Write a commentThe first record of a Scout group forming in Newry appears when the Scout magazine reported on the forming of Scouts in Newry in 1908, under the leadership of Mr. John Kavanagh. Very little has been recorded of this troop with the name or meeting place not being listed in the magazine at the time.
By 1910, however, Newry had two Scout corps, The Chequer Hill corps and another corps which was connected with Downshire Road Presbyterian Church. In 1911, consent was given for this Troop to be named 1st Newry (Earl of Kilmorey) Scout Troop. The troop became quite active over the next few years, with marches, evening events and community services. Some examples from 1911 include keeping the grounds of the Great Northern Hotel clean during their fete and helping steward races at the Coronation fete for King George V.
Even though Scout activity decreased during World War I as members went off to serve in the Armed Forces, the Boy Scout Association took the decision in 1916 to admit young boys from the age of eight as the demand from the younger generation increased. However, it should be noted that 1st Newry had already been admitting younger boys (later known as Wolf Cubs) from 1915.
By the end of the war, the Earl of Kilmorey had granted the Troop several camping sites adjacent to the Whitewater River at Mourne Park. At his invitation, an annual camp was held at Mourne Park and this still continues today. Troop membership had grown to over sixty boys by 1923 and the Troop continued to grow from strength to strength, holding annual Jamborees, fundraising and evenings of entertainment for the local community.
While the numbers in the Troop decreased during World War II as many members had joined the Armed Forces, the younger members left behind did their part for the war effort by collecting wastepaper. The money raised from the sale of wastepaper was given to the Red Cross Fund; some forty tons were collected in 1941 with the help of both Scouts and Cubs. By the next year, the Troop had raised the £13 13s for the Baden-Powell Memorial Fund.
1945 saw the return of the Jamboree in Downshire Road Hall with the proceeds donated to the Boys’ Residential Hostel in Belfast. The year also marked the return of a Scout bugle band and sporting activities. However, this success was dampened by the loss of eight members in the war and an event was held in August of that year to honour their memory.
‘Bob-a-job’ week was introduced in 1949 in which every Scout was to earn the sum of at least 1/- (5p) for Scout funds during the week April 18 to April 23. The ‘Bob-a-job’ week continued for many years with the help of the local community and, in Newry, Foster’s department store in Hill Street donated one of their windows for a Scouting display. Some of the funds went towards renovations to the Scout hall in Sandys Street which were completed in March 1954.
The Troubles proved to have a detrimental effect on the Scouts during the 1970s but the 80s held many milestones for the Scouts including the 70th Anniversary Dinner of 1st Newry Scouts and the 75th anniversary of the formation of the Scouting movement in the UK. The 1st Newry Cubs were also able to celebrate being the oldest Cub Scout Pack in Northern Ireland in 1986.
The Scouts achievements continued in 1997 with Cub Scout Leader, William McAlpine, being awarded an MBE in recognition of services to Scouting. He had been in the 1st Newry Troop since 1940, first as a Cub Scout and then as Leader of the Cub Pack since 1955.
1st Newry has continued to flourish in recent years and in 2010 they celebrated their centenary with new badges and scarves designed to mark the occasion. A celebration dinner was held on 29 October with over a hundred and eighty Scouts, leaders and former members in attendance and entertainment provided by the Hunter Moore Memorial Flute Band.
by Joanne Glymond
