Training of the managerial elite for the British Empire (a case study of public school the United Services College)

Introduction. The relevance of the research topic is determined by the fact that it has not been studied in the national historical science. Meanwhile, the experience of training effective managerial personnel in England in the last third of the XIX – early XX centuries seems worthy of study and reflection. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the problem on the case study of the United Services College, its history and biographies of its most prominent graduates. The novelty of the research is determined by the fact that this problem has not been the subject of special research in Russian historiography.

Materials and Methods. The sources used for the analyses consist of documents on the history of the school, memoirs of its graduates, Kipling’s novel “Stalky and Co.” based on the writer’s school years, documents of the “Kipling Society”. The following methods were used: narrative, descriptive, comparative.

Analysis. The United Services College was founded in 1874 with the aim of providing the sons of military personnel with inexpensive school education and prepare boys to go on to cadet colleges to train for a military career. Mission of the school was to mold “men of action”, to teach patriotism, team spirit, leadership skills. Students were brought up to become practical, efficient, brave and effective leaders. Extra curriculum activities were consistent with these purposes. The rules were strict, physical punishment was an accepted teaching method and bullying was common. The examination oftheUSC graduates’ careers is essential for assessing the effectiveness of students’ preparation for their future services.

Results. Despite a rather short history the United Services College provided the country with a large number of military and civil personnel. 468 graduates joined the British Army, nearly all served throughout the Empire. 198 graduates joined the Indian Army, 51 did service in the Royal Navy and associated forces, 308 USC’s graduates worked abroad in civil organizations, often in Colonial Service Some graduates reached high ranks of Admiral or General. During World War I USC’s graduates earned numerous awards and decorations. Many of them including two Generals, died in the war. The careers of the most distinguished USC’s graduates: Kipling and Dunsterville provide an example of the school’s capacity to effectively train boys for the future.

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