Postcard Mystery Solved

 

A Mystery Solved

Within our ‘John Wilson Collection’ of photos was this early postcard of Saxilby Scouts.

It was badly worn and gave no indication as to the date. It could have been taken in the Ship Inn yard. And who was the mystery person inset?

I was contacted by a friend of the Group, Colin Shields, who had been notified that a copy of this postcard was advertised for sale on eBay. It may have dated from 1914.

A search of the British Newspaper Archive turned up trumps, with a detailed article appearing in the Retford and Worksop Herald on 10^th November 1914 containing the very photograph and everyone’s names!

Several of the Troop members have familiar surnames today, and I guess a few may be even your grandfathers. Please let me know, and I’ll let you have a copy.

Standing (left to right): E Barnard, F Blades, W Robins, A White, A Jubb, W Marshall, H Norris, W Garnham, G Watson, W Ford, C Flemington, F Bonser, J Toyne, G Goodacre, P Smalley, G Poole, W Storey, H Watson, A Cavill, A Linton, A Goodban, H Pocklington, H Sergeant, R Brown, W Smalley.

In centre: Front Row – Patrol Leaders G Britt, F Hardy, I Keyworth, H Cunnington.

Back Row – Scoutmaster Baker, Assistant-Scoutmaster Garnham. Standing to the rear is the President, Mr. W P Jackson.

{Of those pictured, Arthur White, Joseph Toyne, William Storey, and Ira Keyworth were killed during the ensuing war].

The article reveals that the photograph, taken by Mr. W Dennis ‘gives an excellent idea of the strength and physique of the Saxilby 1^st (Senior) Troop of Scouts, only eleven weeks in existence.

£10 was generously subscribed by the public: nearly £6 by the Scouts themselves: and 10s. 6d. was realized by the sale of postcards.

This nice sum has come in handy for the equipping of the whole 34 members, and the fitting up of the scout-house.

The lads are practicing enthusiastically, and they have achieved admirable results.

Last weekend they helped the Lincoln Scouts to take a load of vegetables to Lincoln, for the Refugees.’ [By October 1914, after the collapse of Belgian military resistance, a thousand Belgians a day were arriving in Britain. In a few short months, more than 200,000 Belgians arrived in the country – the largest influx of people in British refugee history].

‘This week they have been collecting in the village, and by all indications there will be a good supply of vegetables to go to Lincoln, for the same object, today.

Nearly the whole Troop paraded to Doddington on Sunday, and they were warmly received by the Vicar and Mr. G E Jarvis, the latter gentleman giving 10s. to Scoutmaster Baker (Saxilby) to hand over to the Belgian Fund, on behalf of the Troop. As there were 40 Lincoln and 31 Saxilby Scouts, it was a very animated scene, and a considerable number of villagers turned out to see them off.

It might be mentioned that as so many vegetables, etc., have been brought in for the Belgian families, it has been found necessary to procure a dray, which has been kindly lent by Mr. W Cooper.’

But who was the mystery man in the inset photo?

The article reveals that it is Saxilby’s chemist, William Dennis, and continues ‘On Wednesday night, at the Club House, Mr. W Dennis was presented with a Scouts “Thanks” badge by the Troop.

Mr. W P Jackson, in making the presentation, paid a tribute to the way Mr. Dennis had worked for them, saying that the good position they were in now was greatly due to his energy.

Scoutmaster Baker also added a word of thanks.

The whole Troop then sang “For he’s a jolly good fellow.”

Mr. Dennis thanked the Troop for the token of esteem. It was one of the Scout laws to help others, and he hoped he would always be able to do something for them.

He moved that the thanks of the whole Troop be given to Mr. W P Jackson and Miss E J Brooke for all they had done for them.’

The history of our community (and our photo collection) would be incomplete without William’s photographs of Saxilby and District. Whilst we have many of his photos, this is the first we have of him. He came to Saxilby with his family from Sunderland in the early 20^th Century, taking over Battles Chemist, which is now part of One Stop. He built a large shop at Trinity House as a Chemist and Stationer, selling in addition crested china and postcards.

He retired to Cromer in the late 1920s and died in 1960.