The collection broadly covers the activities of The Navy League, later the Sea Cadet Association, over a period of one hundred years, from 1894 to 1994. It mainly consists of annual reports, minute books, historical files and publicity material.

The minute books record proceedings of governing and executive bodies, including the Grand Council, Governing Body (later The Sea Cadet Association Council), Executive Committee, Finance and General Purposes Committee, Boys’ Naval Brigade (later Sea Cadet Corps) Central Committee, Sea Cadet Corps Council, Sea Cadet Sports Council, Girls’ Nautical Training Corps Executive Committee and Offshore Fleet Management Committee. There are also minutes of short-lived working parties that reviewed the constitution, rules and policies of the organisation.

The administrative records also include minutes of the National Aerial Defence Association, 1913; a list of officers of The Navy League naval units, circa 1911-1937; and records of financial assistance for Sea Cadet Corps units, circa 1937-1961. A small number of historical files have papers discussing naval defence issues, annual dinners and commemorative events. Some of these relate to particular individuals including Robert A. Yerburgh (1853-1916), George Ambrose Lloyd, first Baron Lloyd (1879-1941), Vice-Admiral Sir Peter G.L. Cazalet (1899-1982), and Rear-Admiral Bryan C. Durant (1910-1983).

The printed material is mainly in the form of articles, promotional pamphlets and programmes for events. There are some press photographs relating to the Girls’ Nautical Training Corps (GNTC), circa 1946-1959, and a photograph album showing a Sea Cadet training course at RNAS Culdrose, 1990.

Administrative / biographical background
The Navy League was a patriotic organisation that campaigned for greater public awareness of the need for an adequate navy as the best method of safeguarding British interests at home and abroad. Soon after its foundation in 1895, it sent a deputation to the House of Commons asking for the formation of a cross-party committee that would urge issues of naval policy upon the government. It also organised commemorative events, including the decoration of Nelson’s Column on Trafalgar Day. A breakaway group formed The Imperial Maritime League in 1908 to mount a more overtly political campaign against the reforms of the first sea lord, Sir John A. Fisher. During the First World War, an overseas relief fund raised money for the dependents of British seamen who had been killed or disabled. With the disappearance of the naval threat from Germany, The Navy League aimed to spread appreciation of the spirit of courage and dutifulness represented in meritorious deeds of naval and merchant seafarers. During later decades and into the Cold War era, its policies continued to stress the importance of seapower and stand against unilateral disarmament. However, its momentum declined and the Sea Cadet Corps became the most important part of its work. The first unit of The Navy League Boys’ Naval Brigade was formed in 1899. Similar voluntary organisations involved in training boys in seamanship and naval discipline became affiliated to The Navy League. When the Admiralty introduced a new sea cadet scheme in 1919, the central committee gained official recognition and the units then began to use the designation The Navy League Sea Cadet Corps. Under the auspices of The Navy League, the movement spread throughout the British Isles and overseas. It was under Admiralty control during the Second World War and provision was made to expand its strength to 50,000 cadets. The naval branch of pre-service training for women during wartime developed into The Girls’ Nautical Training Corps, affiliated to the Sea Cadet Corps. In 1946 responsibility for the general policy and organisation of the Sea Cadet Corps was delegated to the Sea Cadet Council. The Navy League continued its support in areas of administration and finance, including subsidies for activities and sports. In 1953 it helped to purchase Raven’s Ait, an island in the River Thames near Surbiton, for use as a national boating and training station. Opportunities for offshore sail training were enhanced when the brig TS ROYALIST (1971) entered service. The Navy League changed its status from a voluntary association to an incorporated company in 1946. The Navy League Incorporated was renamed the Sea Cadet Association in 1976. This body merged with the Marine Society to form a single charity in 2004.