Boy Scouts and What They Do/Before the Rally

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Some Scottish Piers at the Rally

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• Sir Herbert Plumer.
• H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught.
• The Chief Scout (Sir Robert Baden-Powell).
• The Chief Commissioner (Sir Edmond Elles),
• The Deputy Chief Commissioner (Colonet Ulick de Burgh),

The Inspection.

Before the Rally.

 

 

Thirty thousand Scouts, gathered from all parts of the earth, were reviewed in Perry Hall Park on Saturday by His Royal Highness Prince Arthur of Connaught, before a huge gathering of spectators. The Prince, with his equerry, arrived at Snow Hill Station shortly after one o'clock. A guard of honour was drawn up on the platform, consisting of lads from the Scouts' Farm, Sussex. The Prince, who wore the undress uniform of the Scots Greys, was received by the Chief Scout. Then followed an inspection of the guard of honour, after which His Royal Highness and his equerry, escorted by the Chief Scout, drove in a motor-car to the Grand Hotel. En route, the Prince was loudly cheered by large crowds. At the Grand Hotel His Royal Highness was the guest at a luncheon party. After lunch the Prince drove to Bingley Hall, and was conducted round the Exhibition, for which he expressed high admiration. He was specially interested in the motor-car which the Scouts presented to their Chief and his wife on the occasion of their wedding, and the handsome silver cup, which was sent on the same occasion by the Scouts of America.

The Scene in the Park.

 

Those who were present in the park during the afternoon will not readily forget the splendid spectacle they witnessed. The morning had broken grey and forbidding, and it looked as though the review would be carried out under dripping skies. But shortly after mid-day the rain clouds melted away, and the gathering took place under ideal conditions. No better spot could have been chosen for the Rally than Perry Hall Park. The gentle, well-wooded slopes with which it is surrounded made a charming background for the picture on which the eye rested when the last troop had marched on to the ground, and taken up their position. The "gathering" itself was a wonderful sight to witness. Shortly before three o'clock the spectators caught the sound of fifes and drums, of bugles, and the skirling of the pipes; and then, from each side of the parade ground the Scouts marched on, and the Rally had commenced. Troop after troop, with banners and flags waving, made to their positions, and it was not until nearly an hour had passed that the foreground was filled in, and the picture was complete. The great feature of the Rally was its cosmopolitan character. Not only was every part of the United Kingdom represented, but Australia, South Africa, Canada, Gibraltar, and the Straits Settlements; the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Holland, and China. The representatives of these widely separated countries had with them their national, as well as their troop flags, and these made brilliant points of colour against the fresh green of the background, and formed a striking contrast to the khaki-coloured mass. The most prominent and beautiful flag of all was that carried at the head of the Shanghai troop—a dark blue flag, on which was worked a great golden dragon, a present to the troop from the Chinese ladies who had made it.

The Inspection.

 

It was shortly after half-past-three that the Prince rode on to the parade ground, attended by his equerry, and accompanied by the Chief Scout, the Chief Commissioner,

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The Inspection.

Hats on Staves.Three Cheers for the King.

Three Cheers for Prince Arthur

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The Rush.

the Deputy Chief Commissioner, and the Commissioner for Wales. Sir Herbert Plumer was in command of the Rally. Immediately the Prince appeared the Scouts, who had been at ease, sprang to the alert, the Royal Salute was signalled, troop flags were lowered, the band played the National Anthem, and all ranks saluted. The troops came to the alert again, and a delightful picture was presented for just one moment, as all flags were raised before the order to stand at ease was given. This, indeed, was one of the most impressive sights of the afternoon.

Whilst the inspection was in progress, the public were entertained to music by the pipers, the Rifle Brigade band, and the band of the Perthshire troop, whose miniature kettle-drummer was the cause of much merriment.

His Royal Highness first inspected the King's Scouts and Life-savers, and then passed on to inspect the various divisions. Each division came to the alert, and saluted; and then, as it seemed to the sightseers, without any signal or order being given, hats were doffed and raised aloft on the poles, and a tremendous outburst of cheering came from those 25,000 lads. It went-from right to left of the line, and then back again, and produced such a thrilling volume of sound as has seldom, if ever, been heard in Birmingham before.

The Charge.

 

The cheering broke out afresh when the inspection was concluded, and the Prince rode back to the saluting base. Then came the sight of the afternoon. There was a moment of silence, and this was broken by the Scouts' call on the bugle, followed by the charge. The King's Scouts and Life-savers sprang to the alert, and then the whole parade dashed forward at top speed, waving their flags and poles, the while each troop yelled their particular patrol calls at their loudest, producing an effect that was weirdly fascinating. At the line of the King's Scouts and Life-savers the rush came suddenly to the halt, and then to the alert, the tremendous volume of sound stopped on the instant, and the silence that followed was so intense as to be almost material. This was the climax of the afternoon; it was a dramatic conclusion to a great gathering.

Sir Herbert Plumer rode forward, and called for three cheers for His Majesty, and the call was responded to by a thunder of cheering, accompanied by the rolling of drums. The Prince next congratulated Sir Herbert Plumer on the Inspection, and the Scouts on their display. Before the Prince rode off he was greeted with another outburst and cheering from the Scouts and public combined, a compliment he acknowledged by saluting.

The scene when the Scouts broke up and dispersed, some troops to their camp, and others to various destinations, was as interesting as anything that took place during the afternoon. Troops crossed and recrossed as though a giant tattoo were in progress, and the air was resonant with the notes of the bugle, and the rolling of drums. Above all was heard the wild music of the pipes, as the Scots moved up to their quarters in the camp.

At the Rally.A good view for a short Scout.

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Prince Arthur.The Chief Scout.
Prince Arthur's Smile