CORPS

The reverend George Fairfowl MacArthur was ordained in Sydney in 1848, and was that year appointed Garrison Chaplain at Victoria Barracks, Paddington. The regiment in residence was the 11th (North Devonshire) regiment of Foot, which was the first regiment to be garrisoned at Victoria Barracks. The North Devons earned high praise from the populace of Sydney from their civil aid work, and the example of their "carriage, precision, alertness morals, and corporate action" so impressed their chaplain that it was to influence his later life.

In 1852 the Revered MacArthur was appointed Minister at St. Mark's Church, Darling Point and in the parsonage he established the St. Mark's Collegiate School. The school grew and moved to Macquarie Fields. Military drill had been introduced to the curriculum of some schools in Sydney as early as 1834, and in 1860 seventy-two pupils of The King's School were enrolled in the Parramatta Voluntary Rifles which formed part of the Volunteer Force of New South Wales. Members provided their own uniform which consisted of a blue serge coat, white trousers and a peaked cap.

Meanwhile, William Dalmas, Senior Master at St. Mark's had been on a visit to England where he had observed the greater public schools operating cadet training schemes. He returned fired with enthusiasm for the benefits which the boys derived from such training. The Reverend MacArthur needed little persuasion to write to the Officer Commanding, Volunteer Force, New South Wales, in February 1866 requesting permission to institute a Corps of Cadets at the school. Approval to raise the unit was granted on 19th March 1866 and in June, Dalmas was appointed Officer Commanding the Cadet Corps, with the rank of Captain. Its objectives were as follows:

1. 1.To train boys in the use of firearms
   

2. 2.To develop self-discipline (after the pattern of Army discipline)
   

3. 3.To encourage Leadership
   

4. 4.To be of service to King and Country whenever called upon
   

For two years the Cadet Corps featured prominently in shooting and military parades, and in 1867 took part in the Queens Birthday celebrations in Sydney. The glory of St. Mark's was short-lived. In 1868 the Reverend MacArthur was appointed Headmaster of The King's School and Dalmas and about 40 pupils from St. Mark's transferred with him. The continuity of the cadet unit was preserved and in August 1868 royal assent was granted to change the title to "The King's School Cadet Corps".

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