BPs only official visit to the Island

 Inspection by General and Lady Baden-Powell

At Carisbrooke Castle Monday 7th. August 1916

Report from Isle of Wight County Press Saturday 12th. August


Monday last was a red-letter day for the Island Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, for it witnessed the first united assembly of the members of these splendidly useful and highly patriotic organisations for our lads and girls in the Island. The occasion was also unique in that they were honoured by a visit from the famous Chief Scout, Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Baden-Powell K.O.B. and his charming wife, the Chief Guide, Lady Baden-Powell, who respectively inspected the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides at Carisbrooke Castle, this being the first official visit of the defender of Mafeking to the Island Scouts.


  Brilliant weather, with sufficient breeze to temper agreeably the sun’s rays, favoured this fixture, which attracted a large crowd of sightseers from all parts of the Island, and those thronging the grassy slopes around the historic Bowling-green provided an effective setting for the delightfully novel and animated scene, in which the smartly equipped Scouts and Guides were altogether admirable actors. The war has provided welcome stimulus to this as well as other patriotic organisations and the Isle of Wight Boy Scouts Association, under the keen presidency of Major-General Fetherstonghaugh C.B. and an admirable executive is doing splendid work in bringing the various companies scattered about the Island into closer touch and healthy rivalry, thus furnishing a valuable aid to the much-to-be-desired development of this excellent movement for training the rising generation to be self-reliant and useful in helping others and serving their country. Eloquent proof of their usefulness, particularly since the outbreak of war, was afforded by the war service badges won by these promising young citizens, some of which were presented to those who had won them by Lady Baden-Powell on Monday. Let it be said at once that the Island Scouts won the warm praise of the Chief Scout and his heartiest congratulations upon their highly meritous record of service.

 

Lady Olave Baden Powell and Lord Robert Baden Powell 

at Carisbrooke Castle Bowling Green

General and Lady Baden-Powell, who were respectively wearing the uniforms of the organisations of which they are the honoured heads, motored over from Woodlands Vale, Ryde, where they were the guests of Lady Gough-Calthorpe, the Honourable Miss Mabel Gough-Calthorpe and party accompanying them, and arriving at the Castle at 2:30. They were received by General Fetherstonhaugh, the Reverend Cyril L. Blake (County Commissioner) the Reverend R.M. Curwen  (District Commissioner for East Wight), and Dr. Carlyon (Acting District Commissioner for West Wight), and they proceeded to the open space, beyond the south-east corner of the Bowling-green, where the Girl Guides, looking particularly neat and smart in their serviceable navy blue outfit, were under Miss Oldham (Shanklin). They numbered about 70 and were from Ventnor (under Mrs. Hearn and Miss Perrot Smith), Ryde Y.W.C.S. (under Miss Blechynden and Miss Tims) and Shanklin  (under Miss Oldham).

 

After inspecting the ranks Lady Baden-Powell said she was very glad to be able to come and inspect the Isle of Wight Girl Guides and to see for herself how well they were getting on. She congratulated them on the way they were working to get their badges and advised them to continue to do all they could to learn how to make themselves useful to others and their country, to learn cooking, sewing, gardening, and other things which went to make them good Girl Guides, and not to hesitate to give up their leisure to take advantage of that opportunity of making themselves good citizens. Let them work on steadily aiming at getting the first class badges, and at obtaining the qualifications which would be helpful not only to themselves but to others. Let them stick to their work and carry out the Guide laws to honour God and the King and to do a good turn for some one every day. She thanked them for coming that day, and hoped that when she next came they would have more than double the number of Guides there (here all the Guides present cheered).

 
VIP's at Carisbrooke Castle Bowling Green
Baden Powell taking the salute as the Girl Guides march past

General and Lady Baden-Powell then passed on to the Bowling-green, where the Scouts and Wolf Cubs, numbering about 500, drawn up in line under District Scout Master J.H. Burgess (Newport), received them with a general salute. In the reserved enclosure were, in addition to those already named, were Eleanor Viscountess Gort, Sir Godfrey Baring Bart., M.P., C.C., Mr and Mrs Arthur Atherley, the Mayor and Mayoress of Newport (Mr J.C. Millgate J.P. and Miss Chritabella Millgate), Colonel Worthington Wilmer, the Reverend Canon Clement Smith M.V.O., Miss B.K. Martin, Colonel W.T. Arnell J.P., Major C. Sweetman,  Major Heckstall-Smith, Captain W.A. Matthews, the Vicar of Ryde (the Reverend Hugh Le Fleming), the Rector of Brighstone (the Reverend R.W. Silver), Captain and Mrs. Frank King, Miss Cooke and Mrs. C. Gordon Brodie.

 

The King’s Scouts were fallen out from the main line in front, and also those who had earned war service badges, and General Baden-Powell shook hands with each and congratulated them on their distinction, and Lady Baden-Powell presented war service badges to those who had not previously received them.  The General accompanied by General Fetherstonhaugh, proceeded to make a close inspection of the line, greeting scout-masters and scouts with great geniality, encouraging and congratulating as he went in characteristically unconventional style. He was especially flattering to the Cowes Scouts for their praiseworthy fire service saying they had done great credit to themselves and the movement. The Scouts then formed an arena for demonstrations of the various kinds of useful work in which they are skilled. The Cowes Sea Scouts, under Scout-Master White, attracted special attention with their admirable demonstration of life saving by means of the rocket apparatus and international flag signalling. It is interesting to note that the rocket used for life saving was invented by Mr Dennett, within a mile of the scene of the demonstration.  The rocket fired from the centre of the bowling green carried the lifeline well up over the south bank to the supposed vessel in distress. A rope was quickly hauled out by means of the lifeline, and very soon a “rescued” Scout, sitting in the “breeches” was being passed along from “wreck” to the “shore” amid much applause.  The Ryde Parish-church Scouts gave a very skilful exhibition of bridge-building; there were excellent transport displays with collapsible trek carts by the Newport and Sandown Troops; Brading gave some pyramid displays, and St. Helens was responsible for the Indian wigwam; the Cowes Land Scouts gave and exhibition of fire service at a burning tent, with treatment of the rescued; Totland Troop did some clever bridge-building with Scouts’ staves, and also ambulance work; and members of the Chale detachment, headed by two pipers in Highland dress skirling merrily on their bagpipes, marched in and gave a very clever display of physical exercises, whilst the pipers danced. At the invitation of General-Baden-Powell, the Wolf Cubs gave an amusing performance by turning somersaults on the ground around him, The Scouts, with the Guides, then reformed line, formed fours, and took part in the march past, General Baden-Powell standing at the flag-staff in front of the enclosure and taking the salute as the Scouts swung by with admirable order and precision to the inspiriting strains of the Ryde Parish-church Troop’s Band, amid much cheering. The different troops afterwards proceeded to their various rallying points around the banks, and at a given signal they came rushing forward in their “rally”, shouting and cheering, and finally forming a semi-circle in front of the Chief Scout. 

 
Lord Baden Powell taking the salute as 1st Cowes Sea Scouts march past


General Baden-Powell then addressed them, saying he just wanted to say how very glad he was to have the chance of seeing the Scouts and Wolf Cubs of the Isle of Wight. He had heard a great deal about them and of good work they were doing, and it was a special pleasure to him to come and see them. They looked very smart, and he was very   pleased to see that such a large number of badges for proficiency were being worn by them, showing that they were trying to make themselves into good and efficient Scouts, and not simply playing at it. He was particularly glad to see so many badges for doing public service in wartime, showing that they had been doing what they could to replace those who had gone to the war, and thus helping their country at a time when the country wanted the help of the Scouts. Years hence many of them would look with pride at that little red badge, which would show that in those anxious times, though only boys, they tried to do their bit for their country just as much as the men, and he congratulated them upon that service (here all present applauded). He was very glad to see the Sea Scouts working so well, side by side with the Land Scouts; that was typical of what their elder brothers, our sailors and soldiers were doing at the Front, doing their job without any rivalry or jealousy of one another, but just trying to do their duty for their country (applause).  He thanked the Cowes Sea and Land Scouts for their splendid example and the jolly good help they gave the local Fire Brigade – it might be said the Fire Brigade came to help them – at recent fires in their district (applause).   He had only lately been present at a big meeting of Scouts in the East End of London, where they held a service in honour of one of their Scout Leaders, Roland Phillips, who had written so many books for Scouts, and who had given up his life for his Country at the Front.  After being wounded in three places he did not go into hospital, as he feared he would be missing the next fight, but returned to the Front and was killed. Over 3,000 Scouts attended that service in the slums of London to honour the memory of one who was a great hero, and for whom Scouts wish to raise some sort of memorial. There was another Scout he wished to ask their interest in, in order to do something to honour him – he referred to the boy hero, Jack Cornwell, who was killed on HMS Chester. They knew his thrilling story. He was a harum-scarum boy when he became a Scout, not over clean, tidy or clever, but as a Scout he became smart in dress and appearance and trustworthy, and carried out satisfactorily the duties required of him, gaining a second class badge and the missioners badge, the latter being for one ready to lend a helping hand to a friend in distress. He wanted to raise from Scouts throughout the country a subscription of a penny or halfpenny each, just to show that they wanted to keep his memory green and to open a fund, which would enable them to help poorer Scouts. He thanked them for coming in such large numbers on the occasion of his first visit to them – he was glad to see such a splendid lot of Scouts there – and he hoped that when he came again he should find lots more in their ranks. He had been associated in years past with the former Governor of the Island, the late Prince Henry of Battenburg who was a good Scout. He (the General) was out on the west coast of Africa, where the late Prince gave up his life for his country in carrying out what they might call real Scout work in the best sense. In going out as the late Prince did, one gave up any idea of amusing or pleasing oneself, and went to serve his country and to go through the worst of hardships. That was how Prince Henry died, doing his duty out there in the swamps of Africa (hear hear).  They had his memory, of which they were proud, before them. Let them often think of him as a good Scout, try to follow that good example, and be ready to sacrifice themselves for their country.  If they tried to do that they would be doing their duty as good Scouts and citizens. He wished them every success in their work. With hats on staves the Scouts, led by the Reverend C.L. Blake, gave three ringing cheers for General and Lady Baden-Powell, the band played “God Save The King” and on the call of the General the Scouts gave three rousing cheers for the King.

 

Scouts, all with staves, on the banks of the Bowling Green

General Baden-Powell subsequently addressed the Scout Masters, giving them good advice as to the handling and training of the lads who came into their ranks. He said he understood that the Educational Authorities of Hampshire were looking into Scout methods in their desire to find something in regard to practical patriotism and character to teach the boys, and he was sure they would be glad to give the authorities every assistance they could.

 
All the scouts and guides at attention whilst being addressed by B.P.

The troops and Scout Masters on parade were: - Newport Scout Master – J.H. Burgess and Assistant Scout Master Ruffell; Ryde Y.M.C.A., Scout Master Tims; Ryde Parish Church, Scout Master S. Lawson with Mr. H.H. Clark; Ryde Holy Trinity, Reverend Noel Stubbs and Mr. Malekin; St. Johns (Ryde) Sea Scouts, Scout Master Cecil Trent; Wootton Sea Scouts, Assistant Scout Master J.C. Hennah; Cowes, Mr Brandon and Messrs. F. Cooper and W. Ryall, Cowes Sea Scouts, Scout Master H.P. White; Niton, Miss Lock; Chale, Mr J. Cooke; Yarmouth, Scout Master Doctor Carlyon and Assistant Scout Master  Mr Gatrell; Totland, Scout Master H.S. Thatcher and Assistant Scout Master A.J. Hughes; Brighstone, Scout Master A.F. Warne; Calbourne, Scout Master Miss Tugwell; Shanklin, the Reverend R.M. Curwen and Mr. Cotton; Ventnor, the Reverend B.H.P. Smith and Mr. W. Billings; Sandown, Scout Master C. Daish  and Assistant Scout Master H. Daish & J. Aaronson; St. Helens, Scout Master C.B. Scott; Brading, the Reverend A.H. Osborne; Seaview, (and Wolf Cubs from Newport, Sandown, Chale, Ryde St. Johns and Seaview). There were bands from Ryde and Cowes. The 3rd. Royal Warwickshire Band from Parkhurst (Editor’s note – this was the location of the Army Barracks) added much to the pleasure of the proceedings by their fine performances.

 

The Scouts who were honoured by acting as bugler and orderly respectively for General Baden Powell were 1st Class King’s Scout Harold Pribyl, 3rd. Ryde, congratulated by the General, who was wearing 16 proficiency badges, and Scout Edward Whitbread, Wootton Sea Scouts who has 12 proficiency badges. The former was attending and International Scouts Camp in Belgium when war broke out.

 Mr. George Janaway, Honorary Secretary of the Isle of Wight Association, carried out the secretarial duties with efficiency.