A Brief History of St. Matthew’s (Lady Liverpool’s Own)
Troop of Boy Scouts, Christchurch
(And Cub Pack)

In approximately 1920 the whole of Scouting in N.Z. underwent a great change and was considerably… one might say entirely… demilitarised.  All Troops had to re-register and the various Churches were encouraged to start Scout Troops of their own.  A Local Association (of the whole Dominion) was formed in the Canterbury District and Captain Cossgrove, son of the late Colonel, was made Chief Scout.  The Rev. Phillip Carrington, son of the Dean, was made Local Commissioner.
The Avonside Troop, at the time of the re-organisation, consisted of mostly St Albans boys, and the Troop found that their meeting place in Leydon St Hall, Linwood, was inconvenient and that the prospects of recruiting at St Albans was bright so the lads decided, instead of re-registering under the old name, they would apply to the Vestry of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, St Albans, to see if they could be accepted as a Church Troop attached to the St. Matthew’s Parish.  Subject to certain conditions the Vestry agreed and the change took effect in January 1922.

The lads were very keen to retain the name they had had bestowed on them by the Governor General’s wife in 1920… “Lady Liverpool’s Own” and this presented some difficulty as the permission of Lady Liverpool was necessary.  However, the Committee decided that the boys request should be met so a letter was forwarded to the Hon. The Countess of Liverpool, Heartsholme Hall, Lincoln, England, stating the position on 6th April, 1922.  A reply was received granting the request in October of that year. (This letter is still held by the Troop Committee)

I might explain here how the name and the “Lady Liverpool Cup” came into existence.  During the years 1918-1919 the then named Avonside Boy Scout Troop (24 strong) under S.M.’s Donald Brown and Donald Richardson were selected for and performed to the satisfaction of their Excellencies, various duties and ceremonial parades, guards of honour etc. and on the application of S.M. Donald Richardson, through the late Col. Cossgrove, Dom. Chief Scout at the time, Lady Liverpool consented to the Troop being named “The Avonside Troop, Lady Liverpool’s Own” and in recognition of their services presented the Troop with a silver cup known as the “Lady Liverpool Cup”.  This cup is still in the possession of the St. Matthew’s Troop today.

The new Troop came into existence in Feb. 1922 although meetings were held in Jan. but only as a probationary period in the new quarters.  Mr Chas Clibborn was the first Troop Secy. And proved a very keen and capable worker for the Troop.  Canon Staples Hamilton became the first Chairman being the vicar of the St. Matthew’s Parish.  The Scoutmaster, James Robinson, was an understudy to S.M. Don Richardson in the old Troop and proved a fine fellow but as he was transferred to Ashburton in May 1923 he did not see the full results of his work.  During his stay the Troop numbered about 20 members although only a dozen or so were from the old Troop.  Mr A. V. Belston of 193 Hills Rd. took over the Troop and by the Committee providing the boys uniforms numbers soon began to grow so that in Nov. of that year 52 were on the Roll.  The Troop assisted the Old Colonists Assn. with the Anniversary Day Celebrations and made a splendid impression.  During a small break after Scoutmaster Robinson left Patrol Leader Walter Oliver was appointed Acting Asst. S.M.  His Patrol also won the “L.L.O. Cup” at the end of the first financial year and Commissioner Lancaster came to the Annual Meeting and presented the Cup and Badges on 21/5/23.  At this meeting E. Kelly was presented with the Bronze Kuri (Kings Scout and 24 proficiency badges) and the Cossgrove Memorial Badge… first award in South Island.

Unfortunately S.M. Belston resigned for an unknown reason on 22/1/24 and numbers soon fell away most of the Troop uniforms not being returned… Free uniforms will not be given again… P.L. Eric Kelly left also soon after and a presentation was made.  He had been a very valuable Scout indeed and with Doug Whitehead, Jeff Zohrab, Stuart Richardson, Bert Scott and Walter Olliver made the troop as well known as was possible and had been of great assistance to the S.M.

The Troop was fortunate enough to have the services of Walter Oliver who carried on and was granted an A.S.M’s warrant.  However, the Troop fell away but managed to keep going by the excellent work of A.S.M. Oliver, PL Stan Dent and Len Pegler.  Just prior to S.M. Belston leaving the troop a Drum and Fife band was formed and Mr Munro of the Chch Orchestral Society offered to coach the chaps but as the fifes were of such poor quality they proved almost useless and the band idea was dropped the drums being the only worthwhile result.

In 1926… March, the Troop was fortunate enough to obtain the services of Mr. Frank Hutchinson, Lecturer in Forestry at Canty. College, as Scoutmaster.  He had experience in Scouting in Canada and America and we were indeed fortunate in securing him.  He set about re-organising the Troop and soon had things moving again with ASM Oliver helping him.  The Rev. Frank Ault, Curate of the Parish, also helped the Troop a good deal as he was a keen athlete and a real good sport.

Scouts Richardson and Jeff Zohrab represented the Troop at the Dunedin Exhibition Jamboree and we should have managed to send at least 12.

Easter 1926 was to be the big test for the Troop as we entered two teams in the Camping Challenge Cup contest at Sandwell.  We went as arranged and set up camp according to schedule but no-one else turned up.  Scoutmaster Hutchinson had gone to great trouble in training the Troop and it was a great disappointment to us when Dist. Scoutmaster Olds turned up and told us the event was off but we had not been notified by mistake.  He however stayed and told us we would have been very hard to beat if the contest had been held.  Later the cup was given to us as no competition was held until the next Xmas… Cass Combined Camp… so we had the honour of holding the cup for the winter season although not actually winning it.
We had a good number at the Cass Camp at Xmas 1926 and did our best to win that cup again but our rivals, Edgeware Road, were too good at camp fires… talent to burn… and they took the cup home but we were pleased as it stayed in St Albans at least.  As S.M. Hutchinson ran the camp we were under a student teacher, Mr. Russell of Canty. Col. who gave us a pretty rough spin but we enjoyed the trip just the same… it was real hard work that camp.

S.M. Hutchinson in May 1926 was appointed Dist. S.M. to assist Frank Olds… he endeavoured to do both jobs… D.S.M and S.M.  Mr Olds then resigned leaving Mr Hutchinson D.S.M and Mr Bert Scott was appointed as second A.S.M. to assist the Troop.  In July we were sorry to lose our enthusiastic Secretary who had been a great worker since the inception of the Troop at St. Matthew’s… namely Mr. C. H. Clibborn, Secy Lyttelton Harbour Board.  He resigned as from 6/7/26.

In 1926 we received notification of each Troop being given a number and we became No. 2 CHCH Troop, St. Michael’s being No. 1 as they were the oldest Troop in Ch.  There were 11 Troops in Ch and 6 Cub Packs. (Including Brighton and Lyttelton)
In a letter from CHCH H.Q. it was stated that the Cass Camp was to be held and the Camping Challenge Cup at present held by St. Matthew’s would be competed for. (dated 26/7/26)
Towards the middle of 1926 about 12 senior high school boys were proving a bit of a problem so S.M. Hutchinson started a SENIOR TROOP and this was run by A.S.M. Bert Scott.  They did good work in helping the Troop, especially in camps.  The Troop held many camps during the year and gained great practical experience.  In 1927 Mr. Hutchinson spent some weeks on the West Coast and when he came back he went into hospital for 8 weeks and the Troop carried on with the leaders running things under Mrs. Zohrab of the Committee^[1] and all did excellently and the Troop maintained its high standard.

However, somewhere about the end of 1927 or early 1928 Mr Hutchinson was married and had to restrict his Scouting activities.  He resigned from S.M. and later from D.S.M. but his services had done a great deal for the Movement in Ch and he had worked very hard with Major Ashworth who was the ChCh Commissioner.

After he left A.S.M. Oliver carried on with Patrol Leaders doing their work well as Mr. Oliver was swotting very hard and could not spare too much time.  He carried on until Aug. 1928 and was forced to resign as he could not spare enough time.  We then had Mr. Jack Bristoe as S.M. for 6 months.  He was an Airman and very popular with the boys.  Passed Scouts Sey and Reeve Airmans Badges.

^[2]Mr. Bristoe left for England late in 1928 after keeping things going very well and giving us one excellent camp at Sandwell.
In March 1928 Mr. Gratton of Dunedin came along and started a Cub Pack with Keith Pryor and Don Stanton as A.C.M’s.  He was very keen and soon had 25 boys.  He left for Dunedin again in Nov. and Don Stanton became C.M.  Rev. F Ault resigned from Secy. to go to England and then China as a Missionary.  Zohrabs left ChCh and presented the Troop with the “Zohrab” Cup… they were very much missed.

Mr Hutchinson came back to the Movement again as Asst. Com. about Easter 1928 and carried on with Com. Ashworth until the end of 1928 when Scouting underwent a change.  Major Furby, Dom. Secy took over the running of the Canterbury District and Major Ashworth and Mr Hutchinson resigned.

Through Toc H. we were lucky enough to get Mr. Harold Hodgson as Scoutmaster.  He had been in the movement since 1912 in England and soon made his presence felt.  Badges were passed, Troop again smartened up and built up to over 30.  The Cubs progressed and Don Stanton had to leave and also Mr Pryor so Miss Joyce Peat took over at start of 1929 and ran Pack well until middle of 1930.

Mr Hodgson became D.S.M. in 1929 but carried on the Troop for a time and then we got Rev. J. Rich (Merivale Curate) as S.M. He was keen but had had no experience.  He left us to go to the Jamboree in England but before going Messrs W. M. Sey and Arthur Reeve were made A.S.M’s and they carried on the Troop with D.S.M. Hodgsons assistance.  Both were King Scouts and All around Cords and had been in the Troop for over 4 years and with P.L. Pilgrim (also King Scout and A.C.) carried on the Troop very efficiently.  At the 1929 census St Matthew’s Lady Liverpool’s Own lead Ch. in badges and efficiency… only Troop with 3 King Scouts.  When Mr Rich returned from England he had gained great Scouting experience and the Troop went ahead for some months… at one stage there were 12 King Scouts out of 20 boys in the Troop.  However, as usual when St. Matthew’s gets a good man Mr Rich was made D.S.M. and A.S.M. Sey left and went to Edgeware Rover Crew. ^[3]

In Aug. 1930 Mr Coleridge Bishop, an old Troop boy, offered to train the Troop for B.P’s visit to Ch.  He carefully taught us how to take a 9 h.p. Rover engine to pieces and put it together again.  We managed to talk him into taking over as S.M. which he did for a time until after the Rally when A.S.M. Reeve again carried on the Troop.  In 1931 Mr. David Turnbull of Toc H. took over as S.M. and Mr. Reeve carried on as A.S.M.  He was keen but lacked experience and as most of the boys were advanced Scouts they were taught little but he did his best.  He left for the North Island at the start of 1932 and Mr. Reeve again took over.

Miss Joanne Lynskey took over the Cubs with Miss Scott Baker as Asst. and later Miss Carol Barr.  The Cubs were doing well.  Miss Jean Wilkins became A.C.M. in Dec 1932 after Miss Barr left.

Mr. Reeve carried on the Troop until the end of 1936 and it maintained its high standard.  He was made D.S.M. in Aug. 1936 but carried on as S.M. and Dist. Com. Osmers visited the Troop on many occasions.  Mr. Reeve made a feature of Camping taking a camp every second week from Labour Weekend to Easter.  Two combined camps were held at Gilletts Farm Waimak. One with Papanui and one with Ashburton.  Mr Reeve left in Dec. 1936 on transfer to Wellington the boys presenting him with a toilet outfit and the Troop Comm. with a travelling case.

The Cubs continued to grow and Miss Betty Pine became A.C.M. in 1935 and then Miss Rita Shoreland also assisted.  The Pack grew to over 40 members but Miss Wilkins left in 1936 and Mr Dixey carried on until the end of the year when Mr Reeve arranged for Miss Joyce Watson of Canty. Col. to take over the Pack.  She did excellent work on her own until transferred to Cawthron Institute, Nelson, in 1941 when Mrs. Hinman (formerly Miss Wilkins) again took over.  The Pack grew quickly again and Mrs Parris4 became A.C.M.  In 1942 the Pack grew to 40 members again and then was the largest Pack on parade at Founders Day Service… 52.  The pack was split in two Mrs Parris taking No.2 Pack and Mrs. Hinman taking No.1 Pack.  Mrs. Parris left after Easter and Miss Hendon took over No.2 Pack.  The number on the Pack Rolls now are over 60 Cubs, and membership is full.
After Mr Reeve left for Wellington at the end of 1936 Mr Allan Neale, late of Nelson, took over the Troop.  The boys were mostly Second Class with about 8 First Class and their ages were from 13 to 17.  Unfortunately the change of leadership did not please the boys and all of the senior chaps but two left after a few months.  It was a great pity as at least half of them were the type to hold for Officers in the Movement at a later date.  In correspondence from these chaps it appeared that a military attitude was instituted by the new S.M. and as this was contrary the Scouting they chaps made up their mind to leave.  Some joined the Richmond Rovers… older chaps had been encouraged to go to this Crew from St. Matthew’s for the past 5 years.

The Troop more or less fell to pieces until a Mr Johnson who had a boy in the Troop started to take an interest.  He worked very hard for the boys… set up each Patrol in equipment, ran a number of camps etc. and generally built up a strong Troop again.  He also set the Patrol system at work and soon had everything going along very well.  However, after the best part of one year the Vicar of the Parish objected to the boys going to so many camps as they were not attending Church, Sunday School, etc. (Rev. W. E. Davies).  Mr Johnson adopted the attitude of “no compromise” and the Vicar unfortunately adopted the same attitude… however things went from bad to worse and in the end the Vicar refused the Troop the use of the hall is Mr Johnson was S.M.  A good deal of trouble came over this matter and in the end Mr Johnson resigned taking, or at least attempting, to take custody of the Troop gear.  However, Headquarters declared the Troop property must stay with the Committee or H.Q. and most of the gear was returned.

The Troop was then run by a number of people for a year or so until Dist. Commissioner Phil Hamilton came on the scene again.  He put things in order, arranged for the boys to have camps with other Troops and set the Patrols working again.  At the start of 1941 the Committee were told by H.Q. that they would have to carry on themselves as the Dist. Com. was too busy to stick to the Troop.  No S.M. could be found, so the Curate, Rev. S. Nicholl, volunteered to take over the Troop.  He had no experience so D.Com. Hamilton lent him books and assisted him when possible.  He soon built the Troop up again.  He had the assistance of a Mr. Fuldseth for a short time(Late Kaiapoi Scout) but he was transferred to the Coast.  By the start of 1942 the Troop was 28 strong again and doing well under the circumstances.  Then came Scout Week.  The Troop had the job of getting plaster casts for display at Lancaster Park.  They made a good show of it too.  Mr Reeve had returned from Wellington in Jan. and had been visiting the Troop and assisting where possible.  At the Scout Week Display Comm. Sandford and Hamilton talked him into coming back to the Movement so when Mr. Nicholl was transferred to Lytellton in April… just after Easter and a fine Camp… he carried on the Troop.  Numbers were built up to 40 and three likely officers selected one being a young fellow, John Macaulay, from the 1st Grey Troop who came to Ch to attend Training College.  Patrols were reorganised and badge work started… an ambulance course arranged and also all chaps encouraged to get their First Class.  Outings to the Waimak. and much practical work was set about and by June 3 chaps were nearly ready for First Class and Kings Scout.  The Troop had done a good deal of National Service work and over 230 hours on such work was put in in 8 months including the Postmans Drive in 1942 and the Great Waste Metal Drive, June 1942.

In June 1942 he census was 40 Scouts, …7 recruits, 8 Tenderfoot and 25 Second Class.  There were also 37 Proficiency Badges being worn by Troop members.

District Scoutmaster Reeve handed the Troop over to the three likely officers, John Macaulay, Leo Holland, and Dennis Watson as from July after which he just assisted then for a short time each week and ran P.L.’s training classes.

Notes:

1. Hand-written side note: Mrs. Zohrab left for the North Island and before going presented the “Zohrab Cup”.
2. Hand-written side note: Won camp cup Xmas 1928, 1st and 3rd equal.
3. Hand written note here, but unreadable… appears to be “(After P__lly)”
4. Parris, Paris or Parish?  I have the name as Parish from the back of a Photograph of her leading the Cubs in a Founders Day Parade.

To Research:
a. Walter Oliver – also spelt Walter Olliver
b. No.2 Troop – 1926 notification from Scouting HQ?  Or local?  Is this recognition that St. Matthews is the continuation of Avonside, therefore – in the absence of St Michaels today – the oldest Troop in Chch, dating back to 1909 (first record of an Avonside Troop in the Star, see clippings folder)