A Quick History Of The Past 65 Years

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This picture was taken after a Scout Marathon during the early part of the Second World War. The young man in Naval Officers uniform (1) is
Gordon Flory the founder of the 26th Colchester Sea Scouts (see below)

1. Gordon Flory 2. Eric Wilkerson 3. Sonny Isacc 4. Fred Hutton 5. Albert Howe

Middle row (26th Colchester) 6. Tony Rush 7. Cyril Clarke 8. Geoff Burwood 9. John Butler 10. Claude Harvey 11. John Chattis 12.Danny Langston

Front row with Bicycles (18th Colchester) 12. Ray Edwards 13. Ben Willson 14. Alan Witard 15. Tony Leatherdale 16. Derek Leatherdale 17.Danny Langston 18. John Witard

If you can identify any of the other people in this photo please let us know email

The 26th Colchester Sea Scout Troop, originally known as “26th Colchester ~ 1st Sea Scouts”, (the present title was adopted to prevent confusion) was formed on June 12th 1939 by Gordon Flory with the patrols Curlew, Seagull, Heron and Cormorant. Shortly after this, at the beginning of World War II, Flory, a naval reservist, was called up for active duty, as was Hugh Markham, SM of the 17th Colchester. At a chance meeting between Flory and Markham prior to embarkation on their respective postings, it was agreed that should either not return, then the remaining Leader would keep a watchful eye on the others Troop. Flory, who had risen though the ranks from Ordinary Seaman to Lieutenant, was killed, aged 28, during “Operation Jubilee”, an abortive and ill conceived attempt at establishing an invasion bridgehead in occupied Europe at Dieppe in 1942.

Ty. A/ Lieutenant Arthur Gordon Flory R.N.V.R
A.R.S.L 12th Colchester Rover Crew
Founder & First Scout Master of the 26th Colchester (Sea Scout Troop)
Killed in Action, aged 28, while serving aboard H.M.M.L 291 at Dieppe during
"Operation Jubilee" 19th August 1942
Mentioned in Dispatches for Distinguished Service
"London Gazette" 2nd October 1942.

While Flory was away on active service the Troop was run on a temporary basis by the author, Hervey Benham, and under his command sea training continued through out the war years, with special permission being given by the Admiralty, and Admiralty issued Port Letters and Numbers displayed on all the Groups craft.

Toward the end of the war the Troop temporarily joined with the 17th Colchester, which at that time was a “Land Scout” Troop (The 17th had started in 1920 as the Hamilton Road Central School Troop and later, in 1946, became a Sea Scout Group under Hugh Markham). It was at this point that the distinctive embroidered “fouled anchor” motif on the back of the scarf was adopted by the 26th Troop to retain their identity (17th used same colours necker) and as a sign of respect for their late Scout Master. Hugh Markham became a regular visitor to the 26th Colchester AGMs and other functions. In 1947 the Troop began to meet at Reed Hall and became known as the 26th Colchester (Garrison) Troop. Later, with John “Skip” Butler as GSL, the first post war Rover Crew was started and the title changed to Group.

26th Colchester at the West Mersea Regatta 1957

The Group obtained its own headquarters at West Mersea, known as “The Dario” in memory of Dario Clements who died in a motorcycle accident on his way to a weekend activity at Mersea. The “Mountbatten” Cub Pack (see message from a former Cub at end of History section) was formed in 1970 with Sam Mountcastle as Akela, meetings being held at Kingsford CP School (up until the late 1980’s the Group also ran a second Cub pack named the “Marco Polo”, led by Denise Clayton. It was based at Reed Hall and later at Montgomery School). In 1977. The Beaver Colony started, also based at Kingsford CP School, and run by Christine Stafford. A Venture Scout Unit was launched in 1978 (date uncertain at present, open to debate) with the short name of Unit 26 being adopted. This was later changed to Seahawk, the name of one of the Groups boats.

When John Butler died in 1981 the Groups previous AGSL, Norman Hale, took on the job of GSL, a position he retained until his retirement in 1984, when he was appointed Honorary Group President. The post of GSL was passed to Steve Hatherly who continued negotiations with the Army, already started by Norman Hale, for the use of the Old Courts Martial Centre, which was used as the Groups HQ until 2004.

In 1986 Unit 26 held a major expedition to Norway and in 1988 Members took part in the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race using Ramrod owned by Scouts Offshore. The unit came 3rd in their class and 10th overall on their race leg ~ the best performance by Ramrod in her record 18 unbroken years of Tall Ships races. 1992 saw the 26th back in the Tall Ships when Chris Jay was on board Ocean Spray. (If you get the chance, ask him what the weather was like)

In the early 1990s Tony Jay, (having been both Group Secretary and Chairman) took over as ”Group Manager”, a non uniformed position akin to GSL. At that time the 'Kingsford' Beaver Colony and the 'Mountbatten' Cub Pack still ran from Kingsford School, mainly because the Groups prime intake was still from army families and also that the huts were deemed, by the Cub Leader of the time, to be too far away from their homes. The Colony then moved to St Cedds Church Hall with the Pack staying at Kingsford CP School till it disbanded due to Leadership problems.

The Colony then moved to "the huts" where Tony restarted (1995) both the Cub Pack and the Scout Troop (the latter with his son Chris, and Martin (Noddy) Bryan as ASL’s) after it too had closed down due to lack of Leaders.

In 1997 Tony took on the role of GSL, also running both the Cub Pack and the Scout Troop. Due to problems within the Troop, it again closed down for a short while, but thanks to Tony’s hard work and dedication has since been restarted and is currently the largest it has ever been. (17 girls, 17 boys – 2005)

In 1999 the Group celebrated its 60th anniversary at Thorrington Scout Camp with an all Sections fun and activities day followed by a reunion meal and archives presentation.

2001 saw a new crop of Leaders joining the Group in all Sections, Emma Jay as ABSL, Stuart Gibson as ACSL, and Matthew Lewis as ASL. (Stuart took over as CSL from Tony in the spring of 2003). More recently the leadership team has been strengthened by the addition of Julie Barratt and Chris Jay (who started his 'Scouting' life as a Cub in the 26th) as ASL’s and Tom Day, (former Troop Member) as an Explorer Scout, Young Leader (Explorer Scouts are the ‘new’ Ventures)

In 2004 the redevelopment of the Garrison by the MOD saw the Group leave its home of the past 20 years with the Troop moving ‘across the road’ into temporary accommodation at the Divisional Scout band Headquarters in the Old Cavalry Barracks (2006 fast approaching – still there) and the Pack and Colony to the 34th Colchester Scout Group HQ, Maldon Road (a more suitable venue for the smaller, younger Members) This year (2006) hopefully will see the restart of sailing by the 26th after several years of inactivity due to the lack of qualified instructors.

1975 DISTRICT SWIMMING CHAMPIONS

1. M. Roler 2. D. Scott 3 G. Perkins 4. John Howard

5. C. Roler 6. A. Gould 7. C. Perkins 8. J. Perkins 9. J. Wilkinson

10. A. Pearson 11. B Roler 12 A Gutheridge

An Email from a former member of the Cub Pack

I was a member of 26th Colchester Scouts Mountbatten cub pack from 1981 -1983 and I am sure that the pack was formed just before I joined (’79 or ’80) I think the Marco Polo Pack already existed. The pack was formed in remembrance of Louis Mountbatten who had recently been killed by the IRA and I remember the then Akela (Sam Mountcastle) writing to the Queen & subsequently receiving permission to name the pack accordingly. I have great memories of this time. A trip to London in a bitterly cold and snowy winter (82 or 83) and also the pack football team won the district championships in 1983. There were three leagues the winners and runners up of each went through to the finals + the 2 best third place teams (we were one of these) so obviously not favourites but we won through to the final & took the cup. I stared at the tiny winners medal all the way home - I was also the team captain and the senior sixer. I also won the tea making challenge one year (another proud moment!)