2^nd Woolwich Scout Group – A History

Beginnings

                        On the 6^th May 1910[1], the Bostalls Scout troop was formed.   It wasn’t the first in the area (there was already a troop in Woolwich, which met at the William Street Methodist Chapel) but it clearly met a need.  By 1911, the date of the first photo, there were nearly 30 Scouts.  These Scouts will have included Cecil Marshall, Herbert Bull, Maurice Razzell and in 1912, Steven Showler, who was to play a major part in the development of the Group. 

                        About a year later, the Group became the 2^nd North-West Kent troop, but continued to be known as the Bostalls.  Indeed, according to Mrs Daphne Dyer, Cub Mistress in the late 1950s, it was still known by this name well into the 1960s. 

                        The first leader was William Gurney of Wernbrook Street, Plumstead and the first meeting place was Cook’s Farm, Old Park Road, on Bostall Heath.  It was about a five minute walk from St Nicholas church and the troop quickly became associated with this parish.  By 1910, Cook’s Farm no longer seemed to be a working farm, but was inhabited by Mrs Thirza Cook and a Miss Cook. 

                        Unfortunately, we neither know why Mr Gurney became SM of the new troop or why they met at Cook’s Farm.  The romantic view of early Scouting was that it was started by the boys themselves.  Groups (patrols) of boys read ‘Scouting for Boys’ and became so excited that they formed their own patrols and only approached adults when they needed to become part of the local association.  An example is given in ‘Scouting In London’ (1966) by P.B.Neville; 

“Chalky was finding it a difficult matter keeping his small gang together.  They did not always agree, and one night, when there had been an argument over their programme, he broke in with;

‘Look here, you chaps, it’s no use our arguing like this, we‘re still a band of Jolly Brothers, even if we have changed our name.  I think it is about time that we got someone to be our Scoutmaster; we could then get more boys to join us and we could form a Troop just as the book tells us. What do you say about it?’” (pp12-13)

However, William Gurney was a military man, in the local territorials and many military men would have seized upon the opportunity to train boys in Scouting skills.  Also Mr Gurney was the sort of man that BP thought would be a good SM, preferring either teachers or military men to lead Scout Troops.  It is perfectly possible that Mr Gurney was the driving force behind the formation of the Bostals troop. 

                        Likewise, it would be a great story to say that the Scouts met at Cook’s Farm for romantic reasons.  Mr Gurney and Miss Cook were of similar ages but there is absolutely no proof of any connection between the two.  However, Cook’s Farm was a perfect meeting place, with the heath, woods and orchard all within sight.  Just the place to put the OUT in ScOUTing.  

                        As mentioned earlier, the troop very quickly became associated with St Nicholas Church and appeared in the March 1910 Parish Magazine (along with the church cricket team and tennis club) as organising a concert in order to raise money for camping equipment. 

                        This also raises the question of when the troop actually started.  Though officially it was registered in May 1910, it was clearly in existence before that.  Mr Steven Showler wrote that ‘Woolwich had several troops in 1908’, implying that the Bostalls were one of them.  (Of course, if this were true, it would make our centenary celebrations two years late). 

                        In May 1911, the Senior Scouts camped at Dartford with a troop from St Albans Church.  During the night, the sentries chased off some poachers.  The following day, the Scouts cooked their own food though it is noted disparagingly that not all the Scouts ‘showed the same skill’. 

                        At the same time, the Junior Scouts camped at Eastwood, near Southend, sleeping in a local church hall.  No sleeping bags though, just straw and blankets.  Most Scouts found it hard to sleep the first night, but tiredness ensured quiet night after that, something that hasn’t changed to this day.       

                        By August, Mr Gurney had taken responsibility for the Senior section, while Mr Sydney Smith, the ASM, was in command of the Junior section.  In 1911, the Junior Scouts marched to Dartford, where they camped for the weekend.  After swimming in the Thames, the Scouts played cricket against a St Albans church team, who were ‘about twice the size of the Scouts’.  The Bostalls were out for just under 100, but couldn’t get the St Albans team out.  In the afternoon, the Scouts marched to Greenhithe and were allowed to ‘go all over the boat and up the masts as high as they liked to climb’.  Some Scouts did get right to the top.  Though this may impress us today, the writer sounds disappointed that so few did make it all the way. 

                        The Senior Scouts also camped at Dartford and one night, the sentries were tested with a ‘supposed burglar’.  Their reward was a cooling swim in the new open-air swimming baths at 6.30am next morning.  

                        By 1913, Mr Gurney had left the troop, leaving them with no SM.  The Senior Scouts (who wore blue shirts, rather than grey) kept the troop running, helped by Mr Quince of the 13^th Woolwich.  (By this time, the Woolwich troops had been given new names, the 2^nd North-West Kent becoming the 2^nd Woolwich (The Bostalls)).  

                        Eventually, in 1914, a Local Association man, Cyril Gervas  Seaton, was persuaded to take over the troop as SM.  Unfortunately, he only remained for a few months as World War One broke out.  Like Mr Gurney, Mr Seaton was a territorial soldier in the 1^st Battalion London Scottish Regiment and he was immediately called up.  Regrettably, unlike Mr Gurney, he did not survive the war, dying at Messines, in the Battle of Ypres, in November 1914.  Mr Seaton was the first John Roan School old boy to die in WW1 and is commemorated on their memorial board. 

                        The Bostalls were now actively supported by St Nicholas Church.  The curate, Mr Walter Frostick took over the troop in early 1915 but he left soon after and was replaced by Mr Reginald Walter Groom in 1916.  He was ‘very young and enthusiastic’ and ‘very keen on Scouting’.  He was to be responsible, in 1917, for perhaps the most important event in the Group’s history. 

World War One

                        World War One was an important and significant time for early members of Scouting, many losing their lives or suffering horrendous injuries.  According to Collis et al[2], 10,000 members of Scouting died in the Greta War. 

                        Among the casualties was Cecil Marshall, one of the earliest members of the troop.  Cecil was born in 1897 and lived in McLeod Road, Abbey Wood.  He was clearly a bright boy and attended Kings College, London before being commissioned as a Signalling Officer in the Royal Artillery in October 1915.  At 2am, on the 24^th June 1916, he was commanding a siege battery when it was hit by a German shell.  In 2007, his medals were sold at Auction – he had earned a British War Medal, a Victory Medal and a Good Conduct Medal.  Regrettably, the auctioneers, Bosleys, were unwilling to share information on the final destination of these medals. 

                        Others members of the troop fared better than Private Seaton and Lieutenant Marshall, some even emerging with great credit.  Indeed, in 1919, a book, ‘The Scouts’ Book of Heroes’ was published and included a chapter on Herbert Bull, who was set up as an example of bravery for all Scouts.  Herbert lived in St Nicholas Road, Plumstead and attended High Street Plumstead Council School.  He worked briefly in the Co-op in the Outfitting Department before joining up in 1917, as a Private in the London Regiment.  In September 1917, his regiment were ordered to attack the Germans at Ypres and Private Bull, as a regimental stretcher-bearer, expected a busy time.  He was with his officer when three Germans came towards them with their hands up but suddenly the middle one pulled out a revolver and shot the officer.  Bull immediately rushed to help the officer but he was already dead.  After an hour and a half, Bull was one of just three stretcher bearers left alive and it ‘took all the wits, the energy and the determination of a true Scout’ to cope with the challenge but he took charge.  Bull helped the wounded for hour after hour before himself was wounded.  He couldn’t make it back to the British lines so he lay and waited, though even then, he insisted on dressing wound of those who went past him.  Eventually, he was rescued and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions.  In his citation, his Commanding Officer, Lt Col Dann wrote;

“This man, a company stretcher-bearer, worked like a superman, absolutely regardless of any danger.  He worked continuously for fourteen hours, and through two most intense enemy barrages, and undoubtedly saved many lives.  His devotion to duty was extraordinary, and he was the means of putting extreme confidence in all ranks of his company in a most difficult situation and anxious time.”[3] 

His DCM was recorded in the Supplement to the London Gazette, dated 19^th November 1917.

                        Like Herbert Bull, Maurice Razzell of Ceres Road, Plumstead, went to High Street Plumstead School.  He was a Patrol Leader in the troop and also received a scholarship to Aske Secondary School, Hatcham.  During the early part of the war, he was engaged in guarding and despatch riding around Woolwich and Plumstead, a role many Scouts undertook in World War One.  He was eventually commissioned in 1918 and on the evening of the 23^rd October 1918, he was involved in a night attack on a strong German machine gun position at Knokke, Belgium.  The company commander was killed very quickly and the attack was becoming disorganised.  2^nd Lt Razzell took charge and rallied the attack.  After its success, he was awarded the Military Cross.  His Military Cross was recorded in the Supplement to the London Gazette, dated 4^th October 1919. 

                        There is no record of William Gurney’s military service and we only know that Steven Showler joined the Royal Fusiliers in 1918, but both survived the war, since by 1919, Mr Gurney was again SM, with Mr Showler as his ASM. 

The Great War At Home

                        As mentioned before, Scouts like Maurice Razzell actively supported the war effort, with non-military duties.  According to Collis et al, Boy Scouts were asked to undertake eight tasks under the direction of local Chief Constables;

1.      Guarding and patrolling bridges, culverts and telephone lines against damage by spies.

2.      Collecting information as to supplies, transport etc available.

3.      Handing out notices to inhabitants and other duties connected with billeting, commandeering, warning etc. 

4.      Carrying out organised relief measures amongst inhabitants. 

5.      Carrying out communications by means of despatch riders, signallers, wireless etc. 

6.      Helping families of men employed in defence duties, sick or wounded. 

7.      Establishing first aid, dressing or nursing stations, refugee dispensaries, soup kitchens etc in their clubrooms. 

8.      Acting as guides, orderlies etc. 

There is no doubt that the Bostalls troop, now under the leadership of Mr Groom, would be playing their part in the war effort.  However there was still active Scouting going on.  Mr Groom was described as an ‘enthusiastic’ SM and he clearly had high hopes and ambition for his troop.  Within a month of taking over as SM, he was wanting a good turnout at a Woolwich Rally, in order to ‘show the rest of them that we mean business’.  Likewise a District success in 1916 (no details) was described as ‘splendid’, though he was less enthusiastic in the next paragraph about turnout at that month’s church parade. 

                        By this time, the troop was meeting in St Francis Mission, 7.45pm every Friday evening and links to the church were very strong, though St Nicholas was not part of the Group name. 

                        Mr Groom’s ambitions were also evidenced by a letter to Baden-Powell in 1916, inviting him to visit the troop and present the new colours (flag).  Unfortunately, BP was unable to attend but Mr Groom wasn’t one to give up and reissued the invitation in 1917, this time actively supported by the vicar, the Rev Crawford. 

                        Another problem in 1916 was the summer camp.  Due to strict war regulations, the Bostall troop were having real problems finding a camping ground.  However, they were invited to join the 75^th South London troop, based at Kennington at their camp near Hayes.  Due to the war, costs were high and Mr Groom asked for contributions of food or cash, split into the following groups;

Class A – Tea, cocoa, coffee.  Pounds of Jam!  All kinds of sugar.  Oatmeal and flour. 

Class B – Condensed milk, tinned fruits, potted meats, tinned meat, eggs, bacon, hams, Dutch cheeses. 

Class C – currants, sultanas, figs, baking powder, pearl barley, mustard, pepper, salt.

Class D – CASH!

One of the organisers of this food appeal was Mrs Razzell, mother of Maurice.

                        The appeal must have been successful since the camp itself went very well.  They were joined by the District Commissioner of Woolwich, with Mr Groom and Mr Smith leading the Bostalls Scouts and Mr Weaver leading the Kennington Scouts.  The camp went on for two weeks though some Scouts could only camp for one week and would leave at the end of the week.  The Scouts themselves were sleeping in barns while the leaders slept in marquees, one for Woolwich leaders and one for Kennington. 

                        One interesting point was the use of sentries.  In previous camps, it seemed that they were just part of Scout training without any real purpose beyond discipline.  But at this camp, Mr Groom seemed genuinely concerned that their food supplies might be ‘raided’ by other troops camping nearby and that this ‘necessitates’ a guard. 

                        Finally, Mr Groom was happy that the canteen was making good money from the Scouts, who were spending it ‘on something that is good for them’.  It makes you wonder whether smoking and drinking were genuine options at Scout camps at the time.

                        1916 was a well documented year for the Bostalls troop since Mr Groom wrote an annual review in the Parish Magazine in January 1917.  He only briefly mentioned the camp at Hayes but a number of other events seemed very important.   

                        The main news for the year was the new Wolf Cub Pack, started by Miss E.Linney and Miss Lydia Showler.  Since Cubs only started in 1916, the 2^nd must have been quick off the mark in starting its Cub Pack.  By January 1917, there were already 28 Cubs, though Mr Groom was sure there was room for more boys to join. 

                        However, the Scouts were now closed for recruitment, since they had 64 members.  Of these 64, three were King’s Scouts and five were First Class Scouts.  Mr Groom had also introduced a full Patrol system, though since the troop had had Patrol Leaders before this, I’m not sure what is meant by that.  The Curlews were the first to win the Patrol Challenge Shield, though only just. 

                        Mr Groom was also happy that a Court of Honour was introduced.  According to Collis et al, a Court of Honour ‘is formed of the SM and two PLs or in the case of a single patrol, the PL and the corporal.  It decided rewards, punishments and other questions’.   Mr Groom, as SM, had a veto but was pleased that he’d never had to use it.  Despite all of this, Mr Groom still felt that the troop had ‘heaps of room for improvement’. 

                        In March 1917, the Cubs were visited by the District Commissioner and the District Scout Master.  They were both impressed and the DSM wondered whether they used their highly polished boots as mirrors for combing their hair.  The Pack were presented with their Wolf Cub flag by the vicar and then the Cubs showed off their marching skills.  The Scouts, meanwhile, were unable to camp in 1917, due to the government’s call for economy in food. 

                        The Roll of Honour was reported to have 43 names on it in 1917, and Mr Groom was proud that it had been designed and painted by one of the Scouts.  It would be interesting to know more about this.  Was it made of wood, burnt in the fire at St Nicholas hall?  Or is it still gathering dust in some forgotten corner of St Nicholas church? 

The Visit of Robert Baden Powell

                        Everything that happened in 1917 paled into insignificance alongside the momentous event of the 30^th June 1917.  Mr Groom, supported by the Rev Crawford, had been more successful with his second invitation and BP had agreed to visit St Nicholas.  The fact that BP’s father (a friend of Robert Stevenson,  the great engineer) had been vicar of St Nicholas from 1821-1827 must have helped.  BP admitted himself that it would be of ‘immense interest’ to visit his father’s old church and he duly attended on the 30^th June.  On the church steps, he spoke of his father, who he believed would have been a great Scout.  BP then presented the colours to the troop, saying that he ‘had never presented any colours with greater honour’. 

                        The flag itself, of which a copy is still used by the Scouts, was full of symbolism.  The Parish Magazine, published in August 1917, gave full details;

The basis is a St George Cross and in the centre is the symbol of St Nicholas, the three golden balls, which suggests to us that our special way of worshipping God is by loyalty to our own Parish church.  Then the wreath of holly reminds us that St Nicholas id the original ’Santa Claus’, whom we always associate with doing good turns.  The Scouts badge, the fleur-de-lys, reminding you of the Scout’s three-fold promise – to do your duty to God and the King, to help other people at all times and to obey the Scout law.    And last of all, the dates 1821-1827 will keep in memory the Chief’s father and all that the Chief told us about him. (St Nicholas Parish Magazine, August 1917). 

                        Finally, a Group photo was taken, with BP at the centre, flanked by Mr Groom and (presumably) Mr Smith.  It was clearly a special day for the Group, the photo and flag remaining as a visible reminder of the day and the story still being passed down from leader to leader. 

                        After leaving St Nicholas, BP attended a rally at Shrewsbury Park for Scouts from Woolwich, Eltham and Greenwich.  Maurice Razzell accompanied BP all day as his personal orderly. 

                        In 1918, Mr Groom left the Group after an active and varied three years.  He had set high standards for the Scouts and though he seemed hard to please, the 2^nd rose to those challenges and was established as a strong centre for Scouting in the Woolwich area. 

The 1920s

                        It isn’t totally clear what happened after Mr Groom’s departure.  The troop registration document for 1919 showed Mr Gurney as SM once again but the form was signed by Mr Steven Showler as ‘acting SM’.  Maybe Mr Gurney’s role was honorary or maybe Mr Showler was covering as Mr Gurney prepared to return from active service.  Whatever the case, it was during the 1920s that Mr Showler became the anchor of the Bostalls Group. 

                        Steven Showler had been born in September 1899 in Plumstead, the second of four children.  His older sister, Lydia, was to be the Group’s CM for many years.  Steven joined the Bostalls Troop in 1912, becoming a Patrol Leader in 1915 and Senior Patrol Leader in early 1918.  Later that year, he joined the Royal Field Artillery, returning to Plumstead in 1919.  He became SM of the troop in 1922, gaining his Wood Badge in 1923.  He became GSM in 1928, remaining at the Group until 1952.  Unfortunately, the records for his time at the Group are missing.  His son, Mr Alan Showler, described his father as a ‘systematic’ person, who would almost certainly have handed all the records on to his successor, Mr Ed Stalley.  The search will continue but much of the information for the 1920-1940s will pieced together from assorted, incomplete sources, the most intriguing of which is a page torn from the Group logbook for 1922. 

                        In 1920, the Group had a little success when a Scout, A.Terry, won the Scout Cross Country over five miles.  In very muddy conditions, he just managed to outsprint two Scouts from the 21^st Woolwich and one from the 8^th Woolwich, to complete the course in just over 30 minutes.  He received a ‘suitable’ silver cup at the end.  The troop also gained a creditable third in the Witt Memorial Trophy for Swimming and Life-Saving.  They also took part in 1921, but by this time the 11^th Woolwich were impossible to beat, winning it for the third year running.      

            Tantalisingly, it was also reported that the troop won the Boxing Silver Cup in both 1919 and 1920, but there are no details of these successes at all.  The Silver Cup had been presented by the Royal Artillery Sergeant’s Mess and, according to the 1930 event, took place at the Garrison gymnasium.  Weights ranged from 5st to 10st and guests included the Borough Medical Officer.  There were a number of exhibition bouts at the beginning of the evening, by soldiers and Rovers.   The 1930 event saw no Bostall successes, the event being dominated by the 24^th (Woolwich Tabernacle) troop. 

                        The Cubs were also busy, joining over 200 Woolwich Cubs at a rally at Plumstead Baths.  They started with a massive Grand Howl, and then there were a series of competitions.  In the Paperwork Competition, Cub Morley won the 10-11year old prize, though he was the only 2^nd Woolwich winner.  The District Cub Mistress, Mrs Dowdeswell presented the prizes but was disappointed that there were so few entries. 

                        The 1920s would just be a long list of District competitions if we didn’t have the page from the Group logbook of 1922.  Mrs Dyer said that the GSM gave it to her in the late 1950s, after he found it in the back of a cupboard.  As the only female in their leadership team, she was allowed to keep it.  It may just be two weeks in 1922 but will probably tell us more about the Group at the time than a list of District competition results. 

·         4^th July 1922.  After practicing their troop and patrol formations, they finished with a game of ‘Fire Burning’.  Harold Ranson was then invested (‘sworn in’), and Scout Knitcroft received his Second Class badge.  The meeting finished at 10.15pm, followed by a Court of Honour, where the kangaroo Patrol asked permission to change their name to the Beaver Patrol. 

·         Saturday, 8^th July 1922.  16 Scouts attended with two leaders (‘officers’).  The activity may give a flavour of the period.  The Scouts were instructed to watch a bush where ASM Burns was supposed to be hiding.  The Scouts were asked whether they had seen any movement, which many claimed to have done.  They were then told that he had never been in that bush at all.  They finished with Kick The Can, which was stopped after 10 minutes, due to rain. 

·         Tuesday, 11^th July 1922.  40 Scouts and 2 officers, met at 7pm.  Patrol Leaders instructed the Scouts in various skills, while L.Dabbs, A.Thomas and H.Davies completed their Firelighting and Cooking tests.  After this, they all played ‘Aeroplane Rides’ then L.Watt received his Kings Scout Award, the first in the Troop at the time.   A.Thomas received his Second Class badge. 

·         Saturday, 15^th July 1922.  There were 20 Scouts, but no leaders, due to a Wood Badge course.  Patrol Leader Eriksson took charge,. 

There is also photo on the page of the Troop team in the Seaton Cup competition.  This competition was named after Cyril Gervas Seaton, the ex-SM of the 2^nd Woolwich.  It shows that the troop had their own Trek-cart at this time. 

These extracts show us what was happening in the troop at the time.  Troop night seemed to be Tuesdays, while they also seemed to meet every Saturday as well.  Numbers of Scouts tended to vary but 40 Scouts did attend the Monday meeting.  It was likely that the two officers mentioned wee Mr Showler and Mr W.Burns of McLeod Road, Abbey Wood, though an unwarranted leader, Mr E.Duke, of Plumstead, was also helping at the time. 

By 1928, both these assistant leaders had moved on and Mr Showler was now being assisted by Mr A.Davies-Jones of Bateson Road and William Barthorpe, of White Hart Road.  Both had been formally warranted as ASMs.  Miss Showler was now running the Cubs on her own, while the Group had also now opened a Rover Crew, led by the Rev S.Anstie, of Cordite Road. 

The Rev Anstie, originally from Somerset, was not at the Group for very long but his time was well documented and finished with an interesting tale.  A curate at St Nicholas, the Rev Anstie had also opened a Scout troop at St Francis Mission (the 31^st Woolwich), where he was firstly Scout Master then Group Scout Master.  He continued as Rover Leader at the Bostalls and in July 1930, he dedicated the troop’s new colours[4], provided by the Rover Crew, at St Nicholas Church.  The Rev Anstie spoke of following the flag and what that meant to all scouts.  He also reminded everyone that the three points of the Scout badge represented service, obedience and loyalty.  Later that year, the Rev Anstie moved to South Africa where he died.  In his belongings was found a union flag, which was presented to Woolwich Local Association.  It had been the same flag flown by the Woolwich contingent at the Arrowe Park Jamboree of 1929. 

The Group itself had now returned to Cooks Farm after a short time in St Francis Mission Hall.  This may have suggested that after the Rev Groom’s departure the church was taking less of a role in the group but in fact, in 1926, the 2^nd had become a ‘controlled’ group, effectively sponsored by the church.  The 2^nd returned to St Nicholas Church Hall in 1928. 

The decade ended with Woolwich District celebrating the 21^st birthday (‘coming of age’) of Scouting.  This was done through a special scout week, starting with a rally at the Royal Military Repository.  It started with a special message from B-P, which resulted in a large cheer from everyone present.  Interestingly, one speaker, Admiral Heard, a county officer, mentioned the fall-off between Cubs and Scouts[5], something that still remains an issue today.  No Group was mentioned by name but it is almost certain that the 2^nd would have been present at such an important event. 

During the week, there was a Scout and Guide swimming gala, which was reported as being well attended.  Unfortunately, except for a third place in the 12-13yr one length by E.Martin, the 2^nd enjoyed little success in this event.   The week, and the decade, finished with a pageant and campfire. 

The 1930s

                        The 1930s are a poorly documented decade of the Group’s history.  Until 1933, the Kentish Independent has a monthly scout column, written by ‘Scofucum’ but by the mid-1930s, this had gone and the local paper seemed little interested in local scouting. 

                        We do know that Steven and Lydia Showler continued with the group throughout the 1930s but it wasn’t until 1936 that Mr T.Eves took over the Rover Crew.  Also in that year, Ron Crossingham started to help Miss Showler with the Cub section, with the pair eventually marrying in 1946. 

                        In January 1930, it was reported by Scofucum that the troop gave a concert in St Nicholas hall.  As part of the church community, the troop donated their ‘satisfactory’ takings to the church organ fund.  The concert included the Rover Crew presenting ‘The Ghost of Jerry Bundler’, written by W.W.Jacobs in 1908.  Other entertainments included ‘plantation songs’, instrumental music and a humorous dialogue, ending with campfire songs and the National Anthem.  It was clearly such a success that a second concert was held in April.   

                        Concerts seemed very popular during the 1930s, the local paper being full of troops presenting their own.  It may be no coincidence that it was during this period that Ralph Reader developed the first Scout Gang Shows.

                        In June 1930, the Bostalls Pack proved themselves the best Pack in Woolwich, when they won the Wolf Cub trophy.  It was held at the Repository Grounds in Woolwich and it tested Cub work and activities, very like today’s Mowgli Trophy.  There are few details but the 2^nd and the runners up (the 14^th (St Mary’s) Pack) finished very close together, well ahead of the other ten packs.  The following year, the 2^nd finished behind the 14^th, though this time, St Marys were ‘easy winners’. 

                        It was also interesting that both the 1930 Griffiths Staff (for Senior Scouts) and the Seaton Cup were both held at Cooks Farm.  By this time, the 2^nd were no longer meeting there but clearly it was still available for local association use.  Despite their familiarity, the 2^nd didn’t finish in the top three of either event. 

                        In November 1930, Sixers from the twenty Woolwich Cub Packs met together for a Sixer’s Social.  Highlight of the day was a jungle play called ‘Little Black Sambo’.   How times change! 

                        In June 1931, the Cubs won the second of their three successive Cub Sports events, a very impressive run (no pun intended).   They were comfortable winners in 1931, finishing with 14pts, ahead of the 30^th (St Lukes) and the 14^th (St Marys), who gained 7pts apiece.  The event took place at Charlton Park but there is no record of the names of the successful Cubs. 

                        The 1931 Scout Swimming Gala took place at Woolwich Baths in September.  Before the main event started, a diving display by a troop from East Ham took place.  In the competition, L.Morgan was the star performer for the 2^nd, coming second in both the 2 lengths and the one length backstroke.  Morgan was probably a Senior Scout, since both these events were for 16-18yrs.  The Bostalls were also second in the Scout relay.  In the Rover Race, Ed Stalley came second over two lengths.  Though his Group isn’t specified, this is almost certainly the same person who became GSM of the 2^nd in the 1950s.  

                        After 1933, Scofucum’s column in the Kentish Independent ceased and the information and details ceased.  From 1933-1940, absolutely nothing! 

1940s

                        As far as the section leaders were concerned, there was no change in the 1940s.  Steven Showler remained as GSM, Lydia Showler, who received her Medal of Merit in 1940, was still Cub Leader and T.Eves remained as RSL.  Mr Dick Belcher, who had become SM in 1939, remained in post until 1950, though he was called up during the war.  Towards the end of the decade, many names that were to be part of the 1950s, possibly the Groups most successful and best-documented decade, were arriving.  Both Alan Showler and Ray Dyer were warranted in 1949, and Ed Stalley a year later.    

                        According to Dr Alan Showler (son of Steven), he never became a Cub in the Bostalls because the Pack had stopped operating during the war.  With mass evacuations and the dangers of bombing, it isn’t surprising that a Cub Pack wasn’t really viable, though Mr Roy Carrier mentions that he joined the Cubs at St Francis Mission in 1944, so clearly the Pack was restarted at some point in the war. 

                        Due to Dick Belcher being called up, Mr Steven Showler found himself running the Scout Troop again, assisted by the vicar, the Rev Matthews.  Summer camps were organised at Hildenborough in 1943 and Ashdown Forest in 1945. 

                        War dominated the early 1940s and affected Scouting all over the country.  Alan Showler, a Scout at the time, remembers having to shelter in porches during air raids and in 1945, Roy Carrier remembers a German V2 rocket hitting St Nicholas Gardens, which was then the churchyard.  Another story shows how close tragedy was.  On the 15^th October, a Bostalls Senior Scout, Stephen Jarvis of Bracondale Road, was walking down Church Manorway when he was killed by a German bomb. 

                        Maybe an even sadder story concerned an ex-Bostalls Scout, Francis Neale.  This 22yr old Private was in the Royal Army Medical Corps, when he was captured by the Germans in 1941.  He was sent to Stalag VIIIB, near Lamsdorf, where he died due to inadequate medical provision.  He is buried at the Commonwealth War Graves in Krakow.

                        There are no individual war efforts mentioned in our information but there is no doubt that they would have been doing their bit.  According to Saunders (1948), Scouting efforts included;

“…supplying messengers to inform the deaf of air raid warnings or the sounding of the All Clear, to fire-watching , to erecting indoor shelters, to the manning of listening posts, to hop-picking, to waste-paper collection, to wood chopping, to painting kerbs of pavements white or the thousand and one tasks which had to be performed by a society engaged in total war…….”[6]

                        Whether District competitions went on during the Second World War is unclear, but there are no records of any activities or results.  But once the war was over, District competitions didn’t take long to restart.  We are lucky at the 2^nd since we have Group certificates for District events stretching back to 1946.   Some just give a date, event and placing but others include extra information such as the names of those who took part.  The late 1940s were leading into the 1950s when not winning an event was more unexpected than winning.  As Raymond Tutt wrote in 1961, an unusually barren year, “Dial 999 – someone’s taken the silver!”[7]

                        The first recorded successes came in 1946 when in the space of three months, the Scouts and Seniors won the St Margarets Cup, the Griffiths Staff and the Cross Country.   No names, no details, just a determination, as the Rev Groom once said, “to let them know we mean business”.  The rest of the 1940s were a little quieter – only the Seniors Relay in the Warner Cup for Athletics in 1947 and the return on the St Margarets Cup in 1948.  In 1949, the Griffiths Staff was won again, but this time with a few details.  The Patrol Leader of the team was Raymond Dyer, with R.Stephenson as his APL.  A.Hewlett was another member of the team.  Ray Dyer, who had joined the Group as a Wolf Cub, would go on to lead the Scout Troop in the 1950s and to marry the Pack’s Cub Mistress, Daphne Murray.  He had represented Woolwich District at a very young age in the World Jamboree in France in 1947 and finished his Scouting career as Commissioner for Boy Scouts, Northern Europe in the mid-1960s. 

                        As the 1940s were drawing to a close, the 2^nd Woolwich were preparing for the 1950s, one of their most successful and best-documented period of their history. 

The 1950s

            The 1950s are a well documented period of 2^nd Woolwich history, particularly through the existence of the Group Council (leaders) minutes, from 1953 to 1961.  Many of the people active at this time have contributed their memories and ideas, and provided a rich photographic record of the period.  The 2^nd Woolwich were a strong, confident Group over this period, able to demote PLs who didn’t attend church parade, able to show their dissatisfaction with the Group Executive and to stand up to both District and church.  By the end of the decade, the Group were celebrating their Jubilee by making serious plans to build their own HQ. 

            The Showlers finally retired from the Group at this time, Steven Showler retired in 1952 while Lydia (now Mrs Crossingham) had left a year earlier, leaving with Ron Crossingham to live at Well Hall.  Mr Showler had first joined the Group in 1912, so his retirement would have been a major event.  There is no record of his retirement party but there had been a party a few years earlier, to celebrate his 25 years with the Group (1937?).  H received an electric clock from ex-members from the troop and a barometer from the current members.  Guests included Mr Gurney, the Assistant County Commissioner Mr Genese, the District Commissioner A.J.Jones and his sister, Lydia Showler, who now held the position of Assistant District Commissioner.  It seems certain that the send-off in 1952 was just as big and just a little sadder. 

            Replacing Mr Showler as GSM was Mr Ed Stalley, who doubled up as RSL until 1955, until Mr Bert Stroud took over the Rovers.  Mr Stalley remained as GSM until 1959, when Mr Ray Tutt took over. 

            After Mrs Crossingham’s retirement, Miss Daphne Murray became CM.  Miss Murray had been a Guide and Ranger at St Nicholas before joining the Cub Pack at 16.  She was only 18 when she became Akela.  Mr Alan Showler, the son of Steven, was Assistant Cub Master throughout the 50s, before becoming SM in 1959.  Before this, Mr Stroud had replaced Dick Belcher as SM, before moving to the Rovers.  Mr Ray Dyer took over as SM before becoming Senior Scout Master in 1959.  Ray Tutt had been SM(S) from 1955-59, after Mr W.Tann (1951-53), who was the Group’s first recorded Senior Scout Master. 

            There was a lot of change in the 1950s but mostly as a result of individuals being willing to move across sections for the good of the Group.  A very modern outlook.  

 Group Discipline

            Standards were high in the 1950s and despite our views of children at the time being disciplined and compliant, many boys were unable (or unwilling) to meet these standards. 

            On April, 10^th, 1953, Mr Ray Dyer, home on leave from National Service, was asked to take a Scout meeting.  He was ‘disgusted’ with the discipline and behaviour of the Troop and stressed ‘forcibly’ that something needed to be done.  After long discussion, the main cause was put down to PLs being unable to control their patrols and, in one case, Cliff Watson, actually a disciplinary problems themselves.  PL Watson was relieved of his rank, though his subsequent behaviour at camp showed no real concern on his part.  He was quickly shunted up to the Senior Scouts. 

            High standards were expected of PLs at this time, not just behaviour but also attendance.  In November 1956, an unnamed PL was demoted for not turning up to the Swimming Gala, while in 1959, two new PLs had their probation period extended for missing two church parades.

Church Parades

            Church  parades were both important and a cause for concern in this period.  The link with St Nicholas was now well-established, the Group officially adding St Nicholas to their name in 1952.  All members were expected to attend monthly church parades and not only PLs were disciplined for non-attendance.  In July 1959, Scout Ian Dean was ‘asked to leave the Troop’ because he hadn’t attended a church parade for seven months. 

            Various ideas to increase attendance were discussed in the 1950s[8];

·         Attendance included as part of the Patrol points system. 

·         Section flags were to be carried at church parade (though practices were introduced after the first occasion). 

·         The church was asked to choose ‘appropriate’ hymns.

·         Scouts were asked to read the lesson and prayers at the service. 

·         It was agreed to march to church parade, rather than meet at the church. 

·         The Senior Scouts were visited by Rev Walker, who talked about the importance of church parade. 

Monthly church parades had the advantage of being used as regular joint meetings.   Any boy moving from one section to another was usually ’sent up’ at church parades.  For example, in 1955, Bob Anderson, a future leader, and Redmond Dill[9], moved from Scouts to Seniors at the June church parade, while in March 1956, F.Phelan was one of four Cubs to move to Scouts.  Because he had already passed his Tenderfoot, he was invested immediately in the church.   

On the question of the Group’s links with St Nicholas, it was interesting that in 1956, the Rev Walker asked that no Roman Catholics be admitted to the Group.  This request was merely minuted and no comment passed on the request, which I assume was accepted.  This was a new initiative from the vicar since he did add that no existing Roman Catholics in the Group should be asked to leave. 

Camping

            The Scout Summer Camp, well away from Plumstead, was well-established by this time.  1955 was disappointing when their plans for a camp in Wales fell through (they went to Essex instead) but they did go further afield the following year.  We don’t actually know where, but the camping equipment had to travel by train via King’s Cross.  British Rail did manage to lose one tent, which turned up six months later.  The camp also suffered ‘incessant’ rain.  In 1957, the Summer Camp was at Buxton in Derbyshire, where they were able to pay a visit to the World Jamboree at Arrowe Park, Sutton Coldfield.  Again, the weather was disappointing and they had to hire a cottage on the last night to dry out.  In 1958, plans were made to take the Scouts to Switzerland but IHQ was ‘unsympathetic’, only allowing Scouts who were over 14 to go.  They had to make do with Slaughterford, Wiltshire.  In 1959, the Scouts camped in the Lake District without incident, except for a fire shelter being damaged by fire. 

            In 1957, the Seniors hiked in Scotland, following the trail of Bonnie Prince Charlie.  The 2^nd worked well on the idea of each section offering more than the previous age group.  The Cubs would always stay local, the Scouts would travel further afield and the Seniors were always more ambitious.  In 1960, the Seniors planned to canoe through Lincolnshire, a plan aborted late on when they were unable to hire canoes. 

            Cub camps were held locally, effected by the rule that only Cubs aged over 9½ were allowed to camp.  This caused problems in 1958, when Miss Murray (now Mrs Dyer) pointed out that, having a young Pack, only a few Cubs were allowed to camp.  In 1955, the Cubs camped at Gravesend, in 1956 at Meopham and at Hope Hill in 1957, 1958 and 1959.  It was before the 1958 camp that Mrs Dyer stated that she was going to ask permission to take under-9½s on camp, but no response was ever recorded. 

Two Major Events

            On the 28^th December, 1957, there was a second Bostall wedding when the Scout Master Ray Dyer married the Cub Mistress Daphne Murray.  It took place at St Nicholas Church and there was a guard of Scouts, with staves, and Wolf Cubs.  The Christmas wedding was necessary since over the summer, Mr Dyer had taken a group of Senior Scouts hiking in Scotland and Miss Murray had spent ten days at camp with the Cubs.  

            The second major event were firm plans to acquire a Group HQ of their own for the Bostalls.  The first mention was made in February 1957, when the idea was raised by ASM Showler.  A discussion about making an attempt to acquire some land for an HQ took place and it was agreed to make further enquiries. 

            It was two years later when discussions were reopened.  In January 1959, Raymond Tuttwas deputed to talk to the vicar about the possibility of building a new HQ on church land.  Again,  things moved slowly but hope seemed to be high.  In May 1960, plans for a Group HQ were produced and it was decided to start fund-raising.  It was agreed that a Group balance of £100 would be kept and any other money would go into the HQ fund.  This optimism was gradually deflated as the Diocese and legal experts became involved and in July 1961, the new GSM Mr Tutt, held talks with the vicar about leasing St Francis Hall, rather than building a brand new HQ.  Six months later, the 2^nd had obtained a 21 year lease for the exclusive use of St Francis Hall. 

Church and Group

            This finished very amicably but in the 1950s, there were some tensions between St Nicholas Church and the Group.  The biggest issue was in 1958, when the church proposed a rent increase.  The Executive wrote a letter complaining, an action which irritated the Leader’s Council.  Though nobody wanted higher rents, the Council thought either that any actions should be concerted or that the Council should be taking the lead.  A meeting took place where the Dyers explained the leader’s concerns to the Executive.  The Executive claimed that they were just ‘safeguarding the Group’s finances’.  In the end, it made no difference - the rents were raised. 

            Generally the relations were harmonious.  Storage was always an issue with such a big Group and though the church didn’t always agree to allow the Group to store items where they wanted, compromises or alternatives were usually found.  

            In 1955, the GPO used St Nicholas Hall for their Christmas sorting so the Cubs and Scouts had to use St Francis Hall.  A year later, the vicar wouldn’t give the Group permission to enlarge their cupboard but offered them storage space at the back of the stage. 

District Competitions

            As a big Group, the 2^nd expected to be successful at District competitions and usually were.  For example, in 1959 the 2^nd were ‘only’ joint winners of the Warner Cup (for Athletics) with the 38^th.  The GSM of the 38^th, Mr Walls, wondered if the 2^nd’s ‘joints were rheumatic’. 

            In 1959, Rovers Brain Anderson and Jeremy Tracy won the Rover Hiking competition.  Unbeknown to them, they were the only entrants but they were still left to complete the challenge.  The following year, the same thing happened but the Rovers weren’t asked to complete the course.  There was much insistence at the Bostalls that it was recognised that they had retained the trophy. 

            This will to win was also reflected in other events.  As well as the unnamed PL being demoted for not attending the Swimming Gala in 1956, in 1959, the Scouts insisted that they had been ‘robbed’ in the Scout Relay, because one of their team had slipped over.   The Rev Groom would have been proud – clearly the 2^nd still meant business. 

            In many Group competitions, the leader’s race also counted.  In 1957, Ray Dyer won both the running and the long jump in the Warner Cup.   In the same competition, Brain Anderson won the 880 yards race.  The Bostalls won the Warner Cup that year, a competition they won regularly throughout the 1950s. 

            Another competition the Group had their eyes on was a national one – The National Soapbox Derby.  The Bostall Flyer was completed in 1958 and won prizes for best appearance and design at the Woolwich competition.  But it wasn’t ready for the 1958 competition, held in Nottingham, an event won by Jetless Jennie, which belonged to the 38^th Woolwich.  There was talk of entering the 1960 event but there is no record of whether this happened or not. 

            In 1959, the Group won the District Swimming Gala, with Cub Jeremy Swan and Scout Derek Bampton[10] particularly impressing.  Both were asked to swim for Woolwich District at Downham, but the event was cancelled at the last minute.