Scouting

The second field day was held on Tuesday, 10th July. A completely unknown piece of ground was used, the Field Firing Range at Acklam Wold, about fifteen miles to the north-east of York. In the morning the company carried out an attack on an imaginary enemy post at the top of a steep hill— so steep, in fact, that some of the recruits had to be led to the assault hand-inhand ! After lunch the recruits held a position against the remainder of the company. Both of the field days were most instructive. They revealed, however, a need for closer control between platoon commanders and sections, and between section commanders and their sections.

Sunday, 10th June, was Empire Youth Sunday, and the Corps marched through the city, with other youth organisations, to the Minster for the Youth Service. After the service the salute was taken by the Sheriff. The bearing of the company was excellent on this occasion.

The Individual examination of Certificate A ' was held on Thursday, 7th June, when the following candidates were successful :—Cdts. Banks, W. R., - Hallas, Hilton, Owen and Pavis.

The Section-leading examination was held on Friday, 29th June, when a high proportion of the candidates were successful, only three out of 32 failing the exam. Those who obtained their Cert. ' A ' were :—Cdts. Andrews, Anelay, Brindley, P., Crowther, Dench, Dixon, Dobson, Dodgson, Dook, Drummond, Edinger, Endecott, Forsythe, Harker, Hutchinson, Jones, Lees, Matthews, Miles, Moreton, Oliver, Pallant, Penty, Rignall, Ringrose, Shardlow, P. J., Swale, Tomlinson, and Wilson.

For the Section Competition this term, each House again produced its best section, consisting of a sergeant, three corporals, three trained men and ,three recruits. The competition comprised Turn-out, Drill, Weapon Training, Map-reading and Section Work, and resulted in the Manor beating School House by a narrow margin, with the Rise and Temple third and fourth. All the sections displayed a good standard of knowledge and efficiency. Perhaps the most important event to be recorded in these notes is, however, the departure of Sergeant-Major D. F. Puddick. No word of praise is too high to describe his work for the Corps during the twenty-two years he has been at St. Peter's. Many, many recruits have passed through his hands and thus received a firm foundation for their later training Sergeant-Major Puddick will be greatly missed by us all, and we thank him for all he has done, 'wishing him a happy life in his retirement.

The following promotions have been made :- To be C.S.M.—Sgt. Norris. To be Sgts.—Cpls. Baker, I. H., and Toyer. To be Cpls.—L/Cpls. Hnik i Shepherd and Boyes. To be L/Cpls.—Cdts. Blackburn, Denison, Chadwick, Speight and Baker, F. P.

SCOUTING.

The term's Scouting has been very much of the outdoor variety. All but one of the weekly meetings of both Senior and Junior Patrols have taken place in the open air. This fact, coupled with the recollection of Week-end Camps, Hikes, and the Summer Camp, give cause for a modest degree of satisfaction that the good weather has been used to the best advantage.

Two enjoyable days were spent by the Senior Patrols in the country exploring by patrols as units. They also attended two of the four Week-end Camps ; the Junior Patrols taking part in the other two. These were held as last year at Dunnington.

For the first time we entered a Patrol for the Campercraft Competition, open to any Troops in the Local Association ; in this we scored 72% against the winner's 89.5%. This may be regarded as very creditable in view of the fact that last summer we were unable to hold a Summer Camp. 20