Group History - 1st Isle of Wight (1st Sandown & Lake) Sea Scout Unit

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Barry has been busy finding suitable articles for the Newport Exhibition in July 2024 and came across this brilliant article that he had not finished. An hour later and it’s interesting enough to print here.

Copied from Scout Scoop Number 2 1976 - the Group’s Newsletter

1st ISLE OF WIGHT (1ST SANDOWN) SEA SCOUTS.

Registered. No. 1950 R.N. Group No. 65.

Note . 1st Sandown thrives on hard work - so said the present Group Scout Leader some years ago when requesting funds to build a workshop at the Headquarters on the beach - a statement deriving from history, and indicating the future.

Historical Notes,

B.P.'s. Scouting for Boys in fortnightly parts inspired Percy Parks, a Sandown dentist, and enthused the boys of the town who gathered round him as Scout Master early in 1908, to start the long unbroken story of Scouting in Sandown by the 1st Sandown. When activities could be extended to the sea, what more natural than the addition of Sea Scouts to their title, with a meeting place on the beach, and boating activities.

Permission was obtained from the War Department to rent a site, and work started to clear a portion of land under the Western Cliffs, and revet it, and build a hut. By August 1914, the Troop was well enough established to answer the calls of War, for service in several directions - cycle orderlies at the Barracks (20 – 30 miles a day) - camp and day guard at the reservoir on Brading Downs (a military guard at night) - cycle orderlies and signalers at Sandown Coast Guard station (Sandown Bay was the 'fine weather' Examination Anchorage for all shipping going inside the Island) with much activity in morse, semaphore and International Code. Many boys were awarded the War Service Badges for 100 and 300 days, and 84 days Coast Guard, and many were presented by Lady Baden Powell at the Rally for B.P. at Carisbrooke in 1916. The Troop were also active with military training as suggested by H.Q. (Red Feather), and some target practice with a .22 was engaged in at the Hut on the beach.

The introduction to Coast Guard activities naturally created a wish to have their own 'look out', and an 'upper room' was constructed at their beach headquarters.

Troop activities continued through the War days in a room in the Town with various service jobs, accompanied with the recurring Job of defending the Hut from Davy Jones - (some boats were lost).

After the war with a Cub Pack added, it was obvious that the original Hut was not going to be safe or sufficient home for the Troop - the Coast Guard Station had become vacant - permission was obtained from the Admiralty to rent it, and the Troop moved in, dismantling the old Hut and clearing the site on the Beach. The high Town Rates however, prevented the Troop from continuing at the Coast Guard Station, and they reluctantly vacated it, and for some time, had no home, but continued in sundry places.

A Troop Committee had been formed in 1916, and efforts were now made to build a new headquarters on the old site on the Western Bench. During this period, sundry boats had been acquired, by gift and purchase, among them two Coast Guard 24 foot cutters, which were redundant, but it was realized that such craft were not at all suitable for training boys here. It was also realised that a desirable range of sea activities could only be carried on by retaining the 'older boys' and interesting the local shoremen, and enlisting their aid - this was done. The shell of a new hut was duly built, leaving much work of 'finishing' to be done by the boys, including putting in a floor for the upper room, again, to forum a 'look out'. Other accommodation in the town was also obtained, and activities continued in Junior and Senior Troops.

All the time, the attacks of Davy Jones called for much hard work and expense in revetments, and the cliffs too, often tried to bury them, anything up to 40 or 50 tons arriving uninvited from above. (Picks, shovels, spades and wheelbarrows have always been very necessary items of equipment, and should surely appear on their crest if they ever have one), again calling for 'seniority' in the personnel.

A wide range of activities were maintained locally, and further afield, amongst which was a further link with the Coast Guards through the A.D.C. {S.S.} who was a member of the Ventnor Rocket Crew - the Divisional Inspector of Coast Guard was an A.D.C.{S.S} Weymouth, and it was arranged that boys of the Troop should form the 'wreck party' at drills to occupy the breaches buoy. ( Note A.D.C. {S.S.} means Assistant District Commissioner Senior Scouts)

After several attempts at Rovers, a strong grew was established in 1952, to include several young men 'new' to Scouting. with a programme of service and work, they soon became a powerful force in the town, as well as the Group. The new scheme of Auxiliary Coast-guard's, instigated by the Divisional Inspector, was immediately engaged in, and members trained as Watchers for duty at Bembridge Station, and the Crew enrolled for general life saving duties, also exercising with the Bembridge Life Boat - work on buildings and sea defenses helped the Group Committee - co-operation with the local Council tor traffic duties (by arrangement with the police) - help with other local organisatlons at charitable functions etc. - beach safety as Lifeguards - full engagement with local Rowing, sailing and Swimming Clubs.

Their initiative in providing their own sailing boat led to the acquisition of their own motor launch, a great asset today, which has been provided from their own funds. Later, the Crew were able to provide four Scouters and take over and strengthen the Junior Troop, and extend sea activities.

With the possibility of War, a scheme of training for the Scouts in Coast Guard duties was started, and liaison made with H.M. Coast Guard. At the outbreak of hostilities, the Scouts were 'called up' for duty at Bembrldge, and went under canvas and did watchkeeplng. (One of these boys returned after the War Service and is now the Watcher in Charge of the Sandown Station, having been awarded the British Empire Medal, and holding the Coast Guard medal for 20 years, also the Scout Silver Cross and Medal of Merit. Another one holds the Twenty Year Coast Guard medal, and has 25 years Scouter service in the Group, 20 years as Scoutmaster, having been awarded the Scout Medal of Merit and Bar. Later, at the fall of France, the Rovers were called to Bembrldge, and arms were issued, and a nightly armed coast patrol in Sundown Bay established. This continued until relieved by the L.D.V. and later, the Home Guard.

Members of the Crew were also Auxiliary Firemen. Later, they established a Patrol in Auxiliary Units of the British Resistance, under G.H.Q. Home Forces, with a secret underground 'hideout' and 'toys' for destruction. Around 'D' Day, G.H.Q.requested that a motor boat be prepared for emergency duty. This was done by arrangement with the local Shoremen, and manned by the Patrol from the Rover Den.

All through the War, the Troop continued to meet in a house, in the town, the beach H.Q. being put out of bounds by the Military, together with the Rowing Club building adjacent, which had been loaned to the Group owing to lack of personnel to continue rowing.

After the War, a mass of practical work awaited those trying to pick up the threads of Scouting again. buildings were in a sad state - the cliff was trying to bury anything that Davy Jones could not wash away - boys were awaiting action - H.M. Coast Guard wished to establish a station in Sandown - a Group Committee to be built up, with the necessary abilities - much money to be found - and it was.

The Rover Crew grew strong again, to complete the building of motor launch Sea Rover 1, and organise activities afloat for the boys - liaison with the Sea Rangers helped their boating, and 'found' two of their 'ship' to build up the Wolf Cub Pack.

Full programmes in all sections gradually developed. The Rovers added cliff Rescue duties to Watch keeping - the completed Sea Rover 1 proving useful. The growing 'fleet' of craft increasing the work of upkeep - and later, the building and equipping of a workshop, and provision of winch and other gear for handling the boats. All the time, keeping Davy Jones at bay, and giving him the lumps of cliff arriving on site from above and making good the considerable damage. Very many times over the years the Group had cause to appreciate the co-operation and understanding of Sandown and Shanklin Urban District Council in times of stress.