Lonsdale District Scouts

Jack Cornwell VC

The Cornwell Scout Badge is an award presented to Scouts in respect of pre-eminently high character and devotion to duty, together with great courage, endurance or gallantry. It is granted only to Scouts under the age of 18 who have an outstanding record of service and efficiency.

On June 2nd. 1916, a Scout whose name has become a part of Scouting died in Grimsby Hospital – Jack Cornwell – he was 16 years old.

When he left school he became a van boy with a tea firm. When he was 15 he joined the Royal Navy, and in July 1915 he entered the Boys’ Training Establishment at the Royal Naval Barracks in Devonport. In May 1916 he was appointed to H.M.S. Chester and acted as sight-setter on his gun, a most difficult and responsible position. He would receive his instructions by earphones from an Officer higher up who could see the target, and set the dials which governed the aiming of the gun.

It was World War I, and on May 31st. 1916, H.M.S. Chester was sent into action – the Battle of Jutland. The Chester engaged in battle with three or four enemy light cruisers. A salvo at short range swept the Chester’s decks – the concentrated fire of all the guns of one of the cruisers, and it brought disaster to Jack Cornwell’s gun crew. Every man was dead, dying or wounded – only Jack remained at his post, but his face was white and drawn. A shell fragment had struck him near the heart. He was dying. The battle raged on, but still he stood alone despite great pain, waiting steadfastly for orders in case he might be wanted. The battle ended, and he was carried below.

He was buried with full naval honours. A thousand Scouts attended his funeral and he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

The highest award for valour in the Scout Movement – the Bronze Cross, was awarded to him and sent to his parents by B.-P.   He was an ordinary boy, full of jokes and plans, but he kept his Promise, to do his duty to the King, just as Scouts have promised to do their duty to the Queen today.

Since his death the Cornwell Scout Badge (sometimes known as the Scouts V.C.) has been awarded in his memory. All through Scout training the Scout Promise and Law is mentioned to try to show that it is part of how we live, not just something we say. Jack Cornwell kept his Promise – have we kept ours ?

Arthur Shepherd

Scouts “C” Badge

“Middlesbrough Boy First to be Awarded One

His Splendid Courage”

“To the many awards which Scouts are privileged to win, a further one has been added. This is known as the “C” badge, and although it is quite devoid of lavish embellishments it will be one the most treasured prizes.

It has been instituted in memory of the boy-hero Cornwell and the applicant must pass the following tests.

1. A test in physical courage, or as an alternative :-
a) Hold an award for bravery for having saved life under exceptional circumstances.
b) Have undergone suffering in a heroic manner.

2. Must be a First Class Scout.

3. Must obtain a really good report from his Scoutmaster and some independent responsible person for:-
a) Industry and effort.
b) Obedience and discipline.
c) Trustworthiness.
d) Punctuality in attendance.
e) Smartness in bearing, kit, and appearance.

4. Must have passed the Missioners Badge.

5. Must have passed two of the following badges:- Boatman, Pilot, Sea Fisherman, Signaller, Starman, Swimmer or Rescuer, Watchman, or must have the Public Service Coast- Watching Badge, that is have been on coastguard duty at least 100 days.

The severity of the test makes the feat all the more meritorious, and the people of Middlesbrough will learn with pride that one of her sons, Patrol Leader Arthur Shepherd, of the 8th Troop and who resides at 163, Union Street, has had the distinction of being the first to win the award, which was personally presented to him by the Chief Scout General Sir R. Baden- Powell, at last nights meeting of lads.

Leader Shepherd has displayed splendid courage on more than one occasion. He was on coastguard duty at Whitby at the time the Rohilla was wrecked. The Scouts turned out in the early hours of the morning, and on their own initiative made a fire and coffee. For two or three days and nights they were on the scene, assisting in the work of rescue, displaying great gallantry, for which they were highly commended by the Admiralty.

Their duty necessitated their traversing dangerous cliffs during the height of the gale, when the slightest slip would have been fatal, but they did the work right well.

The recipient was also at Whitby when the Coastguard Station was shelled by German vessels and showed the greatest pluck and coolness.

As the Chief Scout remarked Middlesbrough has good reason to be proud of Patrol Leader Shepherd.”

The First “C” Badge for Courage

Extract from Headquarters Gazette December 1916
By the Editor

“I must have a Badge for courage,” I said to Mr. West at Headquarters a few weeks ago.

“I’m sorry Mr Elwes,” Mr West replied “but they are not for grown-up officers. “Oh, it’s not for myself,” I replied, laughing, “I am sure I should never be entitled to one, but it’s like this. The Chief is going up to Middlesbrough tomorrow to address a mass meeting of boys in connection with the National Mission. He has promised me that, before the meeting, he will examine Patrol Leader Shepherd of the 8th Middlesbrough Troop. Shepherd holds the First-class, Missioner’s and Coast-watching, badges, and the character report from his Scoutmaster, schoolmaster, and employer are excellent The only question now is as to the test of courage. The accounts I have received of what he did at Whitby are fine, and I think the Chief will be satisfied when he has had a talk with the boy and his Scoutmaster – so I have got an idea. If only you will produce a badge, Mr. West, we will hand it to the Chief, then if he thinks fit he can present the badge at that great meeting of boys.

There was only one badge in existence at that time – the sample one, and it had been sent back to the makers, but Mr. West rose with energy to my idea – the sample badge was recovered in time from the makers and delivered to the Chief, and so it came about that, on the following evening, at a meeting of 3,000 boys with the Archbishop of York in the chair the Chief presented Patrol Leader Shepherd with the first Cornwell Badge of courage. “And how those 3,000 boys cheered,” said the Chief to me next day. “I believe every one of them wished he was a Scout.”

© Lonsdale District Scout Council

© Lonsdale District Scout Council

© Lonsdale District Scout Council

© Lonsdale District Scout Council

© Lonsdale District Scout Council

© Lonsdale District Scout Council

Photo (top centre) taken in 1994 by the Webmaster of the actual photograph presented by B-P to Arthur Shepherd. Frame also holds the First Cornwell Badge itself and Arthur’s War Service Coast Watching Badge.

The test of courage Patrol Leader Arthur Shepherd had gone through was this. When the “Rohilla” was wrecked on the rocks at Whitby (in 1914), Leader Shepherd was on coast-watching duty there with the Patrol. The Scouts turned out with the coastguards in the dark in the early hours one morning, and they were hard at work, with only short intervals for rest, for the following three days and nights, wet through, with a gale blowing, trying to rescue drowning men and recovering bodies.

Arthur, when Scoutmaster of the 8th Middlesbrough c.1925 © Lonsdale Scout Archive

At one time the Scouts waded into the surf with a life-line to get hold of drowning men. But the most dangerous part of the work in which Leader Shepherd took part was going with messages for the coastguard officer and bringing supplies of rockets from the coastguard station.

In doing this he had to make his way along the face of the cliff by a very, narrow and slippery ledge of rock which overhung the sea and was washed by the waves. He had to do this alone, with a gale blowing, and in the dark, when a false step or a slip meant death. But he did it, and did it several times.

And that was how he proved his pluck. But another test of it was given when the German men-of-war bombarded Whitby. The Scouts had just got back when the shells came flying in and bursting about the place.

Instead of hiding away in the cellar, they at once ran back to the coastguard station to see if their services were needed. One Scout was hit and afterwards lost his leg, and the rest were described by the coastguard officer as so cool and brave that “the Germans might have been firing at them with peashooters for all that they cared.” And Leader Shepherd was one of these, plucky and ready to do any duty that he might be called on to do, even under most unexpected and dangerous fire of heavy guns. Well, don’t you think he did fine work and helped to bring honour to all Scouts?”

Arthur in 1983 (photo from Middlesbrough Evening Gazette Oct. 3, 1983)

Arthur’s story continues in Lonsdale District . . .

The Lonsdale Scout District Connection

In later life Arthur worked for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) and when he changed his place of employment to the factory at Heysham he came to live, firstly, in Overton, near to his work and later in Colwyn Avenue, Bare in Morecambe.

The scouting connection had continued as Arthur became Chairman for a number of years of the 1st Overton (St Helen’s) Group.

The 16th Morecambe Troop briefly entered into this story in 1993. The District Chairman had received a letter from Arthur’s niece asking if a local Group would do a “good turn” by tending to the garden of the bungalow in Bare, as Arthur, now 94, had had to move back to Middlesbrough. This they gladly agreed to do and that is when they became aware of this piece of scouting history.

Arthur, aged 94, proudly displaying his badges and photos. Photo © Lonsdale District Scout Council.

As a footnote, fascinated by this story, the writer arranged to visit Arthur at his niece’s home in 1994 where I was privileged to meet them both and to take some photographs of the first scout to receive the Cornwell Badge together with his badge and framed mementoes. A great honour. When asked of any memories of the Founder he commented that his language could be very rough at times – surprising perhaps, but then again perhaps not so from a soldier of many years campaigning.

Arthur’s niece told me on one occasion that one great ambition that Arthur confidently expressed from an early age was that he would live to be 100. He almost made it,