SCOUT NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 250, 19 September 1940, Page 13

SCOUT NOTES

BENEFIT OF SCOUT TRAINING. | (By “Rang!”) I have just received a report from England oi the adventures which befel a Glasgow Rover Scout serving in thy Royal Navy. He was home on “survivors’ leave/’ and this was the story he had to tell his Rover Commissioner:— j “Our 6hip was lying in a Norwegian fiord one morning,” he said, “when we were attacked .by a Nazi bomber. I ran to my gun and managed to get a few shots before a bomb burst nearby and blew me 15ft across the ship. 1 went back to the gun. After dropping another bomb, which wrecked the bridge and killed everybody there, the bomber went off. I went to lend a hand with the wounded,” he continued, i “There was only one stretcher aboard, so , I made some others just like they showed . us in the Scouts. It was decided to aban- ; don 6hip, so I got into a float which was lowed down tho fiord by the one lifeboat. Despite everything, 1 managed to hang on j to my camera. Finally, we landed down | the fiord and spent the day on the hill- j side, being machine-gunned occasionally. At dusk a cruiser came into the fiord, lhe ship's signaller was not in tho party arid, remembering a bit of Morse, I signalled , with a pocket torch. The cruiser was sus- j picious at first and signalled back, wanting : to know the name of the ship and what hud happened. I signalled back slowly and eventually tho cruiser sent a whaleboat ashore. As we were being taken off one of the other fellows turned to me and said, ‘Well, thank God for the Boy Scouts.’ ” TROOP JOTTINGS.

3rd Palmerston North (West End) Scouts.—Last Saturday the S.P. leaders went for a day’s outing to the Pahiatua Track. Scoutcrs Mana and Kawau attended a parade of the Medical Corps, and K. Stockdale took charge, assisted by P-L. Eric Bailey. Morse signalling was tho chief occupation of the day. The return journey commenced at 4.45 and the boys reached Palmerston North at 6 p.m. At the wcekiy parade on Monday night wo went on a march, when we sang many popular songs. We practised knot-tying, principally the rolling hitch and the timber hitch. We were grateful for she assistance of one of the Rover Crew. 4th Palmerston North (All Saints’). —Our meeting opened with flagbreak and prayers. This was followed by inspection, which was won by the Morepork Patrol. Tho troop was then split up in two parties and took part in a game of dog-and-the-bone, which finished up by one side beating the other by one point, tho score being 19 to 20. Ilawkeyo then took tho troop for a talk on ambulance work, the topic being fractures and their signs and treatment. The patrol leaders took their patrols for work in the corners. Hawkeye inspected the handicraft while the troop was in the corners. After corners we finished up our evening with a couple of games of dodgeball. After flagbreak and dismissal a meeting of the Court of Honour was held. 9th Palmerston North (St. Patrick s troop).—The meeting last week commenced with prayers, which were taken by the duty patrol leader; inspection followed. The smartest patrol for the evening was the Stags, After - a brisk game of dodgeball. tho patrols went to their corners for instruction. Kahu made final arrangements for our trip to Dannevirke, where we are going to play the Scouts at football. At 8 o'clock the troop sat down to a farewell party to our Scoutmaster, Kahu, who has had to give up the position as our scoutmaster for the time being. The new acting-Scoutmaster (T. O’Dea) on behalf of tho members of the troop, presented to him a handsome writing outfit, carrying with it best wishes and a speedy return to our troop. Kahu, replying, thanked the members for their kind gesture ,and the way the troop had acted towards him during his seoutmastership He was proud of the hacking that the entire troop had always given him, in bringing tho group up to its present high position in the city. It was only through tho backing of the members that he had boon able to make the troop, if not the best, one of the best in the district. The only way that it would bo possible for tho troop to maintain its high position was through the wholehearted support and backing up of their patrol loaders. Concluding lie extended to every member of the troop his best wishes and hopes for good camping, and particularly success in tho next handball tournament. After cheers had been given, Kahu presented tho following badges: Tenderfoot, R. Raphael; second class, P. Queenan; missioner’s, T. O’Dea. D. O’Sullivan, J. Burns, J. Anderson, B. Richards and B. Clapcott. Kahu will finish his scoutmastership after the Dannevirke trip. 2nd Palmerston North (Terrace End). — Last Friday, being the first night on which the hoys were back after the holidays, proved very eventful. There was a good muster and wo were very pleased to welcome two new chums, Ray Thompson and Ira Richardson. We were pleased to see Mrs Davies and later Mr Maunder, who dropped in to see how the troop was progressing. Mr B. Pcgden and company were unexpected but welcome guests. Later in tho evening St. Peter’s Troop paid us a keenly anticipated visit, and played us at handball and big ring. Unfortunately the odds wore against our visitors and we came out victorious in each game. However, when they visit us again perhaps the tables will be turned. There was no Court of Honour, and the troop was dismissed after having a very enjoyable evening.