Titled Scout Groups and Patrols

Cambridge District Scout Archive

Seven Troops/ Groups have been recorded as adopting a supporter’s name:

  • Mayor of Cambridge’s Own             6th Higher Grade School 1912 Annual report

This was most likely George Stace who was involved in early Scouting.  He was Mayor for two terms 1904 – 5 and 1910 – 11 and named in May ’11 Rally Programme and later as Alderman (see Rally 1912). In November 1915 it is noted that the Worshipful Mayor (of Cambridge) elect ‘has given the Higher Grade School Troop permission to bear the above title during his year in office.’ It existed before this date and after – possibly becoming a fixed title and not renewed with each new Mayor.

  • Duke of Devonshire’s Own               3rd St Catharine’s  College Choir 1912

The 3rd took this title after a summer camp at Chatsworth.  Although disbanded and later reformed as the 20th they retained the title.  The 8th Duke was Chancellor of University of Cambridge and the 9th Chief Scout of Canada. 

  • Notts’ Own                                         13th St Phillip

‘I know that the Nott brothers who were running the 13th troop were in camp at Clayhithe when they were called up as officers. Both were killed in action, they left a legacy of £200 to the troop, a large sum in those days. About 1916 the troop took the title “The Notts’ Own”; at this time many troops had similar titles but I think the 13th is the only one to still retain this after 60 years’.                            Ken North 70 years

  • Colonel Howard Marsh’s Own 1st Cambridge District (1st Cherry Hinton) pre 1912         

F. Howard Marsh Hon. Col. of RAMC (TF) (died 24 June 1915) was Master of Downing 1907-15, Prof of Surgery and District Scout Commissioner.  He was a ‘leading spirit in the local society for Physical Education and Improvement.’  Mrs H Marsh was patron of 1st Cambridge Sea Scouts                                              War list of University of Cambridge Downing College   

  • Mrs. Huddleston’s Own                    2nd Cambridge District (Sawston) c. 1920

President of the troop D L Huddleston, Esq J P (Owners Sawston Hall 1517 – c. 1980, the ‘Squire’). Mrs. Huddleston was actively involved in the Educational Committee of the County Council from c 1911 and Manager of the Day Schools.

  • Viscountess/ Viscount Clifden’s Own          12th     

The name changes between Viscountess and Viscount Clifden’s Own.  The 12th was named in the 1912 report (published 1913) and the Title Viscountess of Clifden’s Own recorded on the 1913 registration and in the 2nd Annual report.  It became the Viscount Clifden’s Own in September 1939.  Earlier recording of Viscount are probably errors or abbreviations.

6th Viscount Clifden                             Vice President Cambridge District Scout Association in 1921-22 and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire from 1906 to 1915.

Lord Gerald Agar –Robartes               also Vice President (later 7th Viscount Clifden)

Donations to the Group from Lord Clifden are recorded i n 1955 He died in 1966

  • Denison Pender Troop 6th Cambridge District (2nd Newmarket)

In 1914, before Newmarket was a separate District, this troop registered itself with this title. Sir John Denison Pender was MP for Newmarket from 1913 – 1918. His father was a very successful businessman, as he was to become, but does not appear to have any connection with the town.

  • Fred Feary

Following the death of Fred Feary in 1979 it was proposed that the group take the title Fred Feary’s Own be put to District.  Fred had been associated with the 23rd on a temporary basis since 1919. This did not carry through.

And also

“Sir Francis Vane’s Own”

As part of the large breakaway Peace Scouts headed by Sir Francis Vane before the Great War Histon Scout Troop was considered ‘he proclaimed Histon not only the First Peace Scouts of All in England but the First in all the world, gave them the title of “Sir Francis Vane’s Own” and presented them with his personal crest as their badge’. The Peace Scouts in Cambridge were all absorbed into what was then known as BP Scouts by 1912.

Patrols

  • Queens’ Own (Patrols)

May 1910  – choir boys were formed into two patrols and attached to the 1st Cambridge Troop .  The choir patrols became known as the “Queens’ Own” and later became the 9th Cambridge.

Other patrols that have been attached to Troops initially retained a separate identity and name.  The 2nd Newnham did so when it joined the 1st Cambridge District (Cherry Hinton) in c 1910. There is no record of many patrols maintaining a separate name for long.  The 2nd and 9th are the only recorded Troops to have emerged from such an arrangement.

Country Troops are recorded as having Patrols based in separate villages, thus the 3rd Cambridge District had Willingham and Long Stanton Patrols in 1914 (from The Scout May 1914). These were not temporary amalgamations but structural – the patrols met in their own villages and combined as a troop for larger scale events.

District Minutes 1935             10th amalgamated into 36th ‘The committee could not recommend that dual registration to preserve the 10th but might suggest the GSM consider the formation of Christ College patrols within the Group.’

Patrols attending camp as guests of other troops are often identified as eg Lolworth Patrol. In this context without other proof they are assumed to be purely temporary affiliations.

JWR Archivist Jan 2019