[English] SCOUT HONOURED. SILVER WOLF FOR REV. G. T. WALDEGRAVE.

SCOUT HONOURED.

SILVER WOLF FOR REV. G. T. WALDEGRAVE.

There was an excellent muster, representative of all the troops of Boy Scouts in Hongkong, together with a pack of Wolf Cubs, at Government House yesterday afternoon when the award of Silver Wolf was presented to the Rev. G. T. Waldegrave, M.A., Commissioner of the Boy Scouts Association, Hongkong Branch, by His Excellency the Governor.

The Scouts were formed up in a half circle on the lawn of Government House and were inspected by His Excellency, accompanied by the Commissioner and Captain Whyte, A.D.C.

After the inspection the Rev. Waldegrave introduced to His Excellency the new secretary of the Association, Mr. J. A. Worswick who was sworn in, the Scouts standing at the salute. The Scout badge was placed in Mr. Worswick's buttonhole by the Governor.

The Hon. Dr. R. H. Kotewall, President of the Boy Scouts Association, introduced the Rev. Waldegrave to His Excellency, reading the authorisation which said:

"This certificate is granted to the Rev. G. T. Waldegrave, M.A., Commissioner and Deputy Camp Chief for Hongkong as evidence that I have awarded him the honorary Silver Wolf in recognition of his most excellent services on behalf of the Scout movement."

The authorisation was signed by the Chief Scout, Sir Robert Baden Powell, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.C.B., LL.D. F.R.G.S.

Highest Distinction.

Addressing Mr. Waldegrave, His Excellency said.- Upon the unanimous recommendation of the Members of Council of the Hongkong Branch of the Boy Scouts' Association, in whose opinion I heartily concurred, the Chief Scout, Sir Robert Baden Powell, has awarded you the order of the Silver Wolf, which is the highest mark of distinction in his gift.

Your connexion with Boy Scouts dates from December, 1908, when you became the Scoutmaster of the 3rd Sherborne (Dorset) Troop. Later you were Scoutmaster of the 5th Cambridge (Perse School) Troop and of the 102nd Midland (Birmingham Parish Church Troop). You were also representative of the Birmingham Central Scout "Division" on the Executive Committee of the Birmingham Scout Association. In 1915 you were co-founder with Baron F. van Pallandt of the Scout Officers Training Corps in the Internment Camp at Groningen, Holland. During 1917 and 1918 you ran the Sea Scout Patrol in connexion with the Sea Scout Messengers at Lowestoft Naval Base. Since October, 1921, you have been Commissioner of Boy Scouts in Hongkong.

You have rendered splendid service to the Association for almost twenty years and you have thoroughly earned the distinction now given you by the Chief Scout.

The award was then placed round the Commissioner's neck, His Excellency warmly congratulating Mr. Waldegrave on the honour conferred on him.

Meritorious Service.

The Hon. Dr. Kotewall paid a warm tribute to the work of the Rev. Waldegrave, saying that it had been his privilege to be associated with Mr. Waldegrave for a number of years and his sagacity, tact and devotion to duty had filled the speaker with admiration.

By his long and meritorious service in connexion with the Scout movement and by his services rendered to the colony as Commissioner he had earned the high honour which had been granted by the Silver Wolf to Mr. Waldegrave had given the greatest pleasure to the Association and on its behalf he tendered hearty congratulations to him.

His Excellency ordered hats on staves and three cheers were given for the Commissioner.

Chinese Boyhood.

Mr. Waldegrave thanked His Excellency and Dr. Kotewall for their words and said he felt that his greatest reward had been the immense pleasure he had found in connexion with the movemebt and the great friendships he had been able to form in various parts of the world. What had been accomplished had only been done by the hard work of the others in the movement. He had found that the case both in Hongkong and in other parts of the world where Scouting was taken up.

Without minimising the admiration he felt for the European Scoutmasters he could not but express his admiration for the Chinese Scoutmasters who by taking up the movement had brought Chinese boyhood into line with the boyhood of other parts of the world.

The Commissioner called for three cheers for His Excellency, these being given with enthusiasm.

Other present at the ceremony included Commodore J. L. Pearson, H.E. Major General C. C. Luard, Sir Henry Gollan, Sir Shou-son Chow, Lieut. Col. L. G. Bird, Mr. Ho Kom-tong, Mr. R. E. Lindsell and Colonel T. A. Robertson.

Source:

1. Page 12, "Hongkong Telegraph", Thursday, 3rd May, 17th Year of the Republic of China

   • 14th Day, 3rd Lunar Month, Wu-chen Year

   • Thursday, 3rd May, 1928 Common Era