1st East Grinstead Scout Group
Centenary 1908 - 2008
On August 3, 1914, Germany invaded Belgium; on August 4, Great Britain went to the aid of her ally and the holocaust of the First World War began, although few people at that point realised how appalling a disaster it would be. By September 4, 1914, my father was a volunteer in the army and about to experience one of the most horrific episodes of history which the world has ever known.
On return from camp, with war declared, Scouts were called into service. The following report details how members of the troop, under the direction of George Smith undertook ‘war duties’ by guarding railway bridges on the London to Brighton main railway line at Balcombe.
Transcript East Grinstead Observer Sep 1914 Balcombe Bridges
SCOUTS .AND C.L.B
During the time when active preparations for the war necessitated all railway bridges on the main lines being carefully watched and guarded, a number of the boys belonging to the East Grinstead Boy Scouts did useful service at Balcombe.
From August 6th to August 12th they guarded two bridges, the first south of Balcombe Station and Tirland Road Bridge. On the latter date they were relieved from their duties at the first named bridge by the East Grinstead Company of the Church Lads Brigade, and they were able to reduce their numbers from 17 to 11.
The boys who were left, continued to guard Tirland Road Bridge till September 1st. Duty was then in rotation, each boy going on for two hours in the day and two hours at night, but they had no alarm calls. Several of the boys were proficient in camp cooking and naturally they were able to prepare their own meals. Mr and Mrs Bee of Badgers Cottage supplied them with water and rabbits and they got their groceries and meat from East Grinstead.
Assistant Scoutmaster Smith was in command all the time. They had several visits from the District Commissioner, Major Sir Hanbury Brown who said he was very pleased with everything he saw. He has sent a letter of appreciation of the lads conduct to Mr Du Boulay the Acting Scoutmaster