ARMY cadets stood to attention last week as they were rebadged as ‘The Wolves’ in a ceremony which took them back to Loretto School’s regimental roots.

The Musselburgh school’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) army section has re-affiliated to the recently formed Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, which was created out of the restructuring of the yeomanry regiments.

One of the army’s reserve light cavalry regiments, nicknamed The Wolves, it has squadrons in Ayr, Belfast, Cupar and Edinburgh.

This takes the school back to its historical roots as it had links with the Lothian and Berwickshire Yeomanry.

The ceremony was led by Lieutenant Colonel Toby Gaddum, Officer Commanding Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, who presented the senior cadets of the army section with their new headdress – a grey beret with a wolf’s head cap badge.

Jonathan Hewat, Loretto’s director of communications, said: “Prior to 1910, Loretto had no direct affiliation to the War Office but did have links to Berwickshire Yeomanry as many pupils were from their home recruitment area.

“In 1910, Loretto formed an officer training corps, led largely by Archibald Buchanan-Dunlop, a teacher who had served in the Boer War and was later famed for his part in the Christmas Truce during the First World War.

“There was an affiliation to the Royal Scots and cadets wore Hunting Stewart kilts, battledress tunics with the Loretto white shirt open at the neck, and a Balmoral hat with Loretto crest. Former pupils served throughout the Great War.

“Loretto provided officers again during the Second World War. Those who made the ultimate sacrifice in these conflicts are commemorated in our chapel.

“From the 1970s, Loretto wore the Lowland Division cap badge and Tam O’ Shanter.

“This continued until 2007 when the contingent was affiliated to the 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 Scots), sporting the new RRS cap badge and black hackle.”

Mr Hewat added: “The decision to re-affiliate to the recently formed Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry goes back to our historic roots with one of their progenitors – the Lothian and Berwickshire Yeomanry.”