A big challenge for archivists must be trying to identify the names of persons in school photographs.  This obviously becomes harder in the effluxion of time.  A case in point is the D.C. Cadet Corps photograph of 1929, now, 90 years ago (see the photograph above).  The photograph was taken more-or-less on the site where the John Peake Music School stands today.  Hardly visible in the background to the photograph are the walls of the War Memorial Chapel, at that stage, without the collonade linking it up.  That came only once the Matric Block was completed which was in 1940.

In the photograph, the following can be identified, on the extreme left, standing is Sgt Alex McGregor, and in the same row second from right is Sgt Jim Vlok.  Therefore out of fourteen in that row we are currently able to identify no more than TWO persons.

Seated L to R are Band Sgt O. C. Molyneux, - ??? - Sgt J. C. Hill - S/O E. V. Howes - Capt. B. F. Dodd - Capt. G. D. Charlton - Col. C. E. S. 'Oxo' Bull - Lieut. J. C. Keble - Lieut. R. O. Golden - ??? - C/S/M J. P. Kent - ??? - therefore out of the twelve, nine have been identified.

On the ground in front of Oxo Bull, is Cpl B. F. Parker-Wood (Band) which means that one out of seven have been identified.

Should any ODs be able to provide the information of any of the names outstanding, as they might be able to recognise a father or grandfather etc., this would be greatly appreciated and help a lot for the archives - plse write to Paul Murray, the school archivist at [email protected]  There are 33 members of the Cadet Corps in the photograph and the names registered in this article tally up to 33, whcih means that we have all the names for all the faces that we need, we just need to say who is who!  Just imagine if one day we could publish this photograph with all the names assigned to the persons in the photograph.  We will acknowledge your contributuions!

For the other names not yet mentioned:

According to the March DC Magazine of 1929, members of the cadet Corps for 1929 were: Cpl H. Ashton, Corpl. D. Gau, Corpl G. Brathwaite - they would be promoted to Sgt.

According to the June DC Magazine of 1929, the following were to be promoted to Cpl - T McEwen, E Summer, R Lawton, and J Arnott.

According to the Sept DC Magazine of 1929, S. H. Read was to become a Sgt.

The following to become Corporals - C. Holmes, R Scragg, M le Roux, R Vivian.

Not mentioned but possibly a member of the Cadet Corps was R Freislich who was excellent at shooting.

Other possible names of members of the Cadet Corps for that year are: Wineals, Giddey, Yuill, W. Davis, Hugo, Luyt, Paul, Van Blommenstein, Irvin, Maytham, McCausland. 

To be promoted to Cpl, were: Cadets J. Tyers, J. Attwell, N. Boyes, L. B. Davies, J. Manning, D. Carmichael, G. Hull, P. Stent, A. Morris, P. Ashton, J. Slater, K. Kisch, G. Sutton, O. Strong, and G. Barrie.