A Brief History the Unit

Cardiff Unit was formed on 6 October 1916 by Lt Cdr J R Schofield. TS Cardiff has a Corps number of 68 and although not fully proven, it is believed that the unit started in the Old Drill Hall in Cecil Street, Roath, with its first Commanding Officer being Lt Cdr Schofield. Little is fully known of the unit’s history as records have been lost in moves and changes, but if you can fill in any of the gaps, please contact the CO at Unit Headquarters.

In 1939, at the outbreak of war, many officers, instructors and cadets were called up into the Services. After the war, in 1946, the unit moved to the Royal Naval Reserve buildings in Cardiff Docks. Following demobilization, many previous officers and instructors returned and resumed their cadet work and TS Cardiff flourished.

The Girls Nautical Training Corps was formed in the City in the late 1940s, and in 1961 the Unit again moved, this time to Maindy Army Barracks. In the early 1970s a new Headquarters was planned, and following fund raising, the project was completed in 1976 and the new Headquarters opened in Ferry Road.

Girls joined the Sea Cadets at T.S. Cardiff in the mid-1960s, but still retained a separate identity until 1980.

By the late 1990s, it became clear that the Unit would need to move again, as the surrounding area was being redeveloped into a leisure complex. The Unit was twice moved to temporary buildings in Cardiff Docks until finally, in 2004, the Unit was given land next to the Seamen’s Mission, and this is where you will find the Unit today.

The Unit today plays a large part in helping the community, the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, and the Festival of Remembrance and Remembrance Day Parades in and around the City are always fully attended. In over 90 years service, Cardiff Unit has shown that it will always live up to its adopted motto of ‘TO THE LIMIT AND BEYOND’ and will continue to do so.

Founder of the Cardiff Sea Cadet Corp

Commander James Rimmer Schofield

Extracts taken from the Souvenir of the Cardiff Naval Brigade Booklet produced in January 1918 and loaned to TS Cardiff by Mrs Joanne Burgess the Great Great Granddaughter of Commander James Rimmer Schofield the Founder of TS Cardiff Unit 68 Sea Cadet Corps

"Acting-Commander James Rimmer Schofield was born in Rochdale and comes from an old Lancashire family. He is well known in South Wales as the Lancashire armature cricketer, and comes from a patriotic family. Three of his step-brothers born in the United States of America are now fighting in France for America. Mr Schofield as an old Volunteer offered himself to the admiralty the day War was declared “For Active Service”. Other members of his family are large merchants in Lancashire employing 2000 hands: and when Lloyd George sent out for Munitions, this firm turned out all their plant, valued at over £100,000 and built up from their own plans machinery to make Hand Grenades, Shells and Gas Bombs. They have up to date sent out over 2,000,000 Grenades and 1,000,000 Shells and Bombs. In addition to this the Commander has sent from his Colleges over 550 trained youths, this with 150 from the Naval Boys Brigade is a record that requires beating. His ambition is to have at least 400 Cardiff Lads in the Navy Blue and to make the Brigade THE STRONGEST in Great Britain.

The Cardiff Naval Brigade was formed in September 1916 by Commander James Rimmer Schofield and the reason for the formation was that Mr Schofield while endeavouring to induce youths under Military Age to join the V.T.C found that a number of youths would prefer to join a brigade if they could join the “Senior Service” Mr Schofield then approached the Commanding Officer of the V.T.C to see if it was passable for him to form a Company to work with the V.T.C and wear Navy Blue, this he was told was against the regulations and could not be permitted. Then came the Gallant Action of “JACK CORNWELL VC” on HMS Chester. This decided Mr Schofield to form a Naval Brigade at Cardiff so he approached the Right Hon Lord Rhondda and JP Cadogan Esq telling them what he had decided to do and asked for their assistance, both gentlemen assured Mr Schofield that they would be pleased to help in such a patriotic movement. The brigade was then formed and affiliated with the honourable Institution “The Navy League” on November 6th 1916 by December 14th there was a strength of 95, and those were inspected by The Field Marshal Lord French at Cathays Park, who complimented the brigade on their smartness. It should be stated here that Commander Lord Tredegar RNVR became the Honorary Commander.

By February 1917 everyone one of the 95 inspected by The Field Marshal Lord French had joined one of the services. Mr Schofield had then to set about forming another Brigade: this he did by the end of 1917 the Brigade was 150 strong which has since been increased to 200 with a Band of 25 making Cardiff one of the strongest Brigades in Great Britain.

During 1917 30% of the Brigade joined one of the services at their own request. No compulsion or persuasion of any kind is used to induce a member of the Brigade to join any Service, but should he wish to do so and his conduct has been satisfactory while a member of the Brigade the Commander does all he possibly can to assist him On February 20th 1918 the Brigade formed the Royal Guard in the Castle Grounds during the first visit to Cardiff of H.R.H The Prince of Wales"

Unit Location

	Cecil Street
	Craddock Street
1939	Penarth Road
	Old HMS Cambria building, Cardiff Docks
1951-1961	YMCA buildings
1961-1976	Maindy Barracks (from 28/08/61)
1976-2000	Ferry Road (own building)
2000-2002	Old transport buildings in Cardiff Docks
2003-2003	Bungalow in MV St Helena car park, Cardiff Docks
2004	M.V. Seamark, Cardiff Docks
2004-Present	Own Unit buildings (next to the Mission to Seafarers), Cardiff Docks
2011	Ty Llewellyn

TS Cardiff’s Commanding Officers

1916-1923	Lt Cdr J R Schofield
1923-1924	Lt Cdr C Henry Wade
1924-1928	Lt Cdr A A Fownes
1928-1939	Gp Capt O C Purnell (RAF)
1939-1948	Lt Cdr Ben Ridge
1948-1956	Lt Harry Griffiths
1956-1968	Lt Cdr R H Hustwick
1968-1972	Lt M Harmer
1972-1984	Lt Cdr Viv Evans
1984	Lt R Keane
1984-1996	Lt A Greedy
1996-1997	Lt Celia Topping
1997-2001	Lt Robert Keane
2002-Present	CPO Michael T Dixon

Patrons of TS Cardiff

1977-Present

Capt N Lloyd-Edwards

Presidents of TS Cardiff

1958-1975	Sir Charles R Wheeler CBE
1975-1984	Capt Sir N Lloyd-Edwards CBE
1984-Present	Capt P W James MBE

Chairman of TS Cardiff

1948-1950	Lt A MacTaggart-Short
1950-	Alderman R C Robinson
-1966	Alderman Cazenave
1966-	T C Stone
	Mr M Edwards
	T C Stone
	Lt Cdr R H Hustwick
1973-1977	Capt A V Rowles
1977-1979	Mr B Mullins
1979-1981	Mrs Mary Greedy
1981-1984	Mr T Hillier
1984-1984	Mr P Ford
1984-2008	Lt Cdr David Walton
2008-Present	Mr Neil Griffiths

TS Cardiff Cadet of the Year

	Cadet of the Year	Junior Cadet of the Year
1991	Catherine Oliver
1992	Victoria Eveleigh
1993	Tony Haden
1994
1995
1996	Andrew Wheeler
1997	Joanne Harvey
1998	Sinead Eley
1999	Richard Normansell
2000	Paul Goode & James Jackson	Emily Bubbins
2001
2002	Ann-Marie McConnell & Emily Bubbins	Bethan McConnell
2003	Gemma Thomas	Hariette Standish & Eifion Edwards
2004	David Goode	Matthew Grovell
2005	Joseph Ward	Ellery O’Neil
2006	Rebecca Callan	Olivia Stickland
2007	Nicole Griffiths	Steven Holsburt
2008	Matthew Grovell	Steven Holsburt
2009	Gareth Griffiths	Joshua Biundo

TS Cardiff Honours

1969	Pennant
1970		Burgee
1971	Pennant
1972	Pennant
1973	Pennant
1974	Pennant
1975	Pennant
1976	Pennant
1977	Pennant
1978		Burgee
1979		Burgee
1980		Burgee
1981		Burgee
1982		Burgee
1983		Burgee
1984	Pennant
1985		Burgee
1986	Pennant
1993	Pennant
1994	Pennant
1995	Pennant
1997	Pennant
2000	Pennant
2001	Pennant
2002	Pennant
2003	Pennant
2004	Pennant
2005	Pennant
2006	Pennant
2007		Burgee
2008		Burgee
2009		Burgee
2010	Pennant