Barringer Walker Cadets

The Barringer Walker Cadets drum and bugle corps was originally formed and sponsored by the Harold G Barringer American Legion Post 139 of Lyndhurst, in honor of the first soldier from Lyndhurst killed overseas.

In its formative years, the corps had many ups and downs, altering from a vocal group to a fife and drum corps to finally establishing itself as a drum and bugle corps in the fall of 1938. The one stability they did have was in the direction of Andrew Coughly, who had been manager of the corps almost since its inception to 1958. They entered the field of competition in 1939, participating in their first of many appearances at the Bergen County American Legion championships.

The following season, the corps returned to the Bergen championships, placing 3^rd and improved to a 2^nd place finish in 1941. With the advent of World War II, the Barringer group faded into the background, reorganizing as the Barringer Walker AL Post 139 in 1946, in honor of Wallace J Walker, killed in WWII, selected and added to the Post name. In 1947, the corps competed at the American Legion Nationals “Sons of American Legion” division in New York.

They participated at the 1948 NJ American Legion championships, returning to the 1949 AL Nationals held in Philadelphia. Barringer Walker Post finished in 6^th position at the NJ AL state championships in 1950 and appeared at Bergen County Legion championships in 1951. The following year, the corps participated at their final Legion Nationals held in New York, placing 18^th and were crowned the Bergen County AL champions that year. They went on to compete in the NJ AL state championships in 1953, finishing in 3^rd place, returning the following year under their new name, the Barringer Walker Cadets.

In 1955, the corps finished 6^th at the Bergen County championships and the following season, competed and sponsored their first annual circuit show as members of the Greater NY circuit. The Barringer Walker unit participated at the 1956 NJ AL state championships and the Greater NY circuit before going inactive the next year due to a shortage of members. They reverted to parade activity for the subsequent two seasons and returned to the Greater NY circuit in 1961, finishing in 9^th position at the circuit championships. The last three years of competition saw the corps compete at both the Greater NY and Garden State circuit contests.

 They disbanded in 1965.

Paul Legault (DCX)