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The Great War
The Great War
The 20 young boys at that first camp on Brownsea Island, aged 10 to 16 years old, were of the generation whose lives would be swept up by the First World War. Of the 19 boys who were still alive in 1914, 5 later died during the War and a 6th died prematurely due to the effects of gas poisoning.
It's estimated that over 84,000 Scouts and their leaders enlisted in the Armed Forces in World War 1, and around 8,000 were killed. Some young boys aged just 15 years old serving as stewards in the Merchant Navy.
War Memorials were erected honouring those who had been killed including the pictured memorial raised at a Scout campsite in Oxshott by Kingston District. It honoured the 70 members of the district who were killed during the First World War.
Second World War
Second World War
By the time of the 2nd World War, many more of the young men fighting had been Scouts, including with 6th Rugby.
Scouts Roll of Honour
Scouts Roll of Honour
You can find The Scouts First and Second World War Roll of Honour here: The Scouts Roll of Honour.
6th Rugby Roll of Honour
6th Rugby Roll of Honour
Trooper Edward Thomas Newitt
Trooper Newitt was 21 years old when he was killed in 1943. Born in Bilton, he'd been a member of 6th Rugby. He's buried in Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia.
Serjeant Roland James Borton
Serjeant Borton was 29 years old when he was killed in February 1945, just 3 months before the end of the war in Europe. He left a widow and a baby son whom he'd never seen. Previously a member of 6th Rugby - Rover Scouts (now Explorers). He's buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
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