Sea Cadet uniforms
Thanks to Britain's naval traditions, sea cadet training for boys of school age has a long history. For many decades sea cadets wore the standard naval 'square rig' uniform, and it is only in recent years that this has given way to a different style of dress. Naval sections of Combined Cadet Forces are usually smaller than air sections and much smaller than army sections.
These public school cadets of the late 1950s are seen undergoing boat training, dressed in smart square rig uniforms. A number of the cadets are also wearing white webbing. Traditional naval uniform such as this requires some time and effort to wear correctly. The bell-bottomed trousers should have seven horizontal creases and the blue and white collar three vertical creases. White webbing, if worn, soils very easily and needs regular cleaning and blancoing to look its best. Square rig also features a cord lanyard and black 'silk' which have to be positioned correctly.
In recent years, school sea cadets have largely abandoned traditional naval square rig and now parade in a navy blue service-style pullover with matching trousers and a beret. The picture above shows cadets from all three service sections, with naval cadets left, RAF cadets centre and Army cadets right. In many CCF naval sections, the venerable square rig uniform is nowadays confined to cadet guards of honour and marching bands where it still makes a splendid impression.
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Eton Suit..........Military Foundations
The Traditional English Schoolboy