National Scout Awards: Cambridge Recipients

Cambridge District Scout Archive

These records are taken from the Scout Record download.

http://www.scoutsrecords.org/scoutsuploads/Award%20Photograph%20Books%20Entries%20Complete.pdf       These records end 1970 for Cornwell Badge and 1975 for other awards.

Cornwell Badge

Patrol Leader Eric Curwain. 14th Cambridge Troop. Cornwell Badge, May 1918.

Scout Roy Charles Tarrant. 7th Cambridge. Cornwell Badge. 25th March 1964.

Bronze Cross, Silver Cross, Gilt Cross, Medal of Merit

Scout Frank Keepin 1st Cambridge Troop Medal of Merit, 16th May 1916 Stopping a pair of runaway horses. This medal was presented by Professor Gardiner D.C.

Patrol Leader W. Dean 8th Cambridge Troop Silver Cross, 11th November 1918. Saving a boy from drowning (The boy was P/L Langham)

Scout Master H.R. Mallett 1st March (Cambridgeshire) Silver Cross, May 10th 1921. Saving a girl from drowning. This was Herbert Reginald Mallett (Reggie) he was in role as GSM in 1934 and later March DC. The Cambridge based Howard Rothwell Mallett, Cambridge DC, was active for over much of the same period. In a photograph of 1931 he appears to be wearing his Scout medals but not his MC and bar.

Scoutmaster Captain R. G. Briscoe 2nd Cambridge District Troop Bronze Cross, August 16th 1923  Rescuing a man from drowning in the sea at Trimingham, Norfolk. This received a four line ‘filler’ in the local newspaper, remarkable for the fact that Captain Briscoe M.C. was standing for election to Parliament at the time. He was regularly in the newspapers and won the election. At the formal presentation later in the year a PL Joe Dickerson, was awarded the MM although the reason for the award was not recorded.

Rover Scout A.M. Barrett 7th Cambridge (County School) Group Silver Cross, 2 July 1930 For a gallant attempt to rescue a woman from drowning in the River Cam on July 2nd 1930. Awarded August 28th 1930

Wolf Cub G. Ganfrey 46th Cambridge (Cottenham) Group Silver Cross, September 8th 1934. For rescuing a girl from drowning in the Old West River, near Cottenham, on September 8th 1934 Awarded November 14th 1934

Scout T.R. Isaacson 36th Cambridge Group Gilt Cross, 26 June 1937. Rescuing a woman in the River Granta at Cambridge who was in danger of drowning on June 26th 1937. Awarded August 25th 1937

Scout Second W.M. Goodchild 5th Cambridge (Perse School) Group. Gilt Cross, 25th August 1939  For his gallantry in rescuing a lady who was in danger of drowning in a lock on the River Ouse, Cambridge on August 25th 1939. Awarded December 13th 1939.

Patrol Leader Robert Gillings 1st Cambridge Group. Gilt Cross, 3 August 1946. For his gallantry in rescuing a little boy from drowning in the River Cam at Cambridge on 3rd August 1946. Awarded 23rd October 1946.

Gilt Cross to Christopher Bilinski of 1st Histon for rescuing a child from gravel pits. 1965, an event recorded with a photograph in the HQ Annual Report of 1965-66.

Notes    

A Cpl Herbert Stone was named as receiving ‘a life saving award’ in 1911 at the District rally with B-P. A member of the 1st Cambridge District (New Cherry Hinton) he saved his siblings from a fire. Not listed above, but from 1911 newspaper report. This was listed as the Medal of Merit in the HQ Gazette of June 1911, awarded 12/5/1911.

H R Mallett was a Cambridge Scouter and later D.C. Cambridge (which justifies his inclusion here)

Wallace Cole, founding SM and DSM of the 1st Colchester was awarded a Medal of Merit by B-P in 1910. The reason is not recorded. The 1st Colchester was an important and large flagship troop locally and still exists. Later he held roles in Cambridge District and County and as Cambridge Mayor supported Scouting.

The Gilt Cross (a blue and red vertically patterned ribbon) is awarded for Gallantry in circumstances of moderate risk. 

The Silver Cross (blue ribbon) is awarded for Gallantry in circumstances of considerable risk.   

The Bronze Cross (a red ribbon) is the highest award of the association for gallantry, granted for special heroism or action in the face of extraordinary risk. 

Medal of Merit is awarded to those who perform specially good work on behalf of the Boy Scout Movement.            (1919 POR requirement)

All of the above, except the first, were for saving from drowning.  A wider scan of the award citations in the early years suggest that they were most often awarded for:

  1. Preventing or attempting to prevent drowning
  2. Runaway horses
  3. Fires
  4. Mechanical dangers

See also           Cornwell Badge          Eric Curwain

Activities/ Service

JWR Archivist Jan 2019