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

by Loh Kok Kin

EXPERIMENTING AND REORGANISING

In 1910, Mr Shaw sought to register the Troop with the Imperial Headquarters in London, but was instructed to refer the matter to the local association, which was then in Singapore, one founded by a Mr Frank C. Sands. In those early years, there were many changes of Scout Masters, beginning in 1910 when the School's first Scoutmaster, Mr Dainton, left for Java:

Mr Goodman Ambler (1910),
Lieutenant George Barber (1911/1912),
Mr C.G. Coleman (1912/1914)
Mr M. Wheatley and
Mr E.S. Redfearn (1921).

Mr Ambler was the first acting Secretary of the Local Committee of the Selangor Boy Scouts, which convened its first meeting at the Selangor Club at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 28 September, 1910. He was one of the first V.I. European masters to leave for England for the war after he was granted nine months’ leave. Back in Europe, he held the rank of Captain, serving in the 12th Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment. For his courage and loyalty (including being wounded three times and mentioned in dispatches), he was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry. He returned to the V.I. in January 1920. When England declared war against Germany in August 1914, Lieutenant Barber left the School in November of that year for the European front, where he held the rank of Second Lieutenant in the 18th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. In his absence, Mr Coleman, the then Chief Assistant Master of the V.I. took charge of the Troop, acting in the office of Scout Master. Meanwhile, Mr Wheatley’s application to join the armed forces was rejected owing to defective eyesight. Soon the sad news came back that George Barber, while serving his King and country, had been killed at Lesboeufs in France, on 3 October, 1916. He had been in the First Battle of the Somme, an offensive launched by the Allies in July 1916 along a 21-mile front against the Germans. The casualties were horrendous - the British sustained 20,000 dead on the first day alone - and when the offensive ended four months later the Allies had gained a mere eight miles. The former V.I. Scout Master, 27 at that time, was just one statistic in the 420,000 British casualties. George Barber was survived by his parents, Henry and Harriett Barber of Macclesfield, Cheshire. In the early 1920’s, after serving ably as Scout Master, Mr Redfearn was appointed to the post of District Commissioner. It must be remembered that, unlike the present, the district at that time was the whole of the state of Selangor! But apart from being a keen Scout leader, Mr Redfearn was also known as an excellent geography master.

The appeal of Scouting began to catch on in the V.I. like wild fire. The burgeoning V.I. Troop, which had started with three patrols in 1910 and increased to four patrols in September 1910 and then to 12 patrols of eight members each in 1912, desperately needed leaders. And so the post of Assistant Scout Master was created, filled by the able teachers of the School. In 1910, two Assistant Scout Masters were appointed, namely, Mr Ng Seo Buck and Mr Wong Fook Yew. When they left the Troop in 1912 to become Officers in the Cadet Corps, five Assistant Scout Masters were appointed to replace them, namely, Messrs Mohamed Ameen Akbar, Wee Kok Thai, N. Appadurai/ Appathuray, Tay Lian Hee, and K. Sabapathy. Interestingly, the names of five V.I. ASM’s - Fook Han, Akbar, Appadurai, Lian Hee and Sabapathy - are also found on the first 1910 list of the V.I. Scouts submitted by Mr Ambler and Mr Shaw to the London Headquarters in order to register the First Selangor Boy Scout Troop. Kok Thai, though not in the pioneer batch, was nonetheless one of the early recruits of the V.I. Scouts in 1910. Such a trend is not surprising as Mr Shaw started the V.I. tradition (continued at least until the 1960’s) of actively recruiting Old Boys to join the V.I. Staff. This tradition was arguably the cornerstone in ensuring the V.I. was staffed by high quality teachers who were committed to the school.

Some of these early ASM’s are now regarded as legends of the Scouting movement for the region. Mr Sabapathy later left the V.I. to join another eminent institution of the region, where he sowed the Scouting seed - in 1922, he helped found the Scout movement in the Raffles Institution in Singapore. This group later became the Second Singapore Troop. Meanwhile back in Malaya, Mr Akbar was making his mark as the Scouting stalwart of Selangor. Even in those early years, he was already well recognised. In 1925, Mr Akbar was appointed as the Acting District Scoutmaster for Selangor (vice Mr Redfearn who was on leave to England) and, subsequently, was officiated into that capacity. He held that position simultaneously with his role as Assistant District Commissioner for Selangor. In these roles, he promoted the Scouting movement among schools in Selangor, feats which will be highlighted in the following paragraphs. For all of his gallant efforts, Mr Akbar was awarded the Bar to the Medal of Merit by Lord Baden Powell himself, when the Chief Scout visited Malaya. In 1993, a spiritual link with Mr Akbar was forged in the V.I. when his grandson, Mohd Ackiel Ali (another M.A.A.!) joined Falcon patrol of the Second KL Scout Group as a Form 1 member! Ackiel later became the PL of Eagle patrol in 1995.

Organising the V.I. troop was no mean feat as not only was there no precedent for the First Selangor Troop to follow, but also because of the rapid surge of interest in Scouting among the boys. The original three patrols grew to six patrols in 1911. The following year, the total strength of the Troop was about a hundred. By the time Mr Barber left in 1914, the Troop was about two hundred and fifty strong, an extraordinary number considering that there were only about five hundred pupils in the school at that time. As well, almost all Form Masters in the school were already Scouters. Initially, the School managed such rapid growth by increasing the number of patrols and Assistant Scout Masters. But by March 1923, there were 11 patrols; their patrol leaders were Lee Ah Swee, Chan Khee Hong, Mohamed (I) , Mohamed (II), Mohamed Sulong, Abdul Rahman, Mohamed Yacob, Lim Thin Chan, Keher Singh, Kwok Ah Keng and Vijeratnam. To continue to increase the number of patrols was clearly not feasible and so further restructuring was carried out in the later years.

ACTIVITIES - TROOP EVENTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, SCOUT EFFICIENCY

So what was scouting in those infant years like? As the movement was still highly disorganised at that time, there was no standard uniform. But resourcefulness supplied the necessities. For instance, bamboo broom stick handles were used as Scout staffs. Troop meetings were held on Saturdays. There was a variety of activities; for instance, in 1911, Scouting games took place at the Lake Gardens. Indeed, the ‘out-of-door' Scout was common in those years and the patrols were often seen out-of-doors Scouting around KL. Camping was an important feature of the Scouting calendar. The first Scout camp for the V.I. boys (and possibly the whole of Malaya) was held during the August holidays in 1913 at Port Dickson and about 76 Scouts and officers attended, under the leadership of Mr Barber. In August 1916, a short camp for forty Scouts was held at Kelewai in Penang under Chief Assistant Scout Master (CASM) Akbar. He also presided over a camp in Malacca in August 1919, as well as over a short camp at Batang Kali in the Ulu Selangor district in August 1922.

Such accomplishments should not be judged by present standards. It must be remembered that in that far-off era, there was no organised public transport, what more a school bus, to ferry the Scouts to their destinations. Even if there had been such infrastructure, most pupils would have been too poor to afford such luxury. Much of Kuala Lumpur and its environs was still carpeted with thick jungle - indeed, one should not forget that those were the days when V.I. masters carried guns to shoot stray crocodiles that not infrequently lurked on the school grounds. Even in the 1930’s, as recalled by Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Abdul Majid Ismail, the Scouts merely hitched rides in factory lorries if they wanted to travel long distances, so what more the 1910’s. So it is in this context that we in the present should regard their camping feats, and other achievements as well, like the time, in December 1921, when 25 Scouts marched from Kuala Lumpur to Port Swettenham (now Port Klang), covering a distance of 29 miles in one day. Given the wild terrain on the route in those days, it must have been quite an epic march!

There were many other activities which helped to foster the ideals of Scouting amongst the V.I. Scouts. The Scouts served the community at large by participating in community events. One large civic event for Malaya in which the Scouts played an important role was the official visit of the Prince of Wales. The V.I. Scouts formed a guard of honour to welcome to Kuala Lumpur the heir to the British throne when he arrived on 28 March 1922. (This same Prince of Wales would later, in January 1936, become King Edward VIII but would infamously abdicate to marry a commoner, Mrs Wallis Simpson.)

The Empire Day celebrations each May were also important public functions for the Scouts. On Empire Day in 1922, for instance, the Troop was inspected by the Chairman of the V.I. Board of Trustees, Mr E.W.N. Wyatt. The following year, the Troop numbering 50 Scouts lined up for the march past led by Scout Master Mr Redfearn. Taking the salute was the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Shah, accompanied by the Raja Muda, Dato Setia Diraja, the Secretary to the Resident and the V.I. Headmaster, Mr Richard Sidney. Another important annual event at which the Scouts paraded was Armistice Day, also known as Poppy Day. Held on the 11th day of the 11th month every year, it commemorates the end of the First World War. The official function would take place in front of the Cenotaph which used to be located at what is today Jalan Tugu, beside the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station .

Besides community service, there was also socialising. During their trip to Penang in 1916, the V.I. Scouts struck up a close friendship with the Scouts of the Penang Free School and with Mr H.R. Cheeseman who was the Scout Master for P.F.S. - perhaps one of the earliest account of ‘pen-palling’ in Malaya! Indeed, the friendship continued for many years, and it is recorded that after the Prince of Wales parade on 28 March 1922, the V.I. Scouts fraternised with the Penang Scouts who were in the Federal Capital on a casual visit. The V.I. Scouts extended their friendship not just to other Scouts; in August 1922, during the camp at Batang Kali, the Scouts climbed Gunung Ulu Kali and visited the Sakais in the interior of the jungle.

It would be remiss for the administration to claim a job well done for merely organising the V.I. Troop. Indeed, even well organised Troops can eventually collapse if the business of Scouting is not properly carried out. In order to increase the efficiency of the Scouts, many strategies were devised. One specific strategy was the forming of ‘specialist’ sections. In early 1920, CASM Akbar and the Superintendent of the Selangor Fire Brigade, Mr W. Towle, formed the ‘Fire Section’ of the First Selangor Troop with a nucleus of 12 Scouts. This was, in fact, the first section to be formed east of the Suez Canal! There was also an Ambulance Section which was trained by Mr F.C. Barraclough, a V.I. teacher. Each year on Empire Day, there would be special displays put up by these sections to demonstrate their specialist skills. For instance, the ‘Fire Scouts’ would put up some sort of hut on the School field, set the hut on fire, and then extinguish the blaze.

A more general strategy to promote Scouting efficiency was to encourage the boys to acquire badges. Even in the infant days of the movement in Selangor, there were many tests to be taken. Among those in 1911 were Automobiles, Carpentry, Photography, Swimming, Life-saving, Ambulance, Pathfinding, Housemanship, Fire Brigade, Cycling, Pioneering and Blacksmith. The First Selangor Troop capitalised on the skills of its Scout Masters and external instructors for many of these tests. For instance, the Ambulance section was examined by a Dr Graham and the successful candidates earned the popular Red Cross badges. As well, involvement in the above-mentioned ‘specialist’ sections was useful, as evinced when a mere three years after the formation of the ‘Fire Scouts’, there were already 16 Scouts who qualified for the Fireman’s badge, three of whom proceeded to earn the King Scout badge. In addition to specialist instruction and badge-taking, Mr Redfearn, who took over the Troop in 1921, is credited with encouraging friendly patrol rivalry with a resulting increase in Troop efficiency.

V.I. SCOUTS BLAZE THE TRAIL

In addition to having the first Scout group in Malaya, the V.I. was a pioneer in many contexts. Chief Patrol Leader Choong Wan Chan became the first Boy Scout of the group to qualify as a King Scout in 1922. In doing so, he also became the first King Scout in Selangor. At the end of that year, he was the first student to be appointed to the role of Assistant Scout Master. Besides being an efficient Scout, Wan Chan was also a school prefect, and a member of the first Editorial Board of The Victorian. So versatile was he that he also trained the V.I. Cadet Corps shooting team. Under him, the cadets achieved a high level of marksmanship, carrying off the Leslie Shield in its inaugural year of 1925, which was open for competition to all Cadet Corps in the Federated Malay States. Close on Wan Chan's heels were two more King Scouts, namely, PL Wan Chong Chow and Scout Lee Ah Swee.

The V.I. Scouts were also instrumental in spreading the Scouting movement to other schools by helping them to start their own Scout Troops. For example, in 1925, Reverend Abel Eklund, Principal of the Anglo-Chinese School Klang invited Mr Akbar to raise a Troop in Klang. Mr Akbar addressed no fewer than 100 boys when he attended that inaugural meeting. The following year, Mr Akbar also started a Troop at the Maxwell Road School, at the invitation of the Headmaster Mr C. Beamish. The first Scout Master (Mr K. Peethamparam) and two Assistant Scoutmasters (Messrs Ujagar Singh and J.M. Idris) of that budding Troop were former members of V.I.'s First Selangor Troop! By that time, the first Wolf Cub Pack for Selangor had already been formed in the Victoria Institution in 1922. (Prior to 1930, the V.I. had both a primary as well as a secondary school.) This Pack, affiliated with the First Selangor Troop, was placed under the charge of Mr Chan Hung Chin.

Indeed, the First Selangor Troop was quick to earn its laurels. During the 1923 Empire Day, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Shah, was deeply impressed by the parade and the displays by the Scouts. He was surprised that, prior to that time, no one had informed him that there were Boy Scouts in his State! So impressed was he that he promised to pay another visit in the near future. At the same time the Raja Muda was also very pleased with what he saw and offered to present the Royal Colours to the Troop. Surviving records do not tell whether the Colours were, in fact, actually presented to the Troop. However, it is recorded that this offer of Royal Colours was, without doubt, the first to be made to a Troop in British Malaya!

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

by Loh Kok Kin

(2) Recognition, Reorganising and Reaching Out (1924 - 1932)

etween 1924 and 1932, as increasingly more events were being hosted in the town of Kuala Lumpur (it had been the capital of the Federated Malay States since 1895), there were increased calls for volunteers and helpers. While there were other groups like the Cadets, people were more eager to call on the assistance of the Scouts. Parallel with this development, it must be noted that the First Selangor Group was, until 1925, the sole Troop in Selangor. Equally important, it was the Troop from the premier school of the region. So who else to call upon other than the V.I. Scouts when help was needed? Thus, the V.I. Scouts found themselves involved in a myriad of activities that kept them occupied week after week.

However, it was not just external factors that accounted for the busy-ness of the V.I. Scouts. The V.I. Scout movement had many dedicated and committed teachers who voluntarily gave of their time to instruct and examine the Scouts in different aspects of Scoutcraft. Teachers like Mr M.A. Akbar and Mr Ganga Singh became Assistant District Commissioner and District Scout Master respectively. Even the V.I. Headmasters were actively involved, a tradition continued even after the Second World War! It was of no surprise then that the V.I. Scouts were admired far and wide for their abilities.

RECOGNITION OF THE V.I. SCOUT MOVEMENT

The V.I. Scouts and Scout Masters were instrumental in establishing Troops in other schools such as ACS Klang and Maxwell School. Perhaps the zenith of this trailblazing occurred on Empire Day, 15 May 1926. Mr Frank C. Sands, the Chief Scout Commissioner for Malaya, often inspected V.I. Scout parades, be they ordinary Troop parades or march pasts in major public events. After the 1926 Empire Day Inspection, there was a Grand Rally at which Mr Sands addressed the V.I. Scouts and Cubs. With the District Scout Master, Mr M.A. Akbar beside him, Mr. Sands commended the boys on their good turnout, reminding them that they were the pioneers of the movement in the State and had been the only Scouts in the State for a good long time. The V.I. Scouts had kept up the movement without a break (The Methodist Boys’ School and St John’s Institution incidentally had started Troops in 1910 just after the V.I., but those Troops were subsequently disbanded). Such activeness, he said, was due to Mr M.A. Akbar who had, in sixteen years of service, worked hard for the Troops, keeping the interest going in spite of all difficulties. There were many times when Mr Akbar had to manage things single-handedly. Hence the Chief Commissioner thought it fitting that Mr Akbar should hold a new office, that of Assistant District Commissioner for Selangor.

That same day, a public meeting was held at the Victoria Institution, the object of which was the formation of a Selangor Boy Scouts Local Association. The Honourable Mr H.W. Thomson, the British Resident, was the chair and those in attendance included Mr Sands, representatives from the Girl Guides’ Association and the Negri Sembilan Boy Scouts’ Association. The proposal for forming the Association was passed unanimously and the Resident was asked to become the Association’s president. Two former V.I. Scout Masters, Mr E.S. Redfearn and Mr M.A. Akbar were automatically inducted into the committee because of their roles as Assistant District Commissioners, assisting the District Commissioner Mr J.R. Kellam. The V.I. Scout movement was, indeed, ‘reaching out’. Thus 15 May 1926 became a red-letter day in Scouting annals. With his well-merited promotion, Mr Akbar continued to serve the movement creditably and, in 1930, was awarded the Bar of the Medal of Merit by the Chief Scout Lord Robert Baden-Powell on the occasion of Mr Akbar’s 20th year in service.

The V.I. Scouts also established close rapport with the District Commissioner, Mr Kellam, who contributed a challenge trophy for an inter-patrol competition between the patrols of all the V.I. Troops. After Mr Kellam's departure, his successor, Mr Marcus Dukes, barely in office twelve days, paid a visit to the school on 20 June 1929. He was received with a general salute and proceeded to inspect the ranks, during which he questioned the Scouts on the Scout Laws and in the uses of the various knots. Emergency drill was practised under the command of Mr Dukes and, after this, a Message Relay Race was run in Patrols. A short practice in jujitsu ended the programme for the day.

The British Residents for Selangor also had high praise for the V.I. Troops whenever they saw them in action. Residents like Mr O.F. Stoner, Mr E.W.F. Gilman and Mr A. Caldecott were reported as being deeply impressed by the Scouts during the Empire Day celebrations of various years. As has been mentioned, in 1925, the Selangor royalty had even offered to present the Royal Colours to the Troop! Truly the Scout movement was held in such high esteem that when the Selangor Scouts held a camp in Morib in 1926, the Sultan very kindly lent them a bungalow. Other Scout associations also regarded the V.I. Scouts highly, inviting them to their functions. In 1928, the V.I. Scouts were invited to the first Grand Rally of the newly formed Malay Troops at the Kampung Baru Padang on July 12, as well as to the Klang Scouts rally cum ‘White Honey’ Inter-patrol Competition of the Fifth Selangor Troop of the ACS Klang. It was also reported in Scouting In Malaya, September 1929 that, during a jamboree in Singapore, the Singapore Scouts "were very pleased to welcome to our Jamboree the Troop Leader and one of the Patrol Leaders from the Victoria Institution Troop, Kuala Lumpur". In effect, the TL and PL were treated as Guests-of-Honour!

One very momentous sign of recognition occurred on Armistice Day, 11 November 1930. Before the assembled Scout Troops of Selangor, the First Selangor Group were presented with a Troop flag by the Chief Justice W. Elphinstone. The ADC Mr Stowell (who was also the V.I. Headmaster) addressed the Troop, reminding them that the flag was their challenge to carry out their threefold promise. They had to ward off the ‘cunning enemy’ who would tempt them to be too slack to turn up for patrol meetings, too slack to practise their Morse code, too slack to do good turns, or too slack to go to camp. If they yielded, they would be surrendering their flag. The flag was later escorted in a slow march before the Troop which presented staffs.

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.

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

by Loh Kok Kin

IMPROVING SCOUTCRAFT AND GENERAL SKILLS

The importance placed on badge examinations produced beneficial results as many Scouts became Second Class, First Class and King Scouts. For instance, in early 1932, there was only one King Scout (who wore red and white All-Round cords) in Troop 1A, namely, PL Tei Keng Song, and two King Scouts in Troop 1B, namely, PL Ng Kam Heong and Ghazally. But by September 1932, three other Scouts had won their First Class Badges and were closer to gaining the King Scout award, while three more PL’s had almost completed their First Class. By December another Scout, Seow Soo Sung from Troop 1B, had won the King Scout Badge.

One major reason for their success was the support the Scouts had from the wider community. Old Boys like Dr Chua Boon Teck from the Chua Dispensary, devoted two to three hours each Saturday morning to instruct the boys in First Aid. In 1932, the V.I. teachers and members of the public who served as instructors and examiners were:

The Headmaster, Mr F.L. Shaw (Swimming)
Mr S. Thambiah  (Thrift)
Mr Foo Chong Choon  (Semaphore and Morse)
ADC Akbar  (Judging distance, areas etc)
Mr T.R. Abraham  (Cooking)
Mr Chan Hung Chin  (Map Reading and Journey)
DC Marcus Dukes  (Axemanship)
Dr Chua Boon Teck, the Chua Dispensary  (First Aid)
Dr K. Murugasu, the Assistant Health Officer for Kuala Lumpur.

Besides learning skills for the sake of gaining badges, the Scout Masters also ensured that the boys acquired as many ‘non-badge’ skills as possible and to expand their fields of expertise. In 1929, the Scout Master Mr Goh Keng Kwee taught jujitsu to a few enthusiasts. As well, The Victorian of 1929 notes that the Troop also possessed "what is probably the best Orchestra in the State"! General leadership skills were also emphasised. Scout Master Mr Goh Keng Kwee of the First Selangor Troop 1B held Patrol Leaders’ Training Camps between 19 to 21 September 1931 on the school grounds and also between Friday 9 September to Monday 12 September 1932 at Castle Camp.

IMPROVING EFFICIENCY & INTERACTION - COMPETITIONS & JAMBOREES

There were also competitions. At the basic level, there were inter-patrol competitions within particular Troops. In 1928, Mrs Loke Yew, wife of one of the School's founders, presented a silver cup for annual competition among patrols of the Second Troop. The inaugural competition, held in August 1928, was won by the Foxes under PL Loke Wan Tho, her own son! The patrols were examined in ten categories, namely, turnout, patrol drill, signalling, tracking, fire-lighting and cooking, verbal message, first aid, knot tying, observation and map reading. Out of a possible 100 marks, the Foxes obtained 69. Those judging the competition included the Headmaster Mr Davies, former and present Scout Masters and various experts in Scoutcraft.

There were also inter-patrol competitions among the four V.I. Troops for the Cup presented by DC Kellam for this purpose. The patrols were assessed over a few days of intense competition in First Aid, Signalling, Knots, Tent-pitching, Patrol Drill, Cooking, Map-reading, Message Bearing, General Turnout, Laws, Flags and Scout staff uses among other things. The event was judged by various experts in Scoutcraft. In its first year in 1927, judges included the V.I. Headmaster Mr G.C. Davies, the Maxwell School Headmaster Mr C. Beamish, the DC for Perak Mr H.R. Hertslet, the DC for Selangor Mr J.R. Kellam, Cubmaster Mr Chan Hung Chin, several teachers and Rovers. The Fox patrol of the First Troop won the cup with 534 marks. The Kellam Cup was then presented to Lee Choon Yin, PL of Fox, during Sports Day by Mrs J. Lornie, wife of the British Resident. Other winners in later years included the Wolves of the Fourth Troop under PL Haidzir Mohd Isa in 1928 (604 marks out of 800) and Bull patrol under PL Leong Hong Teck in 1931 (616 marks out of 800).

Besides inter-patrol competitions, there was also the Tuck Shop competition which pitted the four V.I. Troops against each other. The competition, held in conjunction with the Kellam Cup on 5 and 6 July 1928, was won by the First Troop under SM Mr A.L. Foenander. The Third Troop was second in the competition while the Second Troop secured the wooden spoon. Those who judged the competition were the Headmaster, DC Kellam, ADC’s Akbar and M.J. Dowty, SM Peethamparam, Cubmaster Hung Chin, two former Scout Masters Mr Redfearn and Mr Choong Wan Chan, and Mr Choon Wing Hong, a V.I. teacher and 1916 Rodger Medallist.

One may pause here to consider the very significant role of the V.I. Headmasters in Scouting. For instance, Mr G.C. Davies often judged at Scout competitions while Mr E. de la M. Stowell served as an Assistant District Commissioner. His successor, Mr F. L. Shaw rewarded the Scouts with gifts such as little Scout knives when they gained their First Class Badges and helped procure camp sites such as Dusun Tua for them. It is also interesting to note that during Mr F.L. Shaw’s tenure, the Scouts were NOT allowed to cancel meetings unless he gave them permission! In other words, having Troop meetings, in today's parlance, was the ‘default option’ - assume held unless otherwise told so!

At a broader level, there was another kind of inter-Troop competition, namely that which pitted the V.I. Troops not just against themselves, but also against Troops from other schools. This was the Beamish Cup, named after the Maxwell School headmaster who presented that trophy in 1928. In that inaugural year, the Beamish Cup competition was held in connection with the Selangor Jamboree at the V.I. field on 6 August. Ten Troops competed, with the First Selangor Troop playing second fiddle to the triumphant Sixth Selangor Troop of Maxwell Road School. The Fourth and Third Troops were third and fourth respectively. In the 1931 Beamish Cup competition, however, after an inspection by ADC Mr Davidson, the First Selangor Group were sufficiently inspired to emerge first.

Jamborees are perhaps the best places where Scouts get to socialise with each other. Existing records indicate that the dates 6 to 17 August 1927 go down in Scouting history as the first time that the V.I. Scouts participated in a jamboree. The occasion was the All-Malayan Scout Jamboree, held in Penang. Most of the V.I. representatives were drawn from the First Selangor Troop. They were TL Lee Choon Yin, PL Mohd Hussein, PL Ramly, PL Abul Manan, PS Harun and PS Mohd Tahir. Two years later, the first Jamboree of the Boy Scouts in Selangor was held on the new V.I. field on 6 August 1929.

TROOP FACILITIES

Scouting in those years was, of course, very spartan, and boys frequently had to march or hike to their intended out of school activities, or thumb lifts from lorries. For greater distances, they travelled simply; whether on trains or steamships. The bicycle was a popular mode of transport. For instance, on 11 September 1931, the Scout Master and 22 Scouts set out on their bicycles at 8 a.m. and reached Ulu Kanching at about 10.30 a.m. for a day out at the water-fall. On 29 October of the same year, the PL and PS of Elephant patrol, together with the Scout Master, bicycled to Port Dickson, staying two nights at Sunnytide Bungalow under canvas. Occasionally they would be lucky enough as some Scout with a more affluent parent would share his luxuries with the Troop. One such family whose generosity was well-known was the Loke family. Loke Wan Tho, the son of the philantropist Towkay Loke Yew, was a PL in the Second Selangor Troop, and later in 1929, when the V.I. only had one Troop, became a PL in the First Selangor Troop. On 3 April 1929, the First Selangor Troop had a picnic at Klang Gates, where they spent an enjoyable time swimming, mountaineering, cooking and singing. This trip was made possible as PL Loke Wan Tho and Scout Chu Kah Yoon provided four large cars for the party.

In 1929, in the spanking new, spacious V.I. premises on Petaling Hill, the Scouts finally had a room to call their own. While austere in its layout, it must certainly have been cherished deeply, as any Scout would treasure and take care of his belongings. There was a ping-pong table in the room. Corners were allotted to patrols, and the Scouts added decorations to the room. By December 1930, it was noted that the room had truly become very congenial as a Scout den. It was equipped with a carpenter’s bench, tools and wood, a library of Scout craft books with a first rate double four Gilwell Tent and all necessary pots, pans, kitbags and other apparatus for camping.