Ridley Hall, Cambridgeshire: Cadets Produce Satirical Magazines

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The No. 2 Officer Cadet Battalion, known as “F” company, trained in Cambridge, initially at Christ’s College, then at Ridley Hall Theological College. The company had a mix of nationalities, including South Africans, Australians, Canadians and British. Their creativity and satire emerged in two publications: “The Blimp” in 1917, and “A Medley in F” the following year. Printed by W Heffer and sons in Cambridge, the cadets sold advertisements to various businesses in the city. Poems, articles, cartoons, and a musical composition called “The Blimp” (originally meaning a non-rigid floating airship) gave an insight to the spirit of the men during their time in Cambridge. Many of the items were just signed with an initial to protect the identity of any cadet who may have overstepped the mark. Development Officer Elaine Thornton from Ridley Hall discovered the magazines during a search through the archives. Location: Ridley Hall, Newnham Walk, Cambridge CB3 9HG Image shows the front cover of “The Blimp” Photograph courtesy of Elaine Thornton