On different occasions I have had the pleasure of issuing Silver
Medals to Scouts for gallantry in saving life or assisting the police.
Scoutmaster Crowther, of the Huddersfield Boy Scouts, went to the
assistance of a police constable who was being violently assaulted by
some roughs in a slum. Although he was knocked about himself in doing
so, Crowther managed to help the officer, and, by blowing his whistle,
to get more police on to the scene. The principal offenders were
arrested, and ultimately got six months' imprisonment from the
magistrate, who at the same time highly complimented Mr. Crowther on
his plucky action.
Scout P. L. G. Brown, of the 7th (All Saints) Southampton Troop, did
much the same thing. He saw a police constable struggling with four
violent roughs, and, although there was a hostile crowd round them,
Brown remembered his duty and dashed in to help the officer. Although
he got a kick on the knee, he was able to get hold of the policeman's
whistle and to blow it, and in this way brought more police upon the
scene, so that the four men were arrested and punished.
Brown himself went away without giving his name or making any fuss
about what he had done, but he was discovered and later on received
the Silver Medal.
Then, when I was reviewing the Gateshead Scouts, I heard of the case
of two Boy Scouts being rewarded by the magistrate for their gallantry
in assisting the police.
The Scouts of Newton Abbot were at hand when a motor-car dashed into a
cart, smashing it up and injuring the two occupants. The Scouts
detained the car; and although the motorists endeavoured to drive off,
they put their staves between the spokes of the wheels and hung on and
prevented the car getting away until the police came up and took
charge.
It was splendid how these Scouts showed such pluck and readiness in
helping the King's officers. They got knocked about in doing so, but
what are a few bruises? They wore off in a few days; but the thing
that won't wear off is the satisfaction that each one of those Scouts
will feel for the rest of his life--namely, that he did his duty.
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