Colour Sergeant.
1 Colour Sergeant.
© 2026 Zoe. All rights reserved.
Zoe is a legal information platform. Always consult the Federal Register of Legislation for authoritative text.
Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
These provisional regulations prescribe how Cadet and Senior Cadet Corps are to be formed and run across the Commonwealth: who may join, unit sizes, drill schedules, inspections, arms custody and safety, officer appointments, promotions and conditional allowances. They affect schoolboys and senior cadets, teachers who act as officers or instructors, State Education Departments and Defence administrators because the rules create approval duties, record‑keeping, safety responsibilities and payments tied to units being certified "effective."
Want the full deep dive?
Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.
Direct links to the current provisions in Cadet Corps Regulations (Provisional).
1 Colour Sergeant.
3 Sergeants.
4 Corporals.
2 Buglers or Drummers.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
STATUTORY RULES
1906. No. 31.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACTS 1903–1904.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the following Regulations under the Defence Acts 1903–1904 should come into operation on and from the 1st May, 1906, and make the Regulations to come into operation as Provisional Regulations accordingly.
Dated this seventh day of April, One thousand nine hundred and six.
NORTHCOTE,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
T. PLAYFORD.
Cadet Corps.
Regulations.
Cadets, not exceeding 20 per cent. of the establishment, may be borne as supernumerary after leaving school provided they come within the cadet age, and in the case of a detachment not being up to its establishment a proportion of cadets who are not attending school may be included in that establishment, on the condition that this would only apply in places where Senior Cadet Corps have not been established.
With the approval of the Education Department of the State concerned, detachments may be formed in schools where a teacher is qualified to act as officer in charge pending the appointment of an officer, or, where the services of a Warrant or Non-commissioned Officer of the Instructional Staff are available for drill purposes, and where there are not less than twenty boys who are prepared to obtain the approved uniform, and who are of the prescribed age and height. Senior Cadet Companies may be formed in schools where there are not less than sixty boys over the age of sixteen years and of sufficient physique.
No boy shall be enrolled unless 4 ft. 6 in. in height in stockinged feet, and also physically fit. Each boy must have the consent of his parents or guardians to become a member. Commanding Officers will be held responsible that these provisions are strictly carried out.
Cadet Corps shall be inspected once every six months by the Commandant or an officer detailed from District Head-Quarters as may be arranged in each case with the Education Department.
The detachments shall be drilled twice a week, each drill not to be less than half-an-hour, or once each week of three-quarters of an hour’s duration, the time for the drill to be fixed by the Education Department.
The detachments shall be formed into companies and battalions in suitable localities, and should, if possible, assemble for battalion drill not less than four times a year, two of which shall be half-yearly inspections, the dates and hours of parade to be approved by the Education Department.
Arms and accoutrements shall be kept in the school, and be used only for drill or rifle purposes. The Head Master shall be held responsible for the preservation of all Government property issued to the Cadet Corps in his school, reasonable wear and tear excepted.
No cadet shall use a rifle for any other purpose than parades, drills, or target practices, in each case under the command of an Officer of Cadets or an Officer or Non-commissioned Officer of the Cadet Instructional Staff.
Cadets must appear on all occasions either in the authorized uniform, or in purely civilian dress.
Officers may be appointed by the Governor-General in Council on the recommendation of the District Commandant, provided that in the case of candidates in the employ of the Education Department the approval of the Department shall have been previously obtained. Officers of Cadets will rank with Officers of the Military Forces, but as junior in their grades but such rank will not entitle any Officer of Cadet Corps to assume command over any officer of another branch of the service. Officers shall provide their own uniform of the regulation pattern.
All applications for the formation of detachments must be forwarded through the Commandant for the approval of the Governor-General in Council, in accordance with para. 2.
Arms and stores issued by the Government shall be inspected by an Officer or Non-commissioned Officer of the Cadet Instructional Staff at least every six months, and, where there is evidence of neglect or wilful damage, the stores may be at once called in.
Every member shall, on demand, deliver up to the appointed person in good order and condition, fair wear and tear only excepted, any Government property which may have been issued to him.
An Officer (or a Non-commissioned Officer of the Cadet Instructional Staff) must be present with the Cadets at target practice and exercise the utmost vigilance to prevent accidents, observing that each cadet handles his rifle with the care necessary to prevent the possibility of danger to himself and others. The ammunition must be retained in the possession of the Officer (or Non-commissioned Officer of the Cadet Instructional Staff), only the requisite number of rounds necessary for the practice being handed to each Cadet, and at the conclusion of the practice every precaution must be taken that none remain in their possession. Arms and pouches must be examined before the practice commences, and at the conclusion of the firing at each range, and before leaving the ranges. The Officer (or Non-Commissioned Officer of the Cadet Instructional Staff) in charge will be held personally responsible that all target practices are in every respect regularly carried out, and that the necessary flags, discs, &c., are provided, and in order for use. A Cadet must not be permitted to act as a marker.
The appointment of Non-Commissioned Officers and the power in regard to ordinary promotions of Non-commissioned Officers and to reduction to a lower grade or to the ranks will be exercised by the Commanding Officer of the battalion. The power of discharge for misconduct, &c., will also be exercised by this Officer, subject to the approval of the Officer Commanding the Cadets in each State.
All correspondence relative to Cadet Detachments shall be addressed to the Officer Commanding Cadets in that State or to the Instructional Staff Officer, as may be arranged by the Commanding Officer, except that Officers Commanding Battalions will correspond direct with District Head-Quarters on matters in connexion with money or stores.
Uniform.—The uniform of Cadets shall be of a pattern in each State as recommended by the Education Department, and approved by the Military Board. All Cadets must wear the numeral of the battalion to which they belong on the shoulder straps, and a special school badge, not exceeding 1 inch square, on each side of the collar, in front, may be worn.
The minimum establishment of a Company except as otherwise approved, shall be—
3 Lieutenants.
1 Colour Sergeant.
3 Sergeants.
4 Corporals.
2 Buglers or Drummers.
47 Cadets, of whom 4 may be Lance Corporals, if required.
Total 60 of all ranks.
Proportionate numbers in detachments or companies allowed, Officers and Non-commissioned Officers pro rata as approved by the Officer Commanding Cadets. Bands may be formed as approved by the Commanding Officer of Cadets in each State.
(1) To boys who have been effective for one year.
(2) To boys who have been effective for two years or more.
The various battalions shall be commanded by officers recommended by the Commanding Officer of Cadets after the concurrence of the Education Department and appointed by the District Commandant. Battalion Commanders, if of the rank of captain, may be recommended for the rank of major after three years’ service as such, provided that they have passed the required examination. Where a battalion consists of at least four companies, the two senior lieutenants after two years’ service, on passing the prescribed examination may, within the establishment, be recommended for the rank of captain. Cadet Officers who were on the Unattached List at the date of the coming into force of these regulations are eligible for transfer to the Active List, subject to the recommendation of the Commanding Officer of Cadets after concurrence of the Education Department.
Commissioned Officers unable to maintain an effective detachment, or to remain actively connected with the Cadet Corps, will be placed on the Unattached List of the Cadet Corps. Failing to return to active duty with the Cadet Corps within three years, they will be retired.
During the month of May in each year an allowance (subject to the amount being voted by Parliament) will be paid to the following officers, within the authorized establishment:—
| To the Officer Commanding Cadets in each State................... | £20 |
|---|---|
| To the Instructor of Musketry in each State........................ | 15 |
| To each Officer Commanding a Battalion......................... | 10 |
| To each Officer of the Battalion Staff (except the O.C.). as provided for in the Establishment | 7 |
| To each Officer Commanding a Company........................ | 5 |
| To each Officer Commanding a Cadet Detachment.................. | 3 |
and amounts as under will be paid (subject to vote by Parliament) to each detachment certified to as effective by the Commanding Officer, and approved by the District Commandant:—
| Each detachment of a minimum strength of 20..................... | £3 |
|---|---|
| ” ” ” 30...................... | 4 |
| ” ” ” 40 or over................. | 5 |
This allowance will be devoted to the payment of expenses connected with musketry practices, bands, drills, camps, and exercises of the detachment, and must be duly accounted for by the officer in charge. On no account is any allowance to be given to a cadet.
To be effective 80 per cent. of each detachment must have completed the musketry course laid down.
In order that the above amounts may be claimed, the following conditions must be observed:—
(a) Each officer must provide his own uniform of the approved pattern, and must have been appointed to his battalion, company, or detachment three months previous to the 31st May.
(b) The allowance to any officer may be stopped or reduced at the discretion of the Commandant if, in the opinion of the Inspecting Officer, the battalion, company, or detachment, is not in a satisfactory state, and the Education Department will be informed.
(c) Officers in command of detachments must keep a complete record of all drills and rifle practices of their detachments, to be produced at the half-yearly inspection.
(d) No payments will be made to officers of detachments which have been disbanded during the year, or to any officer unconnected with an effective detachment.
(e) In the event of an officer in command of a company or detachment being transferred or removed, he shall render to his successor, or to the Head Teacher, a true and correct account of all vouchers, receipts, and expenditure, together with the balance of effective allowance unexpended, before being relieved of his responsibility.
(f) Every officer in command of a detachment shall sign the approved document making himself personally responsible for the disbursement of the effective allowance.
(g) The effective allowance for officers and detachments, if approved by the Commandant will be drawn by the officer in charge of each detachment.
(h) All claims for effective allowance must be rendered on the forms supplied, and before being paid must be approved by the Commandant.
ESTABLISHMENT OF A BATTALION OF CADETS.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr style="height:1pt"><td style="width:37.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"></span></p></td><td style="width:9.14%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"></span></p></td><td colspan="4" style="border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Personnel.</span></p></td><td style="width:10.14%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:1pt"><td style="width:37.42%; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Rank.</span></p></td><td style="width:9.14%; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Officers</span></p></td><td style="width:9.52%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Warrant Officers.</span></p></td><td style="width:13.76%; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Staff-Sergeants and Sergeants</span></p></td><td style="width:11.2%; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Drummers or Buglers.</span></p></td><td style="width:8.8%; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Rank and File</span></p></td><td style="width:10.14%; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Total.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:1pt"><td style="width:37.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Detail attached to Head-Quarters—</span></p></td><td style="width:9.14%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"></span></p></td><td style="width:9.52%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"></span></p><
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.