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The China Mail.


Hongkong, Saturday, April 26, 1924.
中華民國十三年歲次甲子三月廿三日
英一千九百二十四年四月廿六號
禮拜六

No. 19,(?)70
Page 4

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OUR BOY SCOUTS.
THIS AFTERNOON'S BIG RALLY.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS.

   To some of the older Scouts and those interested in the movement, the rally of the Hongkong Boy Scouts' Association at Government House this afternoon to compete for the Prince of Wales' Banner may recall the first rally on Murray Parade ground after the reforming of the Association in July 1920, although, of course, there have been vast strides made as regards numerical strength and general efficiency.
   It is interesting to recall just how that reformation took place. Early in 1920 during a parade of the cadet Company of the Hongkong Defence Corps, a postman handed Mr. A.G.M.Weyman a letter addressed to the Scoutmaster, Hongkong Boy Scouts, and told him that no one would accept it. As he was in charge of the only Boys Movement, Mr. Weyman took the letter and found it was from Lt. Rannolf, of the Dutch Navy, who wrote as an old Scout that he would be pleased to give a lantern lecture on Scouting in all parts of the world. As a result of the lecture, and the energy of Mr. Weyman, who became the first secretary, the zeal of Lt. Col. F.Bowen, who became the first Commissioner, and the help of those who became Scoutmasters, the Hongkong Boy Scouts' Association was formed and soon began to take strong root. Although Mr. Weyman and Col. Bowen had to give up the work after two years of strenuous service (not before the latter had been awarded the Order of Merit by the Chief Scout), excellent successors were found in the Rev. G.T. Waldegrave as Commissioner and Scoutmaster Kirk as secretary. Mr. Kirk held the post until the appointment of Scoutmaster White as District Scoutmaster and Secretary combined. The Rev. G.T.Waldegrave is still acting as Commissioner.
   The movement may well be said to have taken strong root and to be flourishing for in comparison with that first parade on Murray Parade ground, when four small troops took part, there are now 12 Troops of Scouts (with about 20 boys in each), one troop of Sea Scouts and five Wolf Club packs with an average of 16 boys each. The activities of the scouts comprise the holding of weekly parades by most of the troops, an occasional "trek" to the New Territories and the holding of camps at Hongkong and the New Territories. Concerts are sometimes held on behalf of troop funds.
   A full record of the doings of the Hongkong Scouts is given in The Silver Wolf, the organ of the Association, which is published monthly and which contains many excellent features in addition to these records. This attractive magazine should do much to enlist the interest of parents and friends, to instill in the minds of the boys a healthy love of sound and wholesome literature and to stimulate their interest in the great Brotherhood to which they belong.

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