Part I: Seals teeth and whales ears - Scott Polar Research Institute ...

won a large number of decorative scout badges, such as for swimming, first aid,
exploration, cooking, natural history, sailing, artist, etc. One learnt about many
diverse subjects and activities. Each was a challenge, though some were easier than
others, and there was usually a significant practical element. To be awarded them
one took a test and had to achieve a set level; they were objectives to aim for. I also
obtained my first-class badge, which involved the first-class hike, already
mentioned. I got so many badges that I also qualified eventually for the ‘gold cords’,
and ‘bushman's thong’ (an attractive plaited leather decoration which I still have) -
coveted but rarely achieved distinctions. Together with the triple white stripes of the
Troop Leader there wasn't much of my scout shirt left uncovered! I had a good
patrol, called the ‘Bats’ and we had a lot of fun. I remember that the patrol kept a
diary illustrated with amusing cartoons by George Knox. Others in my form,
including ‘Thos’ Walker and Arthur Bell were also active. I have no doubt that I
benefited greatly from being a scout and it was through the scouts that I first began
to enjoy exploring the fells.
In August l941, when I was fifteen, I received a letter from Charles, thanking me
for the good work and leadership I had put into the troop. Had it not been for ‘Thos’
Walker and myself, he said, there would by now be no Scout Troop in the school. He
wrote: "One of the things which worries me about the school is the lack of leadership,
either capacity or enthusiasm for leadership, which becomes apparent the further up
the school people get." Later, I became an Adventure Scout, a category which began
at age 16-17 I think. We helped out like assistant scoutmasters, but also did more
interesting and demanding things.
We were also expected to join the school's Combined Cadet Force (CCF), and I
achieved the illustrious rank of Sergeant, the highest that a schoolboy could achieve.
We wore the thick, rough and itchy khaki serge battledress, tunic, trousers and
puttees wound over heavy black boots; we came to terms with ‘blanco and bullshit’.
We ‘square-bashed’ about once a week in the school playground, had meetings in
the local drill hall, where we learned the basic skills of warfare (which seemed
apposite in wartime!); we got to know about rifles and how to strip them down, even
fire them. The highlight was dismantling, cleaning and re-assembling a huge brengun,
though we never did get around to firing it. We learnt map-reading and other
military accomplishments and did field exercises, sometimes at night. One or two
sayings from these times remain clear in memory such as "never volunteer for
anything"; "Bullshit baffles brains"!
Once the CCF went on a week-long field camp in the grounds of Wray Castle,
overlooking the lake. We slept in army bell-tents, which were not as sensible in my
view as the scouts' ridge-tents. At the beginning of the week we had to erect the
tents; the bell tents were easy enough, but there were also two large marquees to be
used as mess tents. No one seemed to know how to erect them, so I took over the
task. Unfortunately, the poles supplied were of unequal length. Decisively, I sawed
off a foot length from the end of the larger one and the marquee was erected. Almost
at once I realized that another option would have been to dig a hole a foot deep! So
much for my decisive action. The officers (Masters) had to resolve that with the hire
firm, or the army, but fortunately there were no repercussions for me!
Another day that week we received visitors, including two pretty girls,
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