Founders of Box Scouts, 1910 Alan Payne February 2022
The first Box Scouts. Standing left is Scoutmaster Robert McDowell Davies and Right Assistant Scoutmasters James Browning and far right Stephen McIlwraith (courtesy Margaret Wakefield)
This marvellous photo is of the first Box Scouts on camp at Totney in 1911. It’s hard to believe that the Scouts organisation is only just over 100 years old as they have been such a large part in the route of generations of boys to manhood. The Box Troop was founded just two years after the movement was started in 1908 by Robert Baden-Powell based on his book Scouting for Boys.
The aims of the movement were to develop young boys into courteous, good citizens, with skills in tracking, mapping, signalling, knot-tying, first aid, and camping outdoors. In the 1980s, David Ibberson was the scoutmaster of the Box Scout troop and he wrote the history of Box Scouts which he called Lambert’s Own.[1] This article compliments David’s book with some of the original photographs and the story of the leaders and people involved in the foundation of the troop: GE Northey (President), WR Shewring (Treasurer and Secretary), RJ Davies (Scoutmaster), Dr JP Martin (Assistant Scoutmaster) and SA McIlwraith (Assistant Scoutmaster).
George Edward Northey, President
It was obviously a prestigious appointment to have the Lord of Box Manor as the titular head of the movement in Box. George Edward Northey was not a military man but a prison administrator and governor of Manchester Strangeways. He had only recently inherited the Box Northey estate after his father’s death and returned to the village to take up his responsibilities in July 1908. George’s interest in the movement seems to be in educating young men and giving them skills to survive in an adult world. In other words, his experiences in prison work suited him ideally to head the new youth movement.
Walter Richard Shewring, Treasurer and Secretary
Walter Shewring was one of the best-known and most respected residents in Edwardian Box. He was born in 1859 and became central to many of the events in Box: one of the oldest members of the Box Cricket Club, a founder member of the Box Parish Council, served on the Chippenham Rural District Council, was the Box Overseer of the Poor and served on the Chippenham Board of Guardians.[2] By trade, Walter was a master stone mason, foreman of the Bath Stone Firms, who took over as licensee of the Northey Arms pub from 1893 to 1903, which was owned by his older sister Mary Ann from 1872 until 1918, who inherited it from their father Henry.
Walter married Ellen Norah Sims of Westbury in 1883 but the marriage did not work out and, most unusually for the time, he sued her for a decree nisi in 1892 on the grounds of her adultery with a saddle-maker William George Hawkes who lived at Belle Vue Cottage, Box.[3] In 1895 Walter married again to Mary Elizabeth (known as Polly) Weeks (1870-1925), daughter of Richard Tuckey Weeks, a Colerne farmer and owner of the Six Bells Pub.
We don’t know why Walter wanted to help with the scout troop but we can speculate that he had worked his way up the social ladder of social status in the quarry industry to become a master mason. Possibly he wanted to set an example for his sons, including the eldest also called Walter Richard, born in 1901. They were an aspiring, lower-middle-class family and gave a silver rose bowl to the Northey family, lords of the manor, on the marriage of one of their children in 1902.[4] Walter died in 1911, a year after helping to found the Box troop. His funeral cortège was the detachment of the Box Boy Scouts, in their picturesque uniforms, marching each side of the bier. Walter’s obituary reported the esteem in which he was held in the village: nearly all the inhabitants of Box attending to pay their last respects to a life-long and much respected inhabitant.[5] We normally have to be sceptical about glowing newspaper obituaries but the list of those attending Walter’s funeral was most remarkable.
Walter died on 12 February 1911, living at The Paddock, on the Devizes Road, leaving an estate of £5,032.19s.8d (today worth £640,000).[6] His wife Mary died in 1925 still at The Paddock. They were close friends of the important Box soap- and candle-making family, the Vezey family, and appointed Thomas and later Benjamin Vezey as executors.
The aims of the movement were to develop young boys into courteous, good citizens, with skills in tracking, mapping, signalling, knot-tying, first aid, and camping outdoors. In the 1980s, David Ibberson was the scoutmaster of the Box Scout troop and he wrote the history of Box Scouts which he called Lambert’s Own.[1] This article compliments David’s book with some of the original photographs and the story of the leaders and people involved in the foundation of the troop: GE Northey (President), WR Shewring (Treasurer and Secretary), RJ Davies (Scoutmaster), Dr JP Martin (Assistant Scoutmaster) and SA McIlwraith (Assistant Scoutmaster).
George Edward Northey, President
It was obviously a prestigious appointment to have the Lord of Box Manor as the titular head of the movement in Box. George Edward Northey was not a military man but a prison administrator and governor of Manchester Strangeways. He had only recently inherited the Box Northey estate after his father’s death and returned to the village to take up his responsibilities in July 1908. George’s interest in the movement seems to be in educating young men and giving them skills to survive in an adult world. In other words, his experiences in prison work suited him ideally to head the new youth movement.
Walter Richard Shewring, Treasurer and Secretary
Walter Shewring was one of the best-known and most respected residents in Edwardian Box. He was born in 1859 and became central to many of the events in Box: one of the oldest members of the Box Cricket Club, a founder member of the Box Parish Council, served on the Chippenham Rural District Council, was the Box Overseer of the Poor and served on the Chippenham Board of Guardians.[2] By trade, Walter was a master stone mason, foreman of the Bath Stone Firms, who took over as licensee of the Northey Arms pub from 1893 to 1903, which was owned by his older sister Mary Ann from 1872 until 1918, who inherited it from their father Henry.
Walter married Ellen Norah Sims of Westbury in 1883 but the marriage did not work out and, most unusually for the time, he sued her for a decree nisi in 1892 on the grounds of her adultery with a saddle-maker William George Hawkes who lived at Belle Vue Cottage, Box.[3] In 1895 Walter married again to Mary Elizabeth (known as Polly) Weeks (1870-1925), daughter of Richard Tuckey Weeks, a Colerne farmer and owner of the Six Bells Pub.
We don’t know why Walter wanted to help with the scout troop but we can speculate that he had worked his way up the social ladder of social status in the quarry industry to become a master mason. Possibly he wanted to set an example for his sons, including the eldest also called Walter Richard, born in 1901. They were an aspiring, lower-middle-class family and gave a silver rose bowl to the Northey family, lords of the manor, on the marriage of one of their children in 1902.[4] Walter died in 1911, a year after helping to found the Box troop. His funeral cortège was the detachment of the Box Boy Scouts, in their picturesque uniforms, marching each side of the bier. Walter’s obituary reported the esteem in which he was held in the village: nearly all the inhabitants of Box attending to pay their last respects to a life-long and much respected inhabitant.[5] We normally have to be sceptical about glowing newspaper obituaries but the list of those attending Walter’s funeral was most remarkable.
Walter died on 12 February 1911, living at The Paddock, on the Devizes Road, leaving an estate of £5,032.19s.8d (today worth £640,000).[6] His wife Mary died in 1925 still at The Paddock. They were close friends of the important Box soap- and candle-making family, the Vezey family, and appointed Thomas and later Benjamin Vezey as executors.
TH Lambert and RJ Davis spraying potatoes in 1920
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Robert J M Davies, Scoutmaster
Robert James McDowell Davies (1877-27 February 1966) was born in Edinburgh where his father William was a cabinet maker. Robert married Alice Mary Day (1884-) from Axbridge in 1908 and they moved to Ailsa Craig, Ashley, where Robert worked as a Customs & Excise Officer. Robert appears to have joined the Excise Office in Edinburgh straight from school, working his way up through the ranks by open examination and moving down to England between 1901 and 1908.[7] Robert and Alice were comfortably-off and employed a general domestic servant in Box. Robert’s areas of duty as an Excise Officer included various legal cases: in 1908 prosecuting the publican of the Somerset Arms, Semington for selling black market spirits and owning a shotgun without a licence.[8] Because of his work, he was exempt from serving in the First World War but concentrated on public duties such as organising the Wiltshire Prisoners of War Fund in Box in 1917.[9] For many years Robert was an active Freemason, joining the Lansdown Lodge of Unity, Chippenham, whilst in Box and he was a frequent visitor to other Lodges in the company of fellow Box men.[10] |
The family appear to have left Box shortly after the First World War and settled at St Andrews Park, Bristol. In 1923 he and his wife went with their uncle Captain AE Lewis by train from Bristol to a proposed seaside resort at Severn Beach, when the uncle lost an arm in a moving train.[11] Robert never lost his connection with Box, however, and in 1924 he came to the funeral of Edwin Skeate Pinchin of Brewery House, in the company of leading residents of the village including Arthur Shaw Mellor and George Jardine Kidston.[12] By 1939 Robert had retired and he was able to concentrate on his hobby of golf. They later lived at Cotham, Bristol where Robert died in 1966, leaving £10,991 in total. Children: Arthur Mcdowell (1909-); Julia Mcdowell (28 May 1911-), a state registered nurse; Jean L (1914-), a masseuse.
Stephen Arthur McIlwraith, Assistant Scoutmaster
Stephen’s father John McIlwraith was a railway engine driver who was born in Scotland and married Sarah Venn in 1873 in Oxford. They and their children moved to Box in about 1884 but John died a few years later on 31 October 1887, aged 36 when Stephen was only 4-years-old. Sarah McIlwraith and her family moved to 15 Alcombe Cottages, where they lived between 1891 and 1911, until Sarah moved to Bourton House in the centre of Box, where she died in 1926.
Stephen took up a job to support the family as he was old enough and was employed as a clerk, working for the Box Stone Firms for fifty years, where he became a trusted bookkeeper and manager.[13] He was one of those people seemingly unbounded in their commitment, a church chorister, sidesman, member of the Parish Church Council and lay reader at Chapel Plaister. He was widely known and respected in Box and had played inside left for Box Hill football team and achieved League Representative honours, and captain of Box Cricket Club before the First World War. There was little wonder that his role in the Box Scouts was instrumental in bringing young boys into the movement. During the Great War, Stephen served in the Army Service Corps helping with the administration of keeping the troops supplied and provisioned. Afterwards, he was active in the Box British Legion Committee and the Comrades’ Club and a member of the Rev George Foster’s Players’ Guild.
He married Mabel A Jones (16 July 1882-) in 1918 at Chepstow. She was a teacher at Box School in charge of the infants’ school in the 1920s. After the First World War Stephen and Mabel moved to 2 Rockleigh Villas, Box, where he died in 1949.
Stephen Arthur McIlwraith, Assistant Scoutmaster
Stephen’s father John McIlwraith was a railway engine driver who was born in Scotland and married Sarah Venn in 1873 in Oxford. They and their children moved to Box in about 1884 but John died a few years later on 31 October 1887, aged 36 when Stephen was only 4-years-old. Sarah McIlwraith and her family moved to 15 Alcombe Cottages, where they lived between 1891 and 1911, until Sarah moved to Bourton House in the centre of Box, where she died in 1926.
Stephen took up a job to support the family as he was old enough and was employed as a clerk, working for the Box Stone Firms for fifty years, where he became a trusted bookkeeper and manager.[13] He was one of those people seemingly unbounded in their commitment, a church chorister, sidesman, member of the Parish Church Council and lay reader at Chapel Plaister. He was widely known and respected in Box and had played inside left for Box Hill football team and achieved League Representative honours, and captain of Box Cricket Club before the First World War. There was little wonder that his role in the Box Scouts was instrumental in bringing young boys into the movement. During the Great War, Stephen served in the Army Service Corps helping with the administration of keeping the troops supplied and provisioned. Afterwards, he was active in the Box British Legion Committee and the Comrades’ Club and a member of the Rev George Foster’s Players’ Guild.
He married Mabel A Jones (16 July 1882-) in 1918 at Chepstow. She was a teacher at Box School in charge of the infants’ school in the 1920s. After the First World War Stephen and Mabel moved to 2 Rockleigh Villas, Box, where he died in 1949.
The Box troop in 1911 with standing L to R James Browning, Stephen McIlwraith and Robert Davies (courtesy Margaret Wakefield)
Dr James Pirie Martin, Assistant Scoutmaster
Much has been written about Dr JP Martin, including by David Ibberson. Dr Martin was an institution in Box village, a colourful character, arrogant but capable of offering free treatment for those who couldn’t afford his fees. People remarked that, in the years of developing private motor cars, he travelled around on horse to all reaches of the parish and its hamlets. He came to Box as a general practitioner in 1887 and spent over 50 years in the village.
He was active in providing facilities for young people, including as a school manager, parish medical officer and as a founding member of the Box Swimming Club. His technique for teaching young boys and girls to swim was unusual. His method seems to have comprised throwing the trainee into the By Brook attached to a pole, shouting instructions at the top of his voice and hoping that they learnt before they were at risk of drowning. It is interesting that by becoming assistant scoutmaster he was taking an active role in the movement rather than just an administrative responsibility.
Much has been written about Dr JP Martin, including by David Ibberson. Dr Martin was an institution in Box village, a colourful character, arrogant but capable of offering free treatment for those who couldn’t afford his fees. People remarked that, in the years of developing private motor cars, he travelled around on horse to all reaches of the parish and its hamlets. He came to Box as a general practitioner in 1887 and spent over 50 years in the village.
He was active in providing facilities for young people, including as a school manager, parish medical officer and as a founding member of the Box Swimming Club. His technique for teaching young boys and girls to swim was unusual. His method seems to have comprised throwing the trainee into the By Brook attached to a pole, shouting instructions at the top of his voice and hoping that they learnt before they were at risk of drowning. It is interesting that by becoming assistant scoutmaster he was taking an active role in the movement rather than just an administrative responsibility.
The troop included scouts left to right: Edward Lambert, "Jumbo" Sawyer, Dick Shewring, unknown, "Pokey" Street, Cecil Lambert (back) but the rest are unknown (courtesy Margaret Lambert)
Box Scout Troop
The boys in the troop included many well-known Box residents whose lives were dramatically altered by the Great War.
We know only a few names but it is likely that most of the older boys were called into war service before 1918. At least one,
Edward Lambert lost his life, wounded at the end of the war and dying shortly after. Cecil Lambert served as a sapper and kept a diary throughout the war. For those who survived, their experiences altered them mentally or physically. The days of carefree juvenile pleasures seen in these photos were gone altogether for a whole generation. David Ibberson’s definitive book Lambert’s Own gives the story of the young scouts and their activities before, during and after the Great War.
The boys in the troop included many well-known Box residents whose lives were dramatically altered by the Great War.
We know only a few names but it is likely that most of the older boys were called into war service before 1918. At least one,
Edward Lambert lost his life, wounded at the end of the war and dying shortly after. Cecil Lambert served as a sapper and kept a diary throughout the war. For those who survived, their experiences altered them mentally or physically. The days of carefree juvenile pleasures seen in these photos were gone altogether for a whole generation. David Ibberson’s definitive book Lambert’s Own gives the story of the young scouts and their activities before, during and after the Great War.
Above: Breakfast on a camp at Box Mill in 1911 and Below: Chores on a camp at Totney (both courtesy Margaret Wakefield)
Conclusion
David Ibberson passed away in May 2022 but his work in recording the history of Box village won’t be easily forgotten. His books include Lambert’s Own, Box Postcards (two volumes), and The Vicars of Box. He was an inspiration for many boys in the scout troop, scout jubilees, The Revels and for me in trying to record the history of Box. This article seeks to continue his work.
David Ibberson passed away in May 2022 but his work in recording the history of Box village won’t be easily forgotten. His books include Lambert’s Own, Box Postcards (two volumes), and The Vicars of Box. He was an inspiration for many boys in the scout troop, scout jubilees, The Revels and for me in trying to record the history of Box. This article seeks to continue his work.
Shewring Family Tree
Richard Shewring (1819-1888), blacksmith, married Elizabeth Ann Tanner from Warminster (). Children:
Mary Ann (1851-);
William Henry (1858-);
Walter Richard (1859-1911)
Walter Richard (1859-1911) married first Ellen Norah Sims of Westbury in 1883 and divorced her in 1892. Children:
Edith G Mabel (1884-)
Harry (1885-)
Walter William (1888-)
Second marriage to Mary Elizabeth Weeks (1870-14 January 1925) in 1895. Children:
Doris M (26 January 1899-)
Walter Richard (1902-);
Jack Brenton (2 December 1903-1969);
Joan Isabelle (1906-)
McIlwraith Family Tree
John (1851- 31 October 1887) and Sarah (1847-18 March 1926). Children:
Richard Shewring (1819-1888), blacksmith, married Elizabeth Ann Tanner from Warminster (). Children:
Mary Ann (1851-);
William Henry (1858-);
Walter Richard (1859-1911)
Walter Richard (1859-1911) married first Ellen Norah Sims of Westbury in 1883 and divorced her in 1892. Children:
Edith G Mabel (1884-)
Harry (1885-)
Walter William (1888-)
Second marriage to Mary Elizabeth Weeks (1870-14 January 1925) in 1895. Children:
Doris M (26 January 1899-)
Walter Richard (1902-);
Jack Brenton (2 December 1903-1969);
Joan Isabelle (1906-)
McIlwraith Family Tree
John (1851- 31 October 1887) and Sarah (1847-18 March 1926). Children:
- Philip W (1877-);
- Etheline M (1879-);
- Annie L (1881-);
- Stephen Arthur (9 December 1882-6 March 1949) and
- Elizabeth (1885-) who married Walter John Bradfield.
References
[1] Thanks to the 1st Neston and Box Scout Group you can read an on-line version at https://nestonandboxscouts.org.uk.
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 30 March 1907
[3] The Bristol Mercury, 11 November 1892 and The Trowbridge Chronicle, 12 November 1892
[4] The Clifton Society, 18 September 1902
[5] The Bath Chronicle, 23 February 1911
[6] The Clifton Society, 23 March 1911
[7] London Gazette, 5 August 1898
[8] The Wiltshire Times, 8 February 1908 and 7 March 1908
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 24 March 1917
[10] The Wiltshire Times, 23 June 1928 and 26 January 1929
[11] South Gloucester Gazette, 10 February 1923
[12] The Bath Chronicle, 26 April 1924
[13] The Wiltshire Times, 12 March 1949
[1] Thanks to the 1st Neston and Box Scout Group you can read an on-line version at https://nestonandboxscouts.org.uk.
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 30 March 1907
[3] The Bristol Mercury, 11 November 1892 and The Trowbridge Chronicle, 12 November 1892
[4] The Clifton Society, 18 September 1902
[5] The Bath Chronicle, 23 February 1911
[6] The Clifton Society, 23 March 1911
[7] London Gazette, 5 August 1898
[8] The Wiltshire Times, 8 February 1908 and 7 March 1908
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 24 March 1917
[10] The Wiltshire Times, 23 June 1928 and 26 January 1929
[11] South Gloucester Gazette, 10 February 1923
[12] The Bath Chronicle, 26 April 1924
[13] The Wiltshire Times, 12 March 1949