Arrow Scout Group

Arrow Scout Group is a school-based all boys scout unit in Victoria School, Singapore. In 2015 the scout section has 82 boys from secondary 1 to 4.

History

5th Singapore (Malay) Troop

Scouting was first started in Victoria Bridge School (present day Victoria School) when the 5th Singapore (HQ Malay) Troop was formed on 28 March 1919.^[1] On 14 April 1919, The Straits Times^[2] published an activity schedule for the Singapore and South Malaya Boy Scouts which mentioned the 5th Troop by the Commissioner, Frank Cooper Sands. The same activity schedule was also published in The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertisers.^[3]

'"In the post-World War I environment, many parents in the Malay-Muslim community did not support the idea of their sons joining the Cadet Corps. As a result, Hashim changed his plans and opted for the founding of an All-Malay Scout Troop at Victoria Bridge School. This led to the establishment of the 5th Singapore (Malay) Troop in 1919."^[4]

"First appointed as Scoutmaster of the 5th Singapore Malay Scout Troop in 1919, Alsagoff would later be promoted to District Scoutmaster (Malay Scouts), District commissioner (Malay Scouts) and Assistant Chief Commissioner (Malay Scouts)."^[5]

The 5th Troop participated in the "Coming-of-Age Jamboree" held at the Singapore Stadium on Saturday 27 July 1929. The event was graced by the Governor of the Straits Settlements and Chief Scout for Malaya His Excellency Sir Huge Clifford and attended by over seven hundred scouts.

"The programme commenced impressively with the march past, headed by the Scout Band, Sir Huge Clifford taking the salute. The rest of the afternoon was taken up with exhibitions of Scout work. The Scouts gave a practical demonstration of bridge and hut building. Two trestle bridges we built in a short time by the 2nd and 5th Singapore Troops respectively. This was in competition, each troop constructing a bridge to make a roadway about five feet wide, over a "stream", the bed of which was about four feet below the level of its banks. All the work had to be done without any member of the team going into the "stream". The troops made an excellent job of it, and the 5th Troop, who completed their bridge first, were honoured by His Excellency, personally testing it."^[6]

The very last time 5th Troop was mentioned in the local newspaper was on 8 August 1950.^[7] Unfortunately, there are no other records about the 5th Troop’s leadership, activities and how it was founded and then later disbanded.

6th Troop

The 6th Troop was born in 1922,^[8] when school-based Scouting was introduced in government schools. Its pioneer Scoutmasters were S.R. Williams and Abdul Hamid Bin Omar. In 1923, there were 48 members enrolled in the Scout troop. In the Annual Report on Education in the Straits Settlements, it was clearly stated that a scout troop was established in 1922.

"22. Singapore – The three Government Schools, Raffles Institution, Outram Road School, and Victoria Bridge School, formed School Troops in 1922, and depended entirely on pupils and masters for officers."^[9]

There were other earlier records of 6th Troop existence before 1922. On 11 October 1919, The Straits Times^[10] published an activity schedule for the Singapore and South Malaya Boy Scouts which mentioned the 6th Troop by the Commissioner, Frank Cooper Sands. The same activity schedule was also published in The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertisers.^[11]

In the early days, the Group had a Junior Troop, a Senior Troop as well as a Rover Crew. The Junior Troop was made up of 6 patrols: Cobra, Eagle, Fox, Lion, Owl and Panther; while the Senior Troop was made up of 6 patrols named after famous explorers and adventurers: Cook, Darwin, Mitchell, Raleigh, Scotts and Wingate. 4 patrols were later added: Baden, Drakes, Livingstone and Washington. Meetings were held on Saturday afternoons in the school compound and camps were often held at Pulau Ubin, Telok Mata Ikan, Telok Kurau and Punggol. The Troop also frequently rendered its services at public and school functions such as Empire Day and Sports Day.

Troop photo. circa 1937

From the 1930s through to the 1960s, the 6th Troop underwent numerous organisational changes and had various achievements. In 1932, the 6th Troop was renamed Arrow Scout Group after the Golden Arrow which BP had proclaimed in 1929’s 3rd World Scout Jamboree as Scouting’s symbol of peace and goodwill. In 1951, the Group produced its first King’s Scout recipient. Subsequently, the Group produced several other King’s Scouts and Queen’s Scouts throughout the period.

Arrow Scout Group at Youth Rally. circa 1949

Present

Today, the Arrow Scout Group continues to be one of the leading Scout groups in Singapore.

Current Organisational Structure

The Arrow Scout Group consists of a scout section and a venture section, with the latter section being closed due to a lack of membership, but reopened in 2011 with one scout in that particular section. Currently, the scout section is made up of 82 scouts and made up of the patrols: Baden, Darwin, Livingstone, Raleigh, Stevenson, Drakes and Washington. One of the patrols that is not active due to a lack of membership is Mitchell.

The current Group Scout Leader is Mr Tan Wil Beng and the teacher-in-charge is Ms Noorreny. Helping them run the Arrow Scout Group are 3 adult volunteers and 4 youth volunteers, who hold various positions such as Scout Leader, Assistant Scout Leader and Young Adult Leader.

Passing Over Ceremony at Victoria School. circa 2005

Recent Achievements

The Group has been doing consistently well in national competitions such as National Scoutlore Quest, National Campcraft Competition, National Orienteering Competition and the prestigious National Patrol Camp. The Group has also been producing numerous President’s Scouts as well as Chief Commissioner’s Award recipients in the last two decades. Furthermore, Arrow Scout Group has been consistently obtaining the Gold Frank Cooper Sands Award 11 consecutive times to date, which is awarded to the best scout units in Singapore.^[12]

2003

• National Patrol Camp Competition: Challenge Shield/Best Patrol and Gold Medal
• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Silver
• 2 Chief Commissioner's Award Recipients

2004

• 1 President's Scout Award Recipient
• 8 Chief Commissioner's Award Recipients
• National Scout Lore Quest: 1st Runner Up
• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Gold
• 6th National Scoutcraft and Pioneering Competition:

1. Roman Cannonball Event: 1st Position
2. 3-2-1 Flagpole Event: 2nd and 4th Position
3. Chariot Race Event: 3rd Position
4. Sourgrapes Event: 5th Position

President's Scout Award Recipient 2004

2005

• Singapore Scout Association National Exploration Challenge(Scout Category): Overall Champion
• Singapore Scout Association National Exploration Challenge(Scouts – Main Exploration Challenge): Gold
• Singapore Scout Association National Exploration Challenge(Scouts – Plane Table Sketching): Gold
• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Gold

2006

• 6th National Scout Lore Quest 2006(Scouts-Quiz): 1st Position
• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Gold
• Job Week - First in Toa Payoh district

2007

• 7th National Scoutcraft & Pioneering Competition:

1. 3-2-1 Flagpole Event: 1st Position
2. Pioneering Skills Event: 2nd Position
3. Sourgrapes Event: 2nd Position
4. Blindfold Tentage Event: 3rd Position
5. Chariot Race Event: 8th Position
6. Roman Cannonball Event: Finalist
7. Logging Event: Finalist

• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Gold
• 2 Chief Commissioner's Award Recipients

2008

• National Patrol Camp Competition: Gold Medal
• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Gold
• 3 Chief Commissioner's Award Recipients

2009

• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Gold
• 2 Chief Commissioner's Award Recipients

2010

• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Gold
• 1 Chief Commissioner's Award Recipient

2011

• National Patrol Camp Competition: Challenge Shield/Best Patrol and Gold Medal
• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Gold
• 4 Chief Commissioner's Award Recipients

2012

• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Gold

2013

• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Gold

2014

• Frank Cooper Sands Award: Gold

Arrow Yell, Mission and Vision

Arrow Yell

Aidi waidi Kalawala waidi Kalawala wing-goose Aidi goose goose Arrow Arrow Rah! Rah! Rah! The Arrow (x11 claps) The Arrow (x11 claps)

References