This article was written by David Manders, previously of 72 Oxhey Avenue, however we don’t have a record of when it was written. We would also be interested to see images of the scout hut mentioned, or a photo of David. If you can help, please contact publicity@oveg.org.
This troop was registered in 1913 but we were told it started in 1909. A group of boys used to meet at the Parish Hall in Lower Paddock Road to do drill and we understood they became 1st Oxhey Troop under a Mr. E Jones. Mr. E.W. Sargent, who lived in Oxhey Avenue, became Secretary of the newly formed ‘Association’.
2nd Oxhey Troop was formed by a group of boys who disagreed with 1st Oxhey policy. Most came from Carpenders Park. The Reverend A. Davies became Scoutmaster with a Mr A Cooper as Assistant Scoutmaster. Mr Cooper eventually became Scoutmaster in 1928. The above history was taught us as Boy Scouts but we never saw anything written dowm.
In Oxhey Avenue on the ‘even’ side lived the Bone family. Alan was at Watford Grammar School – fair-haired, stocky and mad on Rugby. He was a Patrol Leader in 2nd Oxhey Troop, and his sister, Frances Bone was Cub mistress. In1937, Frances took my brother Mick and myself (David) as Cubs, although we were under age as I believe we had to be 7 or 8 years old before acceptance. Miss Bone was Akhala and there was an assistant called ‘Bagheera’ the Panther, but I cannot recall her name. We loved the whole thing – it was exciting and new. As the only children in Oxhey Avenue it meant we met other children.
Miss Bone was very strict on discipline and hygiene. Necks and fingernails had to be very clean. Uniforms: ironed by ourselves and creased to perfection. We were taught the ‘Flag’, Lords Prayer, ironing, washing, read Kipling’s ‘Kim’ and ‘Just So’ stories, played games and went on adventure hikes. The Cub mistress wore a khaki tunic and skirt with a leather belt, a whistle on a lanyard and a wide brimmed Scout Hat. Miss Bone shone with cleanliness and her shoes would have done credit to the Brigade of Guards.
I remember the long walk down Oxhey Lane to the Scout Hut, opposite the Lodge to the big house we called Absalom’s. The Hut (is it still there?) had creosoted wood plank walls and a felt covered roof. The doors were green and the hut sat in a small area enclosed by an iron fence. I think there were Scots pines around. To one side was a number of cottages and a yard. There was a brick shed where we kept equipment and a Trek cart. The hut was painted cream inside with gold radiators, run on gas. The lighting was also gas. There was no water or lavatory. At the back was a small room and an office.
I believe we ‘went up’ to Scouts when eleven. Our uniform was dark green jersey, brown shorts (if possible), fawn neckerchief with woggle (home made), khaki socks with green tabs or black if unobtainable, black shoes and the famous BP scout hat.
Mr F Holloway (known as Grey Brother) had been Scoutmaster but left to join the Royal Artillery. We had no adults in 1941/42 but the Troop leader was a lad called ‘OXO’ Moxom who was a splendid chap.
We had two patrols: ‘Owls’ and ‘Curlews’ (later Wolves and Stags) and later a third – the ‘Ravens’. I was an Owl. Most of the boys came from Carpenders Park or Oxhey. I remember Jimmy Ferris who later joined the RAF Gang Show; the two Prior boys from somewhere down Hampermill Lane way; David and Roger Croft from Oxhey, whose mother I think was a widow; Tony Mallam, whose mother kept a hairdressers on Clay Hill Bushey; Iater, David Lloyd who became great friends with my brother Mick after I left. Oh yes, I almost forgot ‘Tubby’ Hauslitch (I think that was how you spelt his name) an Austrian Jewish refugee. He was older than us, taller and decidedly fatter! Did he go into journalism in London?
Across the road in the ‘Lodge’ lived Mrs Wakeman and her two sons Cyril and Dick who helped with repairs to the hut.
When the 1939/45 war came, we started collecting waste paper in the Trek Cart, which we were told had been given to the Troop to do the same job in 1914! Soon the sheds were full of paper and lots of junk no one else wanted. Unfortunately we were not so keen on bundling it up and it was a long time before action was taken to make us do the job. Some of us became ARP messengers and we helped with the washing up at the mobile canteen in Cassiobury Park.
The major event was Phasells Wood Camp. Located near ‘Two Waters’, Hemel Hempstead, it was a large wooded area with a field. A log cabin was the home and HQ of the resident warden, known as ‘Rainbow’ Raynes? Later a bungalow was added as his home. We loved our weekends there. Pulling the Trek Cart with drag ropes – the kit piled high – was exciting although very tiring on the feet. Learning to put up tents, cooking (I do not know how Mum managed to give us any food as it was rationed) catching rabbits, night time camp fires, singing rousing songs – what an experience.
In 1943 or thereabouts Dick Wakeman brought over his mother’s lodger – Flight Lieutenant Cracknell in the regular RAF. He was some sort of manager for Ralph Reader running the ‘gang shows.’ We called him ‘Flight’. He started helping and introduced us to 16mm films – silent, mostly short comedies – which were very popular. Later he helped us with our first, annual gang show. Dick Wakeman built a small stage and Flight brought down two professional actors in the RAF, one of whom, Peter Dunlop, became a Costume Hirer after the War. They ‘dressed’ us in costume and taught us to move and speak out. Every year thereafter the show grew and parents became eager to attend.
In June 1944 we camped for the first time in Bucks. Before then it was only short camps. The roads nearby were full of troops waiting to move up to the ports for ‘D’ Day.
In 1945 we went to camp on the Isle of Wight at Quarr Abbey. On VE Day the ships in Portsmouth elevated their guns and thousands of shells and flares turned the night sky into daylight. Flight brought two RAF PT instructors from Germany to help so we played football a good deal of the time. Their names were Stan Mortenson and Billy Wrigglesworth, both of whom played for England.
In 1947 a Senior Scout Patrol ‘Grenfell’ (after the explorer) was formed and Joe Sebright, a former Commando, joined as assistant to Flight. I left the 2nd Oxhey Troop and joined the 116 Harrow Troop. I did not get on with Flight and was a difficult teenager! My brother Mick however was chosen to play the lead in ‘Boy Scout’ by Ralph Reader, at the Royal Albert Hall and Roger Croft was the Patrol Leader. That was 1948 and the Comyns Cup was won by Mick’s patrol also.
Scouting was the most important single event in our early life. We learnt to live together with boys of all creeds and classes and the outdoor activities kept us off the streets. The experience stood us in good stead when we all eventually had to go away on National Service.
David Manders
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