History of First Claremont Scout Group

Established 3 March 1908

The Oldest Scout Group in South Africa

1908-1919

• The Oldest Scout Group in South Africa - founded 3 March 1908
• George French - the first Scoutmaster of the first Scout Troop in South Africa
• Fred and Charles Stern - the first Scouts in South Africa
• First flag - the first flag flown at 1st Claremont
• The first camp - 1908 newspaper report on a hike / camp at 1st Claremont in July 1908
• 'Umhlanga' Baker - founder of 2nd Claremont Troop in 1908.
• 'Umhlanga' Baker tells the story of his part in the birth of Scouting in South Africa
• Robert McKenzie - a Claremont Scout awarded the Silver Cross for Gallantry in 1909 after saving a swimmer from drowning
• Cyril French - Scoutmaster at 1st Claremont from 1913.
• Early Scoutmaster records - from the South African Scout in 1909

1920s

• The Claremont Troop: 1921-1927 - as told by Scoutmaster George Peake
• A letter from Baden-Powell - after visiting 1st Claremont in 1926
• Early meeting places and halls, 1924-1940

1930s

• John 'Eland' Clarke - Scoutmaster at 1st Claremont from 1934 till 1981
• Jamboree 1933
• Some photos from the 1930s - we won the Gordon Shield for the first time in 1934.

1940s

• Our current hall - built 1940
• Some photos from the 1940s

1950s

• Some photos from the 1950s
• Smoke Signals 1958 - No 1 - 1st Claremont newsletter
• Smoke Signals 1958 - No 2

1960s

• Some photos from the 1960s - we won the Gordon Shield in 1965, 1966 and 1967.
• Pottering Along - a song the Scouts used to sing on camp in the 1960s
• Smoke Signals 1960
• Smoke Signals 1965

1970s

• Some photos from the 1970s - we won the Gordon Shield in 1970 and 1971.

1980s

• Some photos from the 1980s
• Smoke Signals 1982
• Smoke Signals 1983 - Special 75th Anniversary edition, including lots of information about the history of 1st Claremont
• Smoke Signals 1984
• Smoke Signals 1985
• Smoke Signals 1986
• Smoke Signals 1988

1990s

• Some photos from the 1990s
• Smoke Signals 1991
• Smoke Signals 1994

2000s

• Some photos from the 2000s
• Smoke Signals 2007
• 100 Years of 1st Claremont Scout Group 1908-2008
• Smoke Signals 2010
• Smoke Signals 2011