The Early Days
The
early history is largely taken from the programme for the 1957 Hastings
Scout and Guide Week and was probably written by Mr K.H.Peckham. Later,
as other records are examined, we may add to it. At the time of writing
we have found no similar records for what was then the Rye District which
was joined with Hastings in 1973.
Baden-Powell's paper covered book, 'Scouting for Boys', began it and in 1908 Percy Bateman sold both the book and the idea to the boys of Hastings. The origin of Scouting in the town, however, goes back to 1907 when John Leach drilled messenger boys of the G.P.O., who later formed the first "Curlew" patrol of the YMCA troop. Another patrol was formed in St Leonards and Geof Salmon, later an ADC in 1957, started a third, "Fox" patrol, exchanging the carbine of the school cadets for the broomstick of free enterprise. The YMCA patrol grew into the 1st Hastings with Mr Breeds as Scoutmaster (he later organised the building of the current 1st HQ in Oxford Road) and in 1909 there stemmed from it six more troops.
The 2nd (Bohemia) was formed by R.J.Smith and F.T. Hussey (later Alderman and in 1957 Mayor of Hastings) belonged to it.
"I remember", he said, "with much pleasure being a member of the troop for a few years towards the end of my school days: we met in Cornelius Yard at the back of Bohemia police station. I have a distinct recollection of becoming Leader of the "Tiger" patrol, and the enjoyment I and my friends derived from our regular weekly meetings and the various camps we held during the year. In commending the Scout Movement to Parents I can more fully appreciate now how much I owe to the training I received then as a scout"
R.J.Smith was ordained and went to Canada in 1913, returning to serve throughout the 1st War, after which he reformed the 3rd Troop before returning to the Dominion and later the mission field in New Amsterdam, British Guiana, where he died in 1935.
To this Troop belongs the honour of having the first Kings Scout, Leader S. Kemp becoming one in 1910.
"I was awarded this badge," Mr Kemp said, "by the Mayor of Hastings (Alderman Mitchell) in the Drill Hall in Middle Street, and I was therefore able to attend the Windsor Rally as a Kings Scout, a great honour as the comparatively few of us paraded separately for inspection by H.M. King George V and the Chief Scout (B.P.), both of whom shook hands with each one of us. During the 1st War I was a scout with the 5th Royal Sussex where I found my early training invaluable."
Other
sprouts from the YMCA sapling were the 3rd Troop, started by Mr Cobby
and C. Eiffe; the 4th with Fred Pelling and Miss Joyce Baily: the 5th
and 6th with F. Hart and F. Platt as Scoutmasters, and the Hollington
troop started by H.M. Jeffrey who later became Secretary, D.S.M and then
D.C. until 1938. He died in 1954.
An old Scout of the 6th (Calvert Memorial) Troop, Mr J.A.Ward, introduced his brother Leslie to Scouting. These were the Ward Bros, the Men's Outfitters of Queen's Road, and they continued to be active supporters and the main suppliers of uniforms, badges and handbooks up to the time that our Scout shop opened at Scoutcroft in 1966.
It was the 6th who were responsible for the unusual 'good turn' of providing a guard of honour for two Portuguese sailors drowned in the wreck of the 'Oceana' and brought to Hastings for burial. They also tended their graves for many years. Later the Portuguese Government invited Scouts from the town to visit Lisbon as their guests and two patrols went . Percy Bateman was in charge with ASMs White, Gallop and Barr. The Lady S.M of the troop, Mrs Polley, a cousin of BP, also attended. They received a great ovation and a plaque was unveiled in the Cathedral of Lisbon to commemorate their practical interpretation of 'brotherhood'. 27 photographs of this expedition, taken by Percy Bateman, appeared in a double spread of the 'Hastings and St Leonard's Pictorial Advertiser & Visitors List' of June 12th 1913. Among the pictures are those of them hauling a trek cart loaded with kitbags, followed by their band, carrying their kitbags up the gangway, ox carts in Lisbon, a very early motor omnibus, boxing aboard ship, and of course the uniform of the day - long dark (probably blue) serge shorts and shirt, scarves and lanyards, long socks, long patrol ribbons, haversacks and big hats.
Troop
Leader Colin Macdougall who was on that expedition later recalled:
"I think I was remembered as the scout who wore the kilt and played the bagpipes at most of the early joint parades. When the 1st War broke out and the B.E.F. were landed in France we were called upon to patrol the overhead cables from Chislehurst to Birling Gap, and later coast watching patrols were formed".
In 1912 the 5th Troop, with Scoutmaster the Rev. Bobb, hiked from Dieppe up the Seine Valley to Rouen where they presented greetings to the Mayor from the Mayor of Hastings, Alderman Hutchings.
"One of my intimate friends at school," the Rev. Bubb says, "was Archie Belaney who later became famous as 'Grey Owl', and together we used to practice Indian woodcraft. It is not therefore surprising that when I first read Scouting for Boys the idea filled me with enthusiasm, and I founded the 8th (later the 5th) Hastings Troop. Just before the First World War hastings was visited by some Belgian Scouts and anxious to show that we knew our 4th Scout Law be hospitably entertained them: subsequently I was told by the chief Scout (BP) that their Scoutmaster had bee sentenced to death as a German spy".
Many
of the 5th boys were from the Hastings Grammar School (as was the Rev.
Bubb) and in 1922 the 24th (Grammar School) Troop, now the William Parker
Group, was founded. Before the War Pett Level was a favourite weekend
camping place and there were pleasant memories of Cecil cottage and Mrs
Cox.
In 1909 the Hastings Local Scout Association was formed, the first Chairman being Alderman Thorpe,who was later succeeded by Mr Ebenezer Elliot, and in 1910 Baden Powell inspected scouts in Alexandra Park, afterwards talking to the scoutmasters in the YMCA. He again visited the town two years later when he attended a display and sale of work.
(The Early Days - to be continued)