Military Education CommitteeNews archive

Members of Glasgow and Strathclyde URNU, UOTC, UAS and MEC attended a ceremony for the planting of willow trees gifted by Erskine Hospital to the University of Glasgow.

Erskine is a veterans charity founded in 1916 as the Princess Louise Scottish Hospital for Limbless Sailors and Soldiers by Sir William Macewen, who was also Regius Professor of Surgery at the University of Glasgow. The new hospital desperately needed resources to produce artificial limbs for incoming patients. Macewen asked Sir Donald MacAlister, Principal of the University, for the willow trees then growing on campus: the pliable and tough willow was suitable for the manufacture of artificial limbs, as well as cricket bats. Sir Donald said that he did not think there would be any objections but told him that he should ask University Court at its next meeting. Sir William replied that if there would be no objections he shouldn't need to wait to take the trees. That afternoon Sir Donald was out for a walk – and was surprised to see that the two willow trees Macewen had pointed out had already been chopped down!

At the Remembrance Service and Parade in 2015, Macewen’s latter-day successor belatedly petitioned the University for permission to remove the willows and Erskine presented the University with replacement saplings: these were ready to be planted in August. Officer Cadets Barnaby Rose, Charles Mawer and Ryan Ward are pictured with Andrew Robertson (Chairman of Erskine) and Professor John Briggs (Clerk of Senate & Vice Principal), together with one of the willows.

The UOTC Gun Troop were appointed by Scottish Command to fire the 21 gun Royal Salute at Stirling Castle to mark The Queen's Birthday on 21 April:

MEC member, Jim Castle, engages in full-on activity in seasonal weather conditions at the UOTC Spring Camp at Otterburn training area:

Major General Mike Riddell-Webster CBE DSO Late BW, Director College of Management and Technology, and Professor Kenneth Miller, Vice-Principal, signed a partnership agreement to educate and support students from Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College preparing for a career as a technical officer or engineer in the armed services or Ministry of Defence.

Students will attend selected degree courses in a range of subjects at Strathclyde and be assigned to the DTUS Trojan Squadron in Newcastle, while receiving weekly training support from the Strathclyde URNU, UOTC and UAS.

Officer Cadet training is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute towards an Award or Certificate in Management and Leadership.

Glasgow University, and from 2014 Glasgow Caledonian University, students who successfully complete each stage of military training, or are appointed to positions of responsibility in their University Service Unit, will have this information included on their Higher Education Achievement Report when they graduate.

Cadet Warrant Officer Peter Hastie is the winner of the Purdie Sword for the best cadet in Scotland & Northern Ireland. He is currently studying aeronautical engineering at Strathclyde and joining the Air Squadron.

Mid Amy Bolland is awarded the Committee Prize for 2011.

The Prize encourages leadership through military expertise, public service commitment and Service Unit activities. It is awarded to the Officer Cadet who demonstrates outstanding achievement.

HMS Smiter with her student crew, and the Royal Navy's other P2000 patrol vessels, take to the Solent for SQUADEX, one of the largest squadron exercises and manoeuvres in 25 years.

UOTC win Military Skills and take the overall title at Exercise Northern Lights held at Garelochhead Training Camp, HMNB Clyde and The Lake District.

Pipes and Drums win UOTC Competition at Stirling Castle.

UOTC Engineer Troop dominate the Assault Boat Race to take that title in the Combat Engineer Competition. They came fourth overall, and highest placed Scottish UOTC, out of the nineteen University OTCs and defence training squadrons which took part in two days of gruelling competition at the Combat Engineer School.

July 2010 APO Michael Plank is awarded the Committee Prize for 2010.

The Prize encourages leadership through military expertise, public service commitment and Service Unit activities. It is awarded to the Officer Cadet who demonstrates outstanding achievement.

March 2009 - UOTC win Drums and Pipes, Drill and Tug o' War at Exercise Northern Lights

Pipes and Drums come third in the Army Championship and win Territorial Army Championship.

June 2008 - The Pipers' Trail and Cathedral Service celebrate the Centenary of the Territorial Army, Reserve Forces and Cadets.

July 2008 - The Universities Officers' Training Corps' Centenary Parade.

April 2008 - UOTC win Drums and Pipes, Drill and Tug o' War at Exercise Northern Lights.

March 2008 - Engineer Troop dominate Combat Engineer Competition. The Troop won the Endurance Event, Command Task and Assault Boat Race, and came third in the Bridging Race to take the Overall Winner title after two days of gruelling competition. Aberdeen came second of the sixteen University OTCs which took part in the event at the Combat Engineer School.

• October 2007 - Cambrian Patrol exercise Bronze award
• June 2007 - UOTC Summer Camp in France
• June 2007 - OTC Summer Camp in France
• March 2007 - Pipes and Drums win Territorial Army Championship
• March 2007 - Engineer Troop win Endurance Event and Command Task at Combat Engineer Competition

October 2006 - Cambrian Patrol exercise Silver award

July 2006 - Expedition to Wyoming

The Air Squadron's main summer adventurous training expedition was Exercise Tartan Teton, which saw thirteen students and five staff and instructors, including a specialist from RAF Leuchars, walking and climbing in the Teton National Park in Wyoming, USA . The Tetons were chosen for their outstanding natural beauty yet demanding environment, with the chance for students to learn about scaling glaciers, ice and snow, and to achieve some personal goals.

The Park offers a lifetime of trekking and climbing, and after some local warm up walks we attempted to climb both Teewinnot at 12,700 ft. and Grand Teton at 13,775 ft. Teewinnot proved elusive to the three groups on the first attempt and, with one student falling ill at 11,000 ft., six students were forced to spend a night on the mountain and continue their slow descent the next day. The student made a full recovery and was able to continue with the expedition. We had better success climbing Grand Teton and fifteen of the group scaled this summit, which involved three long days, a camp at 11,000 ft. and a climb including the use of ropes, ice axes, scrambling and proper climbing around and up ledges. After summiting, only the 60 m. abseil remained to get down.

Four of the group then made a second attempt on Teewinnot and were successful in scaling the East Face and returning after a fourteen hour day.

July 2006 - Gun Troop win King George VI Cup

April 2006 - Queen's Birthday

Queens Birthday

Our students played an important role in the celebrations to mark The Queen's Eightieth Birthday on 21 April. The Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Officers Training Corps Gun Troop were appointed by Scottish Command to fire the 21 gun Royal Salute at Stirling Castle . This was a singular honour and was the first time the students had sole responsibility for firing the salute, which is usually carried out by the Gunners of the Royal Artillery. The Inspecting Officer was Mrs. Marjory McLachlan, Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire, and hosting officer was Brigadier Davey Kirk, Commander of Scottish Brigade. This was the first significant event at the Castle for the new Royal Regiment of Scotland. The only other salute in Scotland was at Edinburgh Castle.

Music was provided by our OTC's Pipes and Drums, who are the present overall British Regular and Territorial Army Pipe Band Champions. The next day they confirmed their position among the Celtic Universities by retaining the OTC Pipe Band competition at Exercise Northern Lights at Redford Cavalry Barracks.

October 2005 - Champion Army Band

When the students of the local Universities Officers Training Corps entered the Army Piping and Drumming Championship, it was the taking part that mattered. The students, who practice on a part time basis, were honoured to merely compete against the Army's top bands. These included the prestigious regular bands of the Argylls, Royal Irish and Royal Scots amongst many other famous names. The Scots Guards Pipe Band had even been detached from ceremonial duties in London to spend a solid week of practice at the competition location in the Edinburgh based Army School of Piping. The pride of regiments rested on their performance in this, the army's most important pipe band competition.

Competition was intense over the weekend, which ran from the 7th until the 9th October. However to the astonishment of audience and competitors, when the winners of the Army Pipe Band Champions were announced, it was the name Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Officers Training Corps that was called. Although several pipe majors of the regular bands vowed that it must never happen again, the stunning win is a tribute to outstanding talent and hard work that Glasgow's OTC students have been able to produce.

Pictured is the band's Territorial Army Pipe Major, Sergeant "Wullie" McIntyre, (left of picture looking slightly stunned and pleased), collecting the Army Pipe Band Champions Trophy from Major General WEB Loudon CBE, Scotland's highest ranking Army Officer.