Papers relating to the East Midlands Universities Officers' Training Corps, 1914-1985

This collection constitutes papers relating to the East Midlands Universities Officers' Training Corps (formerly University College Nottingham OTC and University of Nottingham OTC). They were compiled (with the exception of UN UU 8/9) by G.J. Eltringham who wrote a short history of the Nottingham branch of the OTC in 1964. Eltringham joined the OTC in 1959 and later became commanding officer and then Honorary Colonel. He held the position of Deputy Registrar within the University of Nottingham. The papers here are not the official archives of the OTC, only either historical items salvaged by Eltringham or records concerned with his own role in the Corps. The collection comprises:

• Four issues of bulletins of University of Nottingham OTC. 1914 (UN UU 8/1);
• Newspaper cuttings relating to University of Nottingham OTC. 1914-1962 (UN UU 8/2);
• File of papers relating to University of Nottingham OTC policy including correspondence with the Ministry of Defence. 1963-1970 (UN UU 8/3);
• File of papers relating to University of Nottingham OTC training programmes and courses. 1961-1965 (UN UU 8/4);
• File of University of Nottingham OTC camp instructions and miscellaneous papers. 1962-1969 (UN UU 8/5);
• File of papers relating to University of Nottingham OTC social functions. 1965-1967 (UN UU 8/6);
• Bundle of University of Nottingham OTC routine orders. 1964-1969 (UN UU 8/7);
• Leaflets about University of Nottingham OTC. Undated and 1961-1962 (UN UU 8/8);
• Photocopy of an attendance list for the University of Nottingham OTC Jubilee Dinner 1959. Undated, c.1985 (UN UU 8/9).
• Volume of Nottingham University's Officers' Training Corps, 1909-1964 by G.J. Eltringham. 1964 (UN UU 8/10);
• Letter from G. Wilson Smith to G.J. Eltringham relating to the history of University of Nottingham OTC. 1965 (UN UU 8/11);
• Copy of 'Reminiscences of University College Nottingham Senior Training Corps and Home Guard Battalion during the period October 1941 and July 1942' by J.H. Dawson. 1996 (UN UU 8/12);
• Copy of notes about University of Nottingham OTC compiled by Major Sam Trotman after the first world war on officers and others that served in the corps. 1964 (UN UU 8/13).

The Officers' Training Corps (OTC) of University College Nottingham (later The University of Nottingham) was formed in 1909. Originally, the college Senate restricted membership to current and past students of the college as well as past pupils of Nottingham High School. The Corps' first commanding officer was Major Samuel Russell Trotman who instigated the publication of a printed 'bulletin' from 1914, and remained in post until 1921. During the First World War, 1,600 OTC trained cadets went into battle. Over 200 lost their lives and 500 were injured.

When the college moved from the centre of Nottingham to the Highfields Campus in 1926, a rifle range and an armoury were constructed for use by the OTC. Training took place on campus or in the countryside near Bulwell, Nottinghamshire. The culmination of a year of training was an annual camp, often away from the county.

During the Second World War the OTC was called upon to be the nucleus of the local Home Guard. The armoury was converted to a guard room and all cadets were required to join the Home Guard. They also conducted training for other Home Guard units in the area and the OTC's commanding officer also had the role of second-in-command of the Nottinghamshire Battalion Home Guard with the rank of Major.

In 1947, the OTC's name changed to University Training Corps (TA); the establishment was reduced to one company of infantry and one of REME; and, from April 1958, members of the Corps were to be enlisted in the Territorial Army. In 1949, training of women officers began at Nottingham and in 1950 an Intelligence Corps sub-unit was established. The University Training Corps moved from University Park to Broadgate, Beeston in 1954 and in January 1955 its name reverted to Officers' Training Corps. The Signals and intelligence sub-units were closed down soon after as part of an economy drive within the British Army.

After a period of decline in the 1960s, the OTC was reorganised to incorporate students from other universities in the region. It became the East Midlands Universities Officers' Training Corps and increasingly began sharing accommodation and equipment with the Nottingham branch of the Territorial Army. The OTC retains its affiliation with The University of Nottingham.

The collection has been divided by document type into series. Within these series, items have been arranged chronologically.

ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers.

LANGUAGE: English

This description is the only finding aid available for the collection. Copyright in the description belongs to The University of Nottingham.

REPROGRAPHIC: Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.

COPYRIGHT: Permission to make published use of any material from this collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the reader.

The collection was acquired in four parts by the University of Nottingham's Department of Manuscripts between November 1970 and December 2000.

• The University of Nottingham; Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections: Records of the Military Education Committee. 1924-19 Reference: UR 17

• Collections of records of OTC units at other UK universities are recorded on the National Register of Archives.