香港童軍大會操
HONG KONG SCOUT RALLY
第一次香港童子軍大會操
隨著世界第一次童子軍大會操於1909年在倫敦舉行，六年後(即1915年的3月20日)，香港童子軍亦舉行了相信是香港童子軍歷史上首次的大會操。其時香港童子軍運動正處於起步階段，童子軍發展以聖約瑟書院的香港第1旅為骨幹，首屆香港童子軍大會操亦順理成章選址聖約瑟書院舉行。參與這次會操的童子軍單位除聖約瑟書院初級童子軍團及高級童子軍團外，還有山頂小狼及由Mrs. Raynes 帶領的小狼。所有隊伍在聖約瑟書院童子軍團的樂隊引領下，接受香港總監安史導海軍准將的檢閱。
The first Scout Rally in Hong Kong
The first Scout Rally was held in London in 1909. Six years later (on 20 March 1915), the Hong Kong Scouts organized a Scout Rally, which was probably the first one in Hong Kong Scout history. At that time, Scouting in Hong Kong was still at its infant stage of development. The 1st Hong Kong Group of St Joseph’s College was regarded as the hardcore in the development of Hong Kong Scouting, and so its campus became the venue for the first Scout Rally in Hong Kong. Apart from junior boy Scouts and senior boy Scouts of St Joseph’s College, Peak Wolf Cubs and Wolf Cubs led by Mrs. Raynes also participated in the Rally. The parade led by the Scout band of St Joseph’s College was inspected by Commodore R.H. Anstruther, the then Chief Commissioner.
聖佐治日會操
每年舉行的童子軍大會操，以前曾稱為「聖佐治日童子軍會操」。英皇佐治五世在1934年有見童子軍運動日益蓬勃，便定於每年4月舉辦聖佐治日會操，檢閱考獲京童子軍章或獲得英勇奬勵的童子軍，此後成了英聯邦各地的傳統。聖佐治為英格蘭的主保，而4月23日是他的生日，他最為人熟悉的事蹟便是戰勝代表邪惡之妖龍。貝登堡勳爵選用聖佐治為童子軍的主保聖人，也是鼓勵童子軍奮勇與邪惡搏鬥，並仿傚古代騎士精神。香港曾作為英聯邦之成員，亦有在聖佐治日前後舉行童子軍會操之傳統。由1986年開始，「聖佐治日會操」方改名為「童軍大會操」。
不過要數別具意義的，非1946年4月28日在中區植物公園舉行的聖佐治日會操莫屬。1946年的聖佐治日會操為戰後首次全港童子軍聚會，共有15個旅團超過600名童子軍參加，一起接受軍政府總督菲士廷將軍及香港童子軍副總監柯昭璋的檢閱。此後聖佐治日會操每年固定在4月舉行，直到1986年起才改在10月舉行。
唯一在戶內舉行的 1959 年度聖佐治日會操
The only Rally which was held indoor in 1959
St. George’s Day Parade
The Scout Rally, which is held every year now, used to be known as “St. George’s Day Parade”. In 1934, in view of the rapid development of Scouting, King George V determined to hold St. George’s Day Parade in April every year to inspect the parade formed by those awarded King’s Scout Badge or Award for Gallantry. Since then, it has become a tradition among the Commonwealth regions. St. George, born on 23 April, was the patron of England and was known for defeating the devilish dragon. In fact, the reason for Lord Baden-Powell to choose St. George as the Patron Scout was that he wanted to encourage the Scouts by his fighting against the devilish dragon bravely and also to follow knight spirits in their behavior. As Hong Kong was a member of Commonwealth, we also share the tradition to hold Scout Rally before or after St. George’s Day. From 1986, St. George’s Day Parade was renamed as “Scout Rally”.
Tracing back the history of St. George’s Day Parade, the most memorable one must be the first post-war St. George’s Day Parade held on 28 April 1946 at the Zoological and Botanical Garden at Central. It was the first post-war Scout gathering in Hong Kong with the participation of 15 groups of more than 600 Scouts. The inspection was made by the General Officer Commanding, Major General Festing and C.C. Quah, Deputy Commissioner of the Boy Scouts Association, Hong Kong Branch. Since then, St. George’s Day Parade had been held in April every year until 1986. It was rescheduled to October afterwards.
大會操紀念章
隨著童軍運動日益壯大，參加大會操的人數亦不斷增加。時至今日，每年參與大會操的人數達二、三萬人之多。為隆重其事，大會每年均會推出紀念章，童軍成員可佩戴在童軍制服上，為期半年以慶祝香港童軍運動興隆，你又擁有多少個大會操紀念章呢？
Commemorative Badges of the Scout Rally
With the flourishing development of Scouting, more and more people have participated in the Scout Rally. At present , the number of participants rises to a striking figure of 20,000 to 30,000 people every year. To celebrate this special occasion, the Association issues commemorative badges every year, and members can wear the badge for 6 months as a token of celebration. So how many commemorative badges do you have ?