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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.
Commander James R Schofield
The Founder of TS Cardiff
Sea Cadet Corps Unit 68
 "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"
Extracts from a 1918 program on TS Cardiff
Loaned to the unit by Mrs Joanne Burgess the
Great Great Grandaughter of Cdr JR Schofield
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 |
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