Graduation Activities
Graduation parade
11 June 1965
End of a long hard year, the parade marked the passing out of the surviving 76 cadets, including 10 from New Zealand and two from the Philippines. With 150 on parade, it was a marked difference from barely a third of that number at the beginning of the decade.
A feature of OCS graduations was that cadets' guests were given pride of place in covered seating at the front of the ground, in contrast to the disgraceful situation at RMC where they were progressively moved to the side of the parade ground without cover to make way for increasing swarms of self-important guests of college, military and academic staff.
At the conclusion of the parade the cadets were presented with certificates by the reviewing officer and prepared for their graduation ball.
Photo: R.L. Sayce
Graduation certificates and prizes
14 June 1956
Maj Gen R.G. Pollard CBE DSO Master General of the Ordnance, later Chief of the General Staff, in the tight confines of the main lecture room presents his graduation certificate to I.G. Darlington, with staff and official guests in the background.
Identified graduates from the back:
M.A Count (December 1956) B.E.J. Johnson GE. Erickson K.M. McDonald R.G. Althaus
I. T. Stewart R.A. Brazier
P.J. Smith J.R. Wilcock J.L. Mitchell J.M. Oxenham
OCS Scrapbook 1956
Afternoon tea for the graduates and guests 11 June 1959
At the conclusion of the graduation parade, staff, students, guests and families gathered at the cadets' mess for afternoon tea, with the regular performer at these ceremonies, the Southern Command Band playing a musical accompaniment after its efforts on the parade itself.
Following the tea it was preparation for the evening ball, and pre-ball parties, and some last minute packing for those not confident of their capability the following morning.
Photo: R.L. Bricknell
Graduation ball
14 June 1956
Midnight on graduation night and mothers, wives and sweethearts pin the pips on the epaulettes of the newly commissioned officers, their prize after a year of blood, sweat and tears and for most, at least retrospectively, a lot of good memories enhanced by the blurring effect and selective recall of time and the sentimentalism of maturity. Featured are J.L. Mitchell and J.M. Oxenham
After the ceremonies relaxation was complete for the ex-cadets, until the following day of the commandant's closing address, and their march out for leave and their first postings.
For the junior class there was leave and return for their turn at running the Corps and trying to make the next graduation ball.
OCS Scrapbook 1956