A History of Scouting in the V.I. (PART iv)

by Loh Kok Kin

SUCCESS DUE TO STRONG FOUNDATIONS AND STRUCTURE

The V.I. Scout movement would have fumbled had it not been for the continuous service by many stalwarts of Scouting, who were experts in various fields of Scoutcraft. They had gladly served the Troop voluntarily, without reward and yet with utmost willingness. In acknowledgement for their services, the Swastika Badge of Friendship was presented by the V.I. Troops to those who had contributed significantly. Those who received the award included Mr W. Towle (the pioneering leader of the ‘Fire Section’ and the source of reference for the Fireman’s Badge since 1920), Mr Choong Wan Chan (the first King Scout and subsequently a Scout Master) and Mr R.J.H. Sidney (the second V.I. Headmaster on his retirement).

Over the years, the V.I. Scouts continued to undergo restructuring in order to achieve an efficient organisation framework. In March 1925, Mr E.S. Redfearn (then the DC for Selangor) reconstituted the First Selangor Scouts into four Troops. The First Selangor Troop continued under the charge of Mr Akbar, while the Second, Third and Fourth Selangor Troops were placed under Mr N. Sundarajalu, Mr Ganga Singh and Mr Choong Wan Chan. (Note, however, that the Second Selangor Troop is not the predecessor of the present 2nd Kuala Lumpur group.) Over the next few years, there were various changes in the Scout Mastership of the Troops:

With the 1928 reconstitution of SM-ships and ASM-ships, a new post was created that year, namely that of a District Scout Master, in charge of all four V.I. Troops. Scout Master Mr Ganga Singh was appointed to the position. However, it seems that this structure was shortlived because records seem to indicate that, as of 1929, there was only one Troop in the V.I. namely the First Selangor Troop. In fact, in the December 1928 edition of The Victorian, it is recorded that "... these will probably be the last Scout Notes to the Victorian concerning the First, Second, Third and Fourth Selangor Boy Scout Troops".

However, this merger was problematic as it meant that more boys were concentrated into one Troop. In fact, in 1931, there were as many as ten patrols, namely Tiger, Stag, Fox, Bull, Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Horse, Owl and Peewit. Enrolments had increased from 40 to 70. So, in early 1932, the First Selangor Group - which had started as one Troop in 1910, but was reorganised into four Troops in 1925, later to become one again after 1928 - was reorganised into two sections - Troop 1A (under DSM Ganga Singh) consisting of boys who joined in January 1932, and Troop 1B (under SM Goh Keng Kwee) comprising all of the previous year’s Scouts. Troop 1A consisted of 33 Scouts divided into four patrols, namely, Raja Udang, Merbok, Gajah and Kuching while Troop 1B consisted of 36 Scouts divided into five patrols namely Bull, Tiger, Lion, Fox and Stag.

Together with this change of organisation structure, there were also changes in rules. Hitherto, a V.I. boy could be both a Scout and a member of the V.I. Cadet Corps. As such, there was sharing of resources and training. As previously noted, Scout Master Wan Chan instructed the cadets in marksmanship, helping them win the Leslie Shield in 1925. As well, the Scouts had a bugle section. There is a now-widely used photo of the Drum and Fife section of the V.I., posing in front of the old High Street building, where many of the members are attired in Scout uniform. However, in early 1928, this official intertwining of cadets and Scouts ceased. A new rule was introduced which stipulated that no boy who was a member of the V.I. Cadet Corps would continue as a Scout unless his services were required as Troop Leader or Patrol Leader.

MORE ACTIVITIES

So what were Scout meetings like? There were frequent district parades, where all Troops in the district would march from their gathering place to a pre-determined destination. For instance, on 7 September 1927, the Scouts of all Troops in Kuala Lumpur marched in the evening to Bungsar Road, with the School Bands leading. Then, by 1928, district parades were held every Thursday and all Troops were encouraged to take part. Each Troop also had its own outings (to destinations such as Kanching or Ampang), and parades (where the Scouts learned different Scoutcraft and also had marching practice); each on different days. Discipline was paramount, and Scout Masters were intolerant of boys who lacked commitment. In 1932, absentees from normal Monday evening parades had to attend the Defaulters’ Parade on Wednesday evenings while DSM Ganga Singh asked uncommitted PL’s to resign. The average attendance of the First Selangor Troop then was about 75%.

Essentially, by the late 1920’s, there was beginning to be much regularity in activity schedules for the V.I. Scouts. Definite times were allocated for certain activities, such as the normal and Defaulters’ Parades as highlighted above. Indeed, regular schedules were important especially for badge examinations so that the boys could plan their intended progress through the badges. In 1928, badge examinations were held on the third Thursday of every month. To complement those badge examinations, regular periods were also devoted to instruction in Scoutcraft. For example, in 1931, every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday was given up to Signalling (4-5 p.m.), 2nd Class tests (8-10 a.m.) and Swimming (9-10 a.m.) respectively. In fact, it is recorded that the Scouts were out almost every Sunday to the Swimming Pool, preparing for the Inter-patrol Swimming Competition at the end of the December term.

Field activities punctuated the V.I. Scouting calendar. On 20 June 1925, the Troops were led by their respective Scout Masters to traverse the Petaling Hills and to reach the village of Salak South. They had to navigate competently through marshy and wet grounds, passing through places like Dhoby Valley (near the present site of Istana Negara) and Spion Kop, to reach their destination. Not only that, Mr Akbar, one of the oldest pathfinders in Kuala Lumpur, gave them a task in reconnoitring, instructing them to find their way to the destination on their own accord while he trailed behind. Thus the Scouts had to plan and inform him as to the direction they were heading. In 1927, a Field Day was held in the Dhoby Valley, after which DC Kellam held an Investiture Ceremony for the new Tenderfoot Scouts who had passed all their tests.

Besides taking part in Troop-based activities, the individual patrols also organised their own activities. For instance, on 19 August 1930, two patrols of the First Selangor Group went to Ulu Gombak for a camp. They camped at the old Power Station - pitching two large tents for the two patrols, one for the ADC, one store tent and one for the Troop Leader. On 22 March 1931, PL Leong Hong Teck led his Bull Patrol for a day out at Dhoby Valley, and the Scouts prepared their own meals for the day. Then on 17 September 1932, 12 Scouts accompanied the Scout Master Mr Goh Keng Kwee for a hiking expedition from Ampang to Ulu Langat. They started from Pudu station by train to Ampang (the fare was only eight cents per Scout!). From Ampang, they hiked across the Hills, crossing two Forest Reserves, a Malay Reserve and several rubber estates before finally coming to the main road. The scribe for the expedition recommended two things; that unexperienced Scouts, eager to try the trip, ensured that they had a guide, and that Scout staffs be taken along as the Hills were rather steep.