Scouts: Military Gallantry Medals

Cambridge District Scout Archive

Research brought together several Cambridge Scouts who had been awarded a Military Cross.  Alerted by this coincidence a list of those holding military gallantry awards was compiled.  The recording of the medal is often only in formal records and often only for a short period after the war in question.  It is not possible to determine whether the recording is a formal politeness or a reflected pride.

The focus of this page is threefold: to consider whether men holding honours for gallantry were

• more likely to be given scouting roles
• were more likely to become Scouters
• were more likely to come from Scouting

In this we are looking at Gallantry Awards Levels 1 to 3 (see below).

Members, Executive Members, Leaders and Scouts

The three groups of people considered are

• Members of the Scout Council and Members of the Executive Council
• Scoutmasters
• Scouts

This Scout Council was recorded in Annual Reports before WW2 and half of those in the lists below before the war were members of this Council as opposed to being active as Scout Masters or in administrative or executive roles.  The membership of the Scout Council declined following the WW2. 

The following in all areas with gallantry Medals have been identified (by war)

Boer War

Maj. A B Whatman

DSO     (Member)

WW1

L R Missen	MC      DSM       *
William Balfour Gourlay	MC      ADC Cubs *
Brig Cyril Duchesne	MC + OBE     CC
A W Rigden	MC      Founder University Rover Troop
(Right Rev) N V Halward	MC      Founder University Rover Troop
(Right Rev) W L Anderson	DSC      22nd (later Bishop of Salisbury)
(Rev) C A S Page	DSO, MC University Rover Troop
L C Nott	MC      13th SM *
R G Briscoe	MC      Longstowe SM *
Rev W L Arrowsmith	MC Prob 15th (Curate St Giles) *
Maj. F J Mallett	MC and bar ASM *
Capt G B Riddell	MC DSM
Capt A G Pite	MC 5th Cambridge 1914*
Drummer Benjamin Robert Thompson	MM P/L 13th Cambridge
Lt Col W K Scharlieb/ W Shirley  Member	DSO (Artists Rifles, Dir Mil Studies Cam)
Col L H Thornton AQMG	DSO (Capt. as Member) (CUOTC 1912)(Mem)
G B Riddell	MC DSM Early Warrants List
Robert John Stockdale (later Rev)	MC 21st Cambridge (St Faith’s) Reveille *
Sidney Martin Hattersley	MC & Croix de Guerre RAMC Local Press as SM. Hattersley *
Charles R Benstead	MC 20th (St Cats) Royal Garrison Artillery. Capt. RN ’22 – ’45 *
Alec Edward Boucher	MC 17th Cambridge and 2nd Halesowen *
George Brinsley Bowes	CBE and Territorial Forces Medal (Member 1912)

The first page of the University Rover register (1920) recorded three MC’s, A W Rigden, N V Halward and L R Missen. No others were recorded. It may be that this stopped or that that individuals declined to record the honour in this place. A fourth holder of a medal returning from the war to take a place in University has been located. His medals were not noted on the register; Lt Col Charles Alexander Shaw Page DSO, MC. Not quite a ‘military man’ he had retired as Captain and was recalled for the war. He took Holy Orders.

Note: A W Rigden and N V Halward were both from The Kings School Canterbury and in March 1937 issue of the school magazine ‘The Canturain’ are listed together as both receiving the Silver Acorn.

T S Hele Capt RAMC received an OBE during WW1 which are awarded for meritorious service and can be awarded for gallantry ‘not in the face of the enemy’ such as bomb disposal. He was engaged in tackling Malaria in Mesopotamia and was mentioned in dispatches twice. It is not known if this was a gallantry award.

H S Morton was also awarded the OBE but the circumstances are not known.

S M Hattersley Emmanuel College. Sidney Martin Hattersley, later POW Doeberitz Camp, MC, Croix de Guerre Colonel, died on active service WW2 from illness. Named in local press as SM. Hattersley. Records in National Archives concerning his experience of treatment of POWs.

C R Benstead 2nd .Lt. Charles Richard Benstead, R.G.A., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in making a valuable reconnaissance for
‘ observation posts, exposing himself fearlessly in many places in front of the advanced infantry posts in his search for suitable points. ‘The enemy was shelling heavily at the time, and his snipers were occasionally troublesome. (From London Gazette 30915)

Alec Edward Boucher Alec initially joined the 9th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment where he is recorded as L/Corp. 16939. He was later commissioned and transferred to the 11th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He won the Military Cross in June, 1916 (it is believed that he retrieved a fellow soldier from No Mans land and recovered him to his own lines whilst seriously wounded himself). He was killed in action on 18th November, 1916 at the end of the Battle of Ancre – the last phase of the Battle of the Somme, 1916. He is buried in Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel. Listed on OLEM Roll of Honour

George Brinsley Bowes Local TF and major bookseller. Member of the Association 1912. Volunteered to serve abroad. The CBE is listed in the Cambridgeshire Regiments Award lists 1914 – 1918, a Military ward but without a clear history. The Territorial Forces Medal is a Campaign medal.

WW2

Colonel H Mainwaring CC	MC      CC		County
Lt Colonel F M J Stratton	DSO     President County		County
Ian Valentine Balfour Paul	MC		1st*
Maj A H S Coombes Tennant	MC		53rd*
Maj Gen Christopher Mark Morrice Man	MC + OBE (Not known if military) CB (POW)	Middlesex Reg +	53rd*
	( 1 DFC                          9th		9th
Also un-named from WW2 review	(1 DFC, 1 DSM            23rd		23rd
	(4 MCs                          (three now named below)		60th
JCF Cregan	MC	RAMC	60th
JD Fisher	MC	RAMC	60th
FEF Newnman	MC	RA	60th
Malcoln Joseph Clow	Albert Medal in Gold	RN	41st*
Col Freddie Spencer Chapman	DSO & Bar 31st and elsewhere GSM, Land Commissioner Schleswig Holstein		31st
John(Jack)Smith-Hughes	OBE Listed in the Scouter alongside gallantry medals 8/47	Army	60th
Maurice Frederick Howard (Teacher)	MBE Listed in the Scouter alongside gallantry medals 8/47	Bletchley	60th + * Commissioner
J N Raffe	Military MBE Listed The Scouter among gallantry medals 8/47	RASC	60th
T S Rogers	MBE Listed in the Scouter alongside gallantry medals 8/47	Army	60th
K C Rowe	MBE Listed in the Scouter alongside gallantry medals 8/47	Army	60th
J H Parry	MBE ‘Awarded MBE for war time services’, RN rising to Lt Commander torpedoed x 3	RN	31st
ASD Digby	DSO (as Lt, acting Captain and acting Major suggests for gallantry) Burma 1945	Army	5th
G F N (Norman) Reddaway	MBE for services with GHQ Liaison Regiment	Army	42nd
C R Benstead Captain RN	MC Retired RN post WW2 /SM in 1921 St Cats.	RN	20th *
Henry Raynor Stocking	DFC Flew mission to Danzig drop leaflets very early in the war. The one pilot to not turn back	RAF	5th
Lt Sir Walter Edward Alpin Blount	DSC bar, bar I/C Coastal forces attacks against convoys in Med	RNVR	31st Jesus and Sidney patrol
Gerald Stephen Philip Goschen Hoare	MC Died in Italy 24/6/1944	RA	31st (Trinity)

The post WW2 collection of war service details did not list the names of the recipients.

Discussion

It is difficult to draw any firm conclusions from these figures. 

Whilst the numbers in Cambridge District are possibly higher than a directly proportional allocation Cambridge is a centre that holds and draws many able people in all spheres.  A number of University men were awarded DSOs for leadership rather than gallantry.

The first question is unclear.  A number of the early Members were supporters whose worth was gained outside the movement.  The holding of a Gallantry award enhanced this social standing and gave greater worth to their support.  Having military experience they may be perceived as seeking to influence the movement.  A review of their roles in the military suggests that most of them had military careers outside the line infantry.  Following all major wars education is reviewed.   The increasing use of technology in areas such as signaling, medical corps, ordinance etc. needed higher levels of education.  As such the focus is unlikely to be on drill although general all round fitness was part of Scout training.

Members would also expect and be willing to fund some of the needs of the District. 

Not all holders of gallantry medals stepped into the Scoutmaster role, some of the above were from troops or remained within the University Rover Troop. Those with ‘*’ against their group were known to be in the role of leader.  It is unlikely that they were particularly targeted as recruits.  Maurice Howard did return to his old school and returned to the role of SM. Some did step into District and County level appointments, bringing their (military) managerial skills to the role.  Balfour- Gourlay and Cyril Duchesne joined Scouting post WW1 holding the award.  Stratton and Mainwaring joined Scouting post WW2 holding the award.

The last question is largely answered by the existing Scoutmasters in WW1 who did earn Gallantry medals.  Mallet, Missen, Arrowsmith, Riddell, Nott and Briscoe were Scouts before receiving the award. The seven unnamed recipients from WW2 were all Scouts before entering the armed services.  Pite, Coombes, Clee and Balfour Paul were also Scouts or Scouters before the war.

Conclusion

It is difficult to draw any firm conclusions from these figures.  Gallantry recipients do not appear to be any more drawn to Scouting than any other group of active able ‘doers’. Maybe able Scouts have some skills that enable them to succeed in complex situations – some of which are officially rewarded.

*****

*****

Military Medals for Gallantry have the following categories:

• Victoria Cross                                      VC                   Level 1 Decoration
• Albert Medal later George Cross AM/GC   Level 1 Decoration Civilian/ not in the face of the enemy

• Distinguished Service Order               DSO                 Level 2 Decoration (Gallantry or leadership for senior officers – replaced for Gallantry in 1993 by CGC)

• Distinguished Service Cross/ Medal    DSC/ DSM       Level 3 Decoration      Navy
• Military Cross/ Medal                            MC/ MM          Level 3 Decoration     
• Distinguished Flying Cross / Medal    DFC/ DFM      Level 3 Decoration      RAF
• Air Force Cross/ Medal                       AFC/ AFM       Level 3 Decoration      RAF

Within each category they are listed by founding date.   The DSO was for Gallantry or leadership by senior officers, generally under fire.  It is entered here even though details of individual awards are missing.  The distinction between Officers and Other ranks as determined by Cross/ Medal was abolished in 1993.

OBE can be designated ‘Military’; the lack of the designation in these unofficial reports should not be deemed definitive.

Campaign Medals recognize service in each war zone, they are not specifically ‘Gallantry’ awards. Any instance of Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) is recognized by an oak leaf, being an act worthy of recognition but short of a medal. The set below from WW1, known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred after a cartoon trio, were awarded to Lt W A L Kerridge of the 12th Cambridge. His MID oak leaf attached. The details of his MID are not known.

Numbers

• 37,104 MC’s and         9881 DSO’s      were awarded in WW1
• 10,386 MC’s and         4880 DSO’s      were awarded in WW2

• 70 Albert Medal in Gold and 407 George Cross in total

It is difficult to judge frequency of awards but the following figures are for the 1st Battalion of the Cambridgeshire Regiment in France 1914 – 1919. Approximately 10,000 all ranks served. The Battalion gained a good reputation for fighting during the Great War and may have gained a high number of awards.

KCSI	1
CMG	1
DSO bar bar	1
DSO	5
MC bar bar	2
MC bar	6
MC	31
DCM bar	2
DCM	30
MM bar	6
MM	172
MSM	5
Mentioned in Despatches	27
CBE	2
OBE	3

	Officers	Men
Dead	77	789
Wounded	159	3299
POW	all ranks 175

The number of men who had been in the military who are associated with Scouting alters with a number of factors.  The number who had been in the forces was clearly increased by the two world wars.  The recording of their achievements was stronger directly after these events, later ranks and achievements were often dropped.  Some, such as L C Nott, died during the war. 

Titles

Men who had been professional (career) soldiers and achieved a rank above Lt Colonel tended to maintain the title.  The guidelines suggest that retaining a title below Major is ‘bad form’.  Such ranks are generally only recognized in the District Archives directly after the war or if a continuing connection with the services remains, such as Capt Thornton OC CUOTC.   Honourary ranks were often used, particularly prior to WW1, to the confusion of the unwary.  One such was Frederick Howard Marsh Master of Downing 1907-15, Prof of Surgery and District Scout Commissioner and Honourary Colonel of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force).

The merit of becoming Sergeant Major within the short period of the war, as with Howard Mallett, was also noted although the title wasn’t used.

Individual Stories

Drummer Benjamin Robert Thompson MM Le Boisselle (Battle of the Somme) He was engaged with a party of stretcher bearers in bringing in the wounded and spent some hours in ‘No man’s Land’ under heavy fire dressing the wounded who could not be moved. He was badly wounded himself about 4.30 PM on Sunday as he was leaving the trenches to fetch more wounded.  A shell fell immediately in front of him, wounding also Cpl Billings.  Drummer Thompson’s wounds were severe and necessitated amputation of one of the legs. ‘His conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty had gained for the gallant soldier the Military Medal.‘

Captain L-R Missen MC South Russia, Mesopotamia and in support of Dunsterforce, a prototype special operations (see Individuals)

Captain R G BRISCOE  MC      Carried a message after a sniper had killed two messengers

DUCHESNE, Cyril C (G 1912-15) Lt, RE. MC    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while on survey work with the right column at Svyatnavolok from 6th to 21st September 1919. On all occasions he was with the foremost troops during action and carried out his survey under fire. Between 4th and 21st September he covered 324 versts [200 miles]

Major A B Whatman  DSO  In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa 1900 – 1901

Lt Colonel F M J Stratton TD DL FRS PRAS (1881-1960), Professor of Astrophysics and a decorated British Army officer was active in both World Wars and District Commissioner. 

Lt Col W K Scharlieb, Director of Military Studies, DSO

Rt Rev W L Anderson  Not known when he joined Scouts.  In Cambridge 1911 – 1922 Sunk submarine from a flying boat. Holds the distinction of serving in all three branches of the Military.

Surgeon Lt Malcolm Joseph Clow In Cambridge Scouts 1932 – 1938 whilst at Pembroke college. Awarded Albert Medal for saving life at sea. See Individual entry.

A H S Coombes Tennant MC Escaped from POW and returned to UK where her joined SOE and was involved in post D Day liaison with resistance groups. 53rd Cambridge

I V Balfour Paul MC Member of Joint Services liaison team (Phantom, Merlin team) that worked in the front line. They avoided bombing of Allied troops by the RAF. They were described as ‘enterprising officers reporting direct from the front’. 1st Cambridge 1935

G B Riddell MC  ‘Captain G.B. Riddell, who was already wounded, took command and gave orders to consolidate the first objective. During the consolidation Captain Riddell was severely wounded,..’ 4/10/17 Gaunless Valley, Northumberland Fusillers. 1948 JTC Woodbridge School

Robert John Stockdale MC Student at Selwyn 1914, returning post war to study for Holy Orders. Joined Kent Cyclist later Durham Light Infantry. Lt. Robert John Stockdale, D.L.I. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When orders were given for the front line to be withdrawn, this officer, who was in support with his company, seeing that the enemy were pressing on so fast that a number of men were liable to be cut off, with great initiative led his company in a counterattack, delaying the enemy sufficiently to allow the front line to withdraw unmolested. He was wounded in the thigh and arm. Re-joined as Chaplain, later started two Youth Hostels , rejoined WW2, retired army 1947.

Col Freddie Spencer Chapman DSO & Bar See the book ‘The Jungle is Neutral’. Also Awards, Badges and Insignia/ Other Medals and Structure/ Sections/ Patrol Names: Cambridge Connections for a full story.

John(Jack)Smith-Hughes was captured on Crete, escaped to act as a guerilla before being evacuated to Egypt. He became a member of the SOE and returned to the island. His OBE (1945) was possibly both as a mark of these actions and his later coordination of the SOE. He retired as Major.

K C Rowe MBE is listed as 203 GHQ/Reserve Battalion. These were organised sabotage/ guerilla warfare teams in place should the Germans invade. 203 was ‘Southern Counties’. It was likely that Major Kenneth Rowe was part of the Intelligence Officers or Signals who coordinated these teams.

ASD Digby DSO Anthony Serjeant Drake Digby, Suffolk Regiment but with 1st Bt West Yorkshires in Bura. Acting Captain, later acting Major, reversed to Lt. Perse Cadet Corporal 1935 (aged 18 – born 1917, died 1984) Father in reformed Camb Reg post 1914-18. Details of award unclear.

JWR Archivist Oct 2019 and ongoing