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Call Number: Ua 41, Ua Sc 51, Pc 126 (A.91-35)
Title: Canadian Officers Training Corps fonds.
Dates: 1914-1966.
Extent: 0.94 m of textual records. -- 126 photographs.
Administrative history: With the outbreak of World War I, the University Council appointed a Committee on Military Instruction which authorized the teaching of military science and tactics. A university corps was organized in the fall semester of the 1914-1915 year with 64 students taking extra classes to qualify as officers. On March 1, 1915, the Canadian Officers Training Corps (C.O.T.C.) of the University of Manitoba was established. Eight companies of 60 men of all ranks were formed with Professor E.P. Fetherstonhaugh as captain and adjutant. In 1915, the Western Universities Battalion was formed with the University of Manitoba contributing one company and one platoon. With the introduction of conscription legislation in 1917, military training was made compulsory for all male students. After the First World War, the C.O.T.C. program was reorganized, in 1920, by Lt. Col. N.B. Maclean, but it continued in relative obscurity for almost twenty years.
With the outbreak of World War II, the C.O.T.C. was quickly revitalized and its membership mushroomed, from its peace time level of 150 to 800. The Senate also passed regulations relating to academic credits or bonuses for students who joined the C.O.T.C. By 1942, all male students were once again required to enlist in a compulsory programme of military training. The C.O.T.C. continued the work of military training on a voluntary basis after World War II with new modernized and attractive programmes, but with the return of peace its popularity rapidly declined.
Custodial history: The fonds was donated to University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections in 1991 by John Steele.
Scope and content: The fonds includes photographs, military manuals and other publications, examinations, records of regimental funds, correspondence, news clippings, war diaries, newsletters, reports, and historical notes on the C.O.T.C. at the University of Manitoba.
Source of supplied title: Title based on provenance of fonds.
Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this material.
Finding aid: A printed finding aid is available in the Archives reading room and an on-line finding aid is available at the link below:
We greatly acknowledge the financial support of the Manitoba Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism and the Heritage Grants Advisory Council in the creation of this finding aid.
Digitized Material
UM Digital Collections: Canadian Officer Training Corps fonds