Robert Robert - Scouting for Boys

On the word “Alert” or “Attention”, the Scout stands upright looking straight to his front, with both feet together, hands hanging naturally at the sides, fingers straight.

On the word “Easy” or “At ease,” he brings the left foot away six inches to the left, and clasps his hands behind his back. He is permitted to turn his head about. At the word “Sit easy,” he squats down on the ground in any position he likes. “Sit easy” should usually be given whenever you don’t want the boys to be at the “Alert,” provided that the ground is dry.

When you sit in a chair, sit upright and don’t let your body slide down into the “S” shape.

“Quick march”—boys move off with the left foot leading at a smart pace, swinging the arms freely, as this gives good exercise to the body and muscles and inside organs.

“Double”—boys run at a jog-trot with short, easy steps, hands swinging loosely, not tucked up at the side.

“Scout Pace”—the boys march at the quick march for twenty paces, then double twenty paces, and so on, alternately running and walking, until the word is given “Quick march” or’ ‘Halt.”

“Right turn”—each boy turns to the right.

“Follow your leader,” “Leader right turn”—the leading man turns to his right, the remainder move up to the place where he turned, and then follow after him.

“Front form line” (when “Following the leader”)—those in rear run up and form in line alongside the leader on his left.

Troop Formations

Line (means parties side by side) —Each Patrol has its Scouts in line, Patrol Leader on the right, Second on the left, the others in their order from right to left, Scoutmaster in front of center.

Open Column (means parties one behind the other)—Give the word “Patrols right wheel” (form line). “Halt” (when exactly behind each other at their proper distance, such as will enable them to wheel either to right or left into line).

Close Column— Rear Patrols moved up to leading Patrols for taking up less room on parade, or for being addressed by a leader.

Line can be formed from “open column”, to the right or left by wheeling the Patrols to that hand; or to the front by the leading Patrol standing fast (or advancing), the second Patrol inclining and moving up on its right, the third Patrol moving up into line on its left, and so on with other Patrols in rear, even numbers going up on the right, odd numbers on the left of the leading

Don’ t slouch along looking at the ground, as if ashamed of yourself. Straighten up and flash a Scout smile.

Patrol. The Patrols which move up always do so at the “double.”

Line can be formed to the rear from “open column” by “about turn” for everybody (always turn about to the right hand), and

then proceeding to form line as above.

Formations by Silent Signals

With an alert Troop these formations can easily be made without any word of command; all that is needed is for the Scoutmaster to give a signal and every Scout immediately doubles to his proper place in his Patrol, the whole formation facing the Scoutmaster.

For instance, for “Line” he might extend both arms outwards to the sides from the shoulder; for “Open column” extend both arms outwards but bend them upward at the elbow; for “Close column” the signal might be like that for “Open column” but with the arms held forward instead of outward from the shoulders.

“Horseshoe Formation” is the ordinary one for Troop parades. The signal for this is usually to swing the arms to and fro with a semi-circular motion in front of the body.

For inter-Patrol games “Rows” is used. This means that the patrols are in Indian file, behind their Patrol Leaders with their Seconds at the back, facing the Scoutmaster, and in their usual Patrol order from right to left. The usual signal is both arms stretched forward from the shoulders.

Movements by signal are always made at the run and in dead silence.

CHAPTER VII

CHIVALRY OF THE KNIGHTS

CAMP FIRE YARN NO. 20

CHIVALRY TO OTHERS

Knights Errant - Helpfulness to Others

Courtesy to Women

HINTS TO INSTRUCTORS

One aim of the Boy Scouts scheme is to revive amongst us, if possible, some of the rules of the knights of old, which did so much for the moral tone of our race. Unfortunately, chivalry with us has, to a large extent, been allowed to die out, whereas in Japan, for instance, it is taught to the children, so that it becomes with them a practice of their life, and it is also taught to children in other countries with the best results. Our effort is not so much to discipline the boys as to teach them to discipline themselves.

It is impossible in so short a space as I have at my disposal to do more than touch upon subjects which the instructor may elaborate for himself. The different qualities which the Knight’s Code demanded are grouped under the three heads:—

1.— Chivalry to Others.

2.— Discipline of Self.

3 .— Self-improvement.

In days of old, when knights were bold,” it must have been a fine sight to see one of these steel-clad horsemen come riding through the dark green woods in his shining armour, with shield and lance and waving plumes, bestriding his gallant warhorse, strong to bear its load, and full of fire to charge upon an enemy. And near him rode his squire—a young man, his assistant and companion, who would some day become a knight.

Behind him rode his group, or patrol of men-at-arms— stout, hearty warriors, ready to follow their knight to the gates of death if need be. They were the tough yeomen of the old days, who won so many fine fights for their country through their pluck and loyal devotion to their knights.

In peace time, when there was no fighting to be done, the knight would daily ride about looking for a chance of doing a good turn to any needing help, especially a woman or child who might be in distress. When engaged in thus doing good turns, he was called a “Knight Errant.” The men of his patrol naturally acted in the same way as their leader, and a man-at-arms was always equally ready to help the distressed with his strong right arm.

The knights of old were the Patrol Leaders, and the men-at-arms were the Scouts.

You Patrol Leaders and Scouts are therefore very like the knights and their retainers, especially if you keep your honour ever before you, and do your best to help other people who are in trouble or who want assistance. Your motto is, “Be Prepared” to do this, and the motto of the knights was a similar one, “Be Always Ready.”

Chivalry

Chivalry—that is, the order of the knights—was started in England some 1500 years ago by King Arthur.

On the death of his father, King Uther Pendragon, he was living with his uncle, and nobody knew who was to be King. He did not himself know that he was the son of the late King.

Then a great stone was found in the churchyard, into which a sword was sticking, and on the stone was written: