Marist Brothers School cadets, c1910

Uniformed school cadets in the grounds of the Marist Brothers School at Whanganui, circa 1910.

Other school cadet images

In 1909 the Defence Act introduced compulsory military training in New Zealand. Nearly all boys aged between 12 and 14 were required to undergo 52 hours of physical training each year as junior cadets under the supervision of their teachers. The junior cadet system was scrapped in 1912 and replaced by physical drill run by the Department of Education. Senior cadets were transferred to the control of the Defence Department and the age of compulsory military training was raised to 14. A number of schools retained their cadet force.