We don't
know exactly when the group started. The earliest British scout group
in Belgium was in Brussels, in 1911 however the records were lost
so we
don't know if there is a link with our group.
The earliest records
which can be found for our group date to 1925,
which means more then 80 years of British scouting in Brussels.
Recently we met an ex
scout who was a member of First Brussels from 1935-1940 some of
his photos
are here. During the war the group was disbanded and he became a
member of a Belgian scout group Some of the activities they did at that
time were:
Events 1935-1939 HQ
was
basement of Square de L’Industrie
Scout
evening at Christ church hall: ‘the wives of King Henry ‘ to raise funds
Invitation
to British Boy scouts in Antwerp,
slept aboard a small cruiser belonging to the sea scouts
Troop
Activities: Ambulance
efficiency, Repairing
toys for Christmas tree, Guide/interpreter
to British scout troop from Leeds, Waterloo, special church built in steel, Meeting
with Eclaireurs Français
Camps:
Remouchamp,
Corbion, Domaine
D’Argenteuil’
World
Jamboree in Holland
Vogelzang 1937
Parade Special march past of all the
Belgian scouts in the presence of HRH King Leopold III at the Royal Palace. 1st
Brussels
led the parade followed by the
Eclaireurs de France
1939/40 New
HQ Rue
Joseph II garage
Events: Christ
church service attended by Anthony Eden (foreign affairs minister) who
presented
the colours. A Union flag and a green
and yellow 1st Brussels flag. (which we
still use today)
Activities during the
war
10th
May 1940 General
dispersion: without instructions of British community
July
1940 relocated in Mont de
Marsan (Landes)
Diverse
activities for British scouts, refugee committee and Red cross. Active as a
dispatch rider
Interpreter
for St John
Nurses who had an ambulance and a Bedford Truck
