Published in Windlesora 25 (2009)
© WLHG
The Scout Movement was in its infancy when the Parish Magazine for September 1910 reported that Mr LE Mitchell, the Assistant Master at Old Windsor School, had offered to train a patrol of eight boys as Boy Scouts. He said that the Boy Scout Movement was likely to become a very useful and important one, and Old Windsor should take part in it. Eight boys were ready to join and equipment would cost £4. The Vicar appealed for contributions.
The troop is next mentioned a year later in September 1911, when they looked back on a very successful year. The troop had been formed with only six boys but they were six of the best and their example was so effective that the troop was now at full strength with 24 scouts, Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster. Eleven boys had qualified as 2nd class scouts, and the following proficiency badges had been won – cyclist (4) musician (3) gardener (3) naturalist (3) and marksman (1). On 14 July ten scouts attended the King’s Rally in Windsor Great Park and in August some of the scouts, with their scoutmaster, joined Major Rhodes’ Signalling Camp at Tilford. Other activities during the year included swimming races and a tea at Farm House given by Lady Guinness. The scoutmaster had obtained 8 carbines from Headquarters so that the boys might have the opportunity to learn to shoot. The November magazine carried details of the first annual patrol competitions between the Foxes, the Ravens and the Tigers. These included campcraft, first aid and signalling.
The magazine for May 1912 reported on the Scouts’ tour of France. Three boys, with their Scoutmaster, joined a cycling trip to London, then Newhaven and thence to France where they slept on the stone floor of a stable and then cycled to a camp at La Bretique in the Foret Vert near Rouen where they attended the English Church. The next camp was at Maromme, then a final camp on the golf course at Dieppe. The party was everywhere received with enthusiasm and although crowds of people gathered at every halt, their curiosity was always blended with courtesy and respect.
Through the kindness of Miss Symons Jeune, who took a great interest in the troop, the Scouts were invited to test a new collapsible boat invented and patented by Major Baden Powell, who was staying at Runnymede House. He welcomed the boys and they tried the boat out on the river.
In February 1913 a request was made for the return of unwanted kit by those who had left the troop. As uniforms cost 8/6d it was important to hand these on to newly joined scouts. There was now a vacancy for an assistant scoutmaster, and by April it seems that Miss Symons Jeune filled it. The scouts enjoyed a field day with Windsor and Slough troops on Easter Monday. The object was to capture Winkfield church, which was defended by the Maidenhead troops. In this they were successful. The account referred to the long and difficult journey home – but none would admit to being tired!
On Wednesday 25 June Miss Symons Jeune, of Runnymede House, was married in Old Windsor Parish Church and the Boy Scouts formed a Guard of Honour. She had, with her husband, Mr Hanbury, given a party for the scouts just before her wedding. They gave her a silver-plated salver and they gave Mr Hanbury a Thanks Badge. In the September 1913 magazine, reports of the village horticultural show include a series of races in which the scouts took part, either individually or as patrols.
In October a report was published about the Summer Camp at Thursley in Surrey. It was described as being through the kindness of Mr Symons Jeune, Colonel F ollett, Miss Ricardo and Rev. C Ricardo, so presumably these persons defrayed some of the cost. The camp was held jointly with the 31st West London, the 157th North London and the 2nd Lambeth scouts – each troop having a separate camp within a large semicircle. Some activities were enjoyed jointly and the 7th Windsors distinguished themselves on one occasion when the camp supply of meat ran out and six Old Windsor scouts and their Scoutmaster turned out at 4.a.m. and pushed a trek-cart 4 miles to Milford station and brought supplies into camp before breakfast, finishing their long journey by entering camp ‘at the double’.
Many scouts gained proficiency badges such as tree-felling and pioneer and one passed the musketry test. The first night in camp was noisy – the scoutmaster got them up at 4am to strike their tents and move them farther away from other troops so that they might sleep. There was a sham fight with troops from Aldershot, and a 2-day ‘war’ against Tilford camp, five miles away. The cost of the food, which was plentiful, worked out at 7 1/2d per day.
At Christmas time the scouts held their usual guest night when each scout brought a friend. The youngest scout acted as scoutmaster for the evening and there were games and songs.
In June 1914 Mr and Mrs Hanbury gave a complete outfit of uniform and a supply of ammunition for rifle practice, as a result of which a team of eight scouts were entered in the Imperial Challenge Shield, and did well.
There is no further news of the scouts during the war, as the scoutmaster was away in the army, and the scouts were more or less disbanded, but later it was reported that Mr Howard had been demobilised and the scout troop had taken on a new lease of life – now numbering 40. There were also 12 younger boys hoping to join and it was suggested that a Wolf Cub Pack might be formed if a Cubmaster could be found. Some of the previous scouts were acting as instructors. It was noted that 43 members of the troop had fought in the war, and 3 were killed. In June 1919 the vicar appealed for funds to run the troop and said what an influence for good in the Parish it was, having been sorely missed when it was disbanded during the war.
The camp in 1919 was held at West Wickham with the 31st West London and the 16st Battersea troops. The programme was:
| Reveille 6.30 | Dinner 1.00 |
| Inspection 7.10 | Tea 6.00 |
| Physical Drill 7.15 | Supper 8.15 |
| Breakfast 7.30 | First Post 8.45 |
| Grand Parade and Prayers 9.00 | Lights Out 9.00 |
The rest of the day was filled with scouting practices, bathing and games. There was also a Sports Day with other troops nearby and combined Church Parades. Apparently Old Windsor scouts acquitted themselves well in all ways.
In December the first Girl Guide Company was formed. When the War Memorial was dedicated on Sunday 11 April 1920 the scouts and guides marched from the village to the church. The 1920 camp was again at West Wickham with the 3rd Chelsea troop. Mr Howard was now the Assistant District Commissioner. The scouts had been provided with a headquarters, Newton Cottage Hut in the grounds of Mrs Vane Russell, who also paid for them to go to the pantomime Red Riding Hood at the Windsor Theatre. The magazine of September 1921 records a camp at Ashingdon, Essex again with the 3rd Chelsea troop. Changes were afoot – there were plans to form a Rover patrol and a Cub Pack, but shortly after this Mr Howard left Old Windsor to ake up a headship, and the scouts were no longer reported in the magazine.
Margaret Gilson
Windsor Local History Group 