from Belfast University to Queen's University Belfast Contingent of the Officers' Training Corps.
On the outbreak of the Second World War a Reception Unit and a Joint Recruiting Board were set up in the Drill Hall to deal with the mass of applications for commissions. After the initial rush the contingent settled down to its task of wartime training.
On 1 April 1948 a general re-organisation took place under which the Corps became part of the Territorial Army. Its name was changed at this time to University Training Corps(TA). The Corps reverted to its old title of Officers' Training Corps in 1955.
Today, as part of 38 (Irish) Brigade, Queen's UOTC currently recruits its members from student volunteers attending the Queen's University of Belfast
, the University of Ulster
and Stranmillis College.
The Corps celebrated its Centenary in October 2008.
s (OCdt) and are "Group B" members of the Territorial Army, paid when on duty. As part of "Group B" however they are neither trained for nor liable for mobilised (active) service overseas and do not receive the same annual bounty payment as members of mainstream "Group A" TA units.
Training is structured around the academic year. It consists mainly of training weekends held at military training areas at Ballykinler
and Magilligan
. A 2-week annual camp is also held in the summer. This gives the Officer Cadets a chance to put into practice all the military skills they have learnt in the last year.
OTC members are classed as Officer Cadets (OCdt) and are "Group B" members of the Territorial Army, paid when on duty. As part of "Group B" they are neither trained nor liable for mobilised (active) service. Attendance is totally voluntary and OCdts are free to leave at anytime. There is no requirement for any further contact with the Armed Forces on completion of their studies.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is the only surviving Irish UOTC.
As part of the Territorial Army, the OTC's mission is to develop the leadership potential of selected university students through enjoyable and challenging training in order to communicate the values, ethos and career opportunities of the wider British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
Insignia
The Corps badge is an ornamental escutcheon bearing the arms of BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
surmounted by a flattened crown and with a scroll below inscribed Queen's. This pattern was sealed on 24 August 1950. An amended design, with St Edward's Crown, was sealed on 11 February 1957. This latter design is used for the current capbadge.
Dark green caubeen
Caubeen
The caubeen is an Irish beret. It was formerly worn by peasants; however, it has since been adopted as the headdress of the Irish regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies, where its formal name is the "Bonnet, Irish, Green".-Name:...
s are worn with a St Patrick's blue
St. Patrick's Blue
St. Patrick's blue is a name applied to several shades of blue considered as symbolic of Ireland. In British usage, it refers to various sky blue shades associated with the Order of St. Patrick. In modern usage in the Republic of Ireland, it may be a darker shade. While green is now the usual...
hackle. Pipers wear saffron
Saffron (color)
Saffron is a color that is a tone of golden yellow resembling the color of the tip of the saffron crocus thread, from which the spice saffron is derived.The first recorded use of saffron as a color name in English was in 1200...
kilt
Kilt
The kilt is a knee-length garment with pleats at the rear, originating in the traditional dress of men and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century. Since the 19th century it has become associated with the wider culture of Scotland in general, or with Celtic heritage even more broadly...
s.
History
The origin of the contingent goes back to 1906 when the Secretary of State for War, Lord Haldane appointed a committee to consider the problem of the shortage of officers in the Militia, the Volunteer Force, the Yeomanry and the Reserve of Officers. The committee recommended that an Officers' Training Corps be formed. The Corps was to be in two divisions, a junior division in schools and a senior division in the universities. Prior to this some universities had companies attached to the local battalions of the Volunteer Force, but no such contingent existed at Queen's University.In October 1908 therefore, authorised by Army Order 160 of July 1908, as part the Haldane Reforms
Haldane Reforms
The Haldane Reforms were a series of far-ranging reforms of the British Army made from 1906 to 1912, and named after the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane...
of the Volunteer forces, the contingent was formally established as the Belfast University Contingent of the Officers' Training Corps and incorporated in the new Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
, which was created by the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907
Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907
The Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed the auxiliary forces of the British Army by transferring existing Volunteer and Yeomanry units into a new Territorial Force ; and disbanding the Militia to form a new Special Reserve of the...
.
Parades were held in the old gymnasium which occupied the site of the former Drill Hall on the ground south of the previous Queen's University of Belfast Students' Union. A Drill Hall was subsequently built at the cost of £4000 and officially opened on 20 November 1912 by Brigadier General Count Gleichen
Lord Edward Gleichen
Major-General Lord Albert "Edward" Wilfred Gleichen, KCVO, CB, CMG, DSO was a British courtier and soldier....
, who deputised for the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Ireland.
During the First World War, training was increased for OTC members being commissioned into newly formed battalions. By the end of the war almost 1,200 commissions had been obtained by cadets who had passed through the ranks of the contingent.
In 1930 the Corps' title was changed from Belfast University to Queen's University Belfast Contingent of the Officers' Training Corps.
On the outbreak of the Second World War a Reception Unit and a Joint Recruiting Board were set up in the Drill Hall to deal with the mass of applications for commissions. After the initial rush the contingent settled down to its task of wartime training.
On 1 April 1948 a general re-organisation took place under which the Corps became part of the Territorial Army. Its name was changed at this time to University Training Corps(TA). The Corps reverted to its old title of Officers' Training Corps in 1955.
Today, as part of 38 (Irish) Brigade, Queen's UOTC currently recruits its members from student volunteers attending the Queen's University of Belfast
Queen's University of Belfast
Queen's University Belfast is a public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The university's official title, per its charter, is the Queen's University of Belfast. It is often referred to simply as Queen's, or by the abbreviation QUB...
, the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
and Stranmillis College.
The Corps celebrated its Centenary in October 2008.
Training
OTC members are classed as Officer CadetOfficer Cadet
Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
s (OCdt) and are "Group B" members of the Territorial Army, paid when on duty. As part of "Group B" however they are neither trained for nor liable for mobilised (active) service overseas and do not receive the same annual bounty payment as members of mainstream "Group A" TA units.
Training is structured around the academic year. It consists mainly of training weekends held at military training areas at Ballykinler
Ballykinler
Ballykinler or Ballykinlar is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies 12 kilometres south west of Downpatrick, in the parish of Tyrella and Dundrum. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 348 people. It is within the Down District Council area.It is a linear settlement running...
and Magilligan
Magilligan
Magilligan peninsula lies in the northwest of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, at the entrance to Lough Foyle...
. A 2-week annual camp is also held in the summer. This gives the Officer Cadets a chance to put into practice all the military skills they have learnt in the last year.
OTC members are classed as Officer Cadets (OCdt) and are "Group B" members of the Territorial Army, paid when on duty. As part of "Group B" they are neither trained nor liable for mobilised (active) service. Attendance is totally voluntary and OCdts are free to leave at anytime. There is no requirement for any further contact with the Armed Forces on completion of their studies.
External links
- Queen's University Officers' Training Corps - Official page on the British Army website.
- Army Jobs Northern Ireland - Queen's University Officers' Training Corps - Official website.
- COMEC - Council of Military Education Committees, who liaise between universities and the British Armed Forces.