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History of Scouting in the City of Sheffield 1907-1915



1907
August - An Experimental Camp is held by Baden Powell on Brownsea Island
   
1908
Publication of the first issue of 'Scouting for Boys'
The first issue of the magazine - 'The Scout' - is published

Scouts J S Bartlett from Crosspool and S S Black from Burngreave win a competition organsied by "The Scout" magazine to take park in the first Official Boy Scouts Camp at Humshaugh in Northumberland


The first Scout Troop in Sheffield is registered - 1st Sheffield (Croft Hall) Troop.
   
c1909
Patrols of boys form in various parts of Sheffield, some registering directly with the London Headquarters of the Boy Scouts Association. Patrols in Barnsley Road, Shirecliffe Lane and Ellesmere Road amalgamate to form the 1st Pitsmoor Troop (subsequently registered as 11th Sheffield (Pitsmoor) Troop).
   
1910
The first old age pensions are paid
The Sea Scouts branch is formed


The Sheffield Local Association of Boy Scouts (SLABS) is formed

Major J H Leslie is appointed as District Commissioner for Yorkshire West Riding - Southern District
   
1911
A campsite is secured at Dore for the use of Troops

A contingent of Sheffield Scouts joins 26,000 other Scouts attending His Majesty the King's Rally at Windsor. Flags of 1st, 3rd, 7th, 9th, 14th and 18th Sheffield are used at the Rally and are subsequently allowed to have the word 'Windsor' inserted in them

The annual census of Sheffield Scouts gives 300 Officers and 420 Scouts on the roll

A Medal of Bravery is awarded to Patrol Leader Charles Gribben of the 7th (Attercliffe) Troop who 'at grave danger to himself gallantly rescued a child that was in grave danger of being run over by a pair of horses'. During this decade, a number of Scouts and Officers are awarded for bravery - a common rescue being the saving women or children from drowning in the dams that surround Sheffield

Five Troops organise Drum and Fife or Bugle Bands

In competition against other youth organisations, the Sheffield Scout Team wins the Edgar Allen Swimming Trophy

By the end of the year, nine City Troops are registered
   
1912
The census return shows 36 Officers, 11 Instructors and 583 Scouts

Over 500 Scouts engage in a Field Day

SLABS' First Annual Sports are held

Sheffield Scouts form a Guard of Honour at the Forfeit Feast at the Cutlers Hall in Sheffield

In May, a Rally and Pageant are held at the Owlerton Football Ground in Sheffield with displays of camp life, bridge building, flag raiding, obstacle race, fire display and life saving [50205]

At this time, SLABS is using Croft Hall Settlement as its meeting place.
   
1913-14
An experimental scheme for 'Wolf Cubs' or 'Young Scouts' starts

A Scoutmasters' Training Troop is formed

About 100 Officers and Boys from Sheffield join 18,000 others taking part in the Great Birmingham Rally and are inspected by HRH Prince Arthur

The first Wolf Cub Packs are formed in the City

SLABS holds it first Swimming Gala at Glossop Road Baths

In July, a Rally and Exhibition are held. The Rally is at Sheffield Wednesday Football Ground and is attended by the Chief Scout Sir Robert Baden Powell and his wife Lady Olave. 1200 Scouts attend the Rally including large numbers from Rotherham and North Derbyshire. The Exhibition is held at Sheffield Corn Exchange with displays of Scoutcraft, a stadium for Scout Games and a display of country dancing, and a boxing booth

A fund is inaugurated for a permanent HQ for for SLABS. Despite a strong start, it is closed due to the outbreak of the First World War

Due to the War, neither the Annual Sports or Swimming Gala are held

A Standing Camp is formed at Westbrook House and 100 boys immediately join it for Special Service with the Scouts assisting the Police by guarding waterworks and providing messenger and general service duties

By the end of the year, there are 49 active Troops in the City - 27 with Cub Packs
   
1914-15
Outbreak of World War One
An experimental scheme for 'Wolf Cubs' or 'Young Scouts' starts

First National Good Turn - Scouts Day of Work for the blind

The Sheffield area is divided into five Districts - Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central - each with a District Scoutmaster in charge

Camps at Redmires and Rivelin, used by Scouts guarding the waterworks, are stood down, the Police taking over responsibility

The Chief Scout, Sir Robert Baden Powell, is invited to visit the City by the Master Cutler, and two or three Patrol Leaders from each Troop meet him at Cutlers Hall. This is followed by tea and musical and dramatic entertainment. The Chief Scout later gives an address to those assembled

In July 1915, Scouts from four Troops help to entertain about two dozen wounded soldiers from Hillsborough Hospital (Hillsborough Barracks) in the garden of Westbrook House (the home of Albert Harland)

The Boy Scout Team wins the Edgar Allen Trophy

The Scout Mobilisation Scheme is put into operation. Two Scouts are on duty at twelve of the principle Police Stations and three at both of the Fire Brigade Stations. Subsequently, other Police Stations are manned and the number of Scouts on duty at each is increased

The Scouts are on duty each night from 9pm until dawn. Their duty is to call up special constables or firemen whenever the alarm is given that hostile aircraft are approaching and, in the event of an actual air raid on the City, they are to help the authorities in any way possible (There were 23 separate air raid warnings and one actual air raid). Thirty-three Troops take part over the year with the the total number of Scouts helping being over 350

 

† "The Scout" No 20 Vol 1 and "Scouting on the Isle of Wight 1907-2007"- Isle of Wight Scout Councilxx

Events in italics either refer to national Scouting events (more information on these can be found here)
or UK/international historical events

Numbers in brackets [1234] are links to more information in the Sheffield Scout Archives.

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