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 Scouts
- 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 CC
- N V Halward (Right Rev) MC Founding University Rover Crew 1921, Scouting Hong Kong, (Bishop in Hong Kong and British Columbia)
- Rev W L Anderson DSC 22nd (later Bishop of Salisbury) Holds the distinction of serving in all three branches of the Military.
- L C Nott MC 13th SM
- R G Briscoe MC Longstowe SM
- Lt Col W K Scharlieb/ W Shirley DSO (Artists Rifles, Dir Mil Studies Cam)(Member)
- Col L H Thornton AQMG DSO (Capt as Member) (CUOTC 1912)(Mem)
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.
WW2
- Lt Colonel H Mainwaring CC MC CC
- Lt Colonel F M J Stratton DSO President County
- (1 DFC 9th
- Also un-named from WW2 review (1 DFC, 1 DSM 23rd
- (4 MCs 60th
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 signalling, medical corps, ordinance etc. needed higher levels of education and fitness. As such the focus is unlikely to be on drill.
Members would also expect and be willing to fund some of the needs of the District.
Few holders of gallantry medals stepped into the Scoutmaster role. It is unlikely that they were particularly targeted as recruits. 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 unnamed recipients from WW2. These seven were all Scouts before entering the armed services. Some of the Scoutmasters in WW1 did earn Gallantry medals. Missen, Nott and Briscoe were Scouts before receiving the award.
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’.
*****
Military Medals for Gallantry have the following categories:
- Victoria Cross VC Level 1 Decoration
- 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.
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
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.
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.
JWR Archivist Oct 2019
