Edinburgh 'Camp' 1943

Scouter in Charge:  Assistant Scout Master, Ronald H. Chalmers.

Patrols Leaders:       Alan Jubber (Peewit Patrol) and Andrew Macmillan (Curlew Patrol)

Seconds:                 Ian Conn (Curlew Patrol); Roy Farling (Peewit Patol); James Morton (WoodPigeon Patrol); Alan MacKay (Fox Patrol)

Scouts:                        Michael Close, Campbell Conn, Austin Craigie, Eric Duncan, Ronald Fraser, Gordon Graham, Jock Kerr, Alasdair          

                                      Maclaine, Fraser Millar, Paul Pryce, Maurice Offord, Edward Pearce, Eric Phillips; Neil Robertson; William Smyth; Tony

                                      Treadwell, Andrew Webster.

Saturday 10th April 1943

The Troop took the train from Greenock to Glasgow Central and then caught the train to Edinburgh Princes Street Station. From there, they caught the number 9810 tram to Colinton. A Bartholomews map from 1941 suggests that the tram route was along Lothian Road, Earl Grey Street, Gilmore Place, Granville Street, Polwarth Place and Colinton Road to reach a terminus at the junction of Bridge Road and Westgarth Avenue. From there, it was a short walk along Bridge Road to reach the hostel located in Spylaw Park. It is believed that the Edinburgh Scouts took over the property in 1940.

Having settled in, the Troop then returned to the city centre by tram, presumably taking the same tram route back to Lothian Street Station then possibly another tram along Princes Street to the G.P.O. From there, they walked along North Bridge, then turned left  down High Street and Canongate to the Palace of Holyrood. From there, they walked south into King's Park and ascended Arthur's Seat from the north before descending round the east of the hill. The likely route has been shown in the map provided above. They then returned to the GPO via Canton Hill and caught a tram back to the Hostel.

Sunday 11th April 1943

​On Sunday, the troop visited Edinburgh zoo. Very little was reported on this. It is very likely that a short Scouts Own was held in the morning and then they probably caught the tram back to Princes Street Station, where they would be able to catch another tram for Costorphine to reach the zoo. It appears that they spent most off the day at the zoo and they certainly had lunch at the top of 'the hill'. It's not stated whether this was Corstorphine Hill or the Hilltop Viewpoint that is situated at the north east corner of the zoo. The latter seems more likely. The same tram route would have been used to return to the Hostel. In the evening they played in the 'Park'. This was almost certainly Spylaw Park which used to be part of the estate surrounding Spylaw house, but which was by than a public Park.

Monday 12th April 1943.

Once breakfast was over, the troop cleared up the breakfast things and the dormitory, then packed up and took the tram back to Princes Street Station, where they left their kits in the Left Luggage Office. From there they walked to the 'West End British Restaurant'. Information has been hard to find on this, but it was probably one of the many British Restaurants set up during the war that offered meals on a non-profit making basis. It is believed that one of those restaurants was located in a converted church opposite the Fountainbridge Brewery in Dundee Street. This would certainly have been within walking distance of the station and the meal provided was certainly indicitive of the kind of dishes provided by British Restaurants (Soup; Ham and Egg Pie; Syrup Pudding).

After lunch, the Troop explored Edinburgh and met an American soldier who asked to have his photo taken with the Troop. This was duly carried out in Princes Street Gardens. After this, the Troop followed the Mound from the New Town to the Old Town. En route, they were able spot the the Nelson Monument and see the ball at the top drop down to mark 1.00 pm. They then walked down part of the Royal Mile passing St. Giles Cathedral, the Heart of Midlothian, the Mercat Cross and the Cenotaph (this was probably located  at the City Chambers. After reaching the Cockburn Street Arcade, the Troop presumably left the Royal Mile to head south to Forrest Road to visit the Edinburgh Scout Shop.

After this, they returned to Princes Street Station, collected their kit and caught the 4.45 pm train back to Glasgow. They arrived in time to catch the 6.10 pm train back to Greenock, but somehow Austin Craigie got left behind. Fortunately, he managed to catch a later train but this must have been quite a worry for Ronald Chalmers, who was probably waiting in Greenock hoping that Austin would turn up.

 

To conclude, this may have been the first significant Easter 'Camp' run by the 70th since it started in 1932/33. However, it is impossible to state that with certainty as the Troop logs covering the 1930s are no longer in the Troop's possession. Certainly, it was the furthest afield that the 70th had travelled during the period covered by the Troop Log (1939-1943), and there is no mention of any similar 'expeditions' made in the Peewit Patrol Log covering the period 1943-1945. As far as outdoor Easter camps are concerned, these probably only started in the 1950s.