Scouting in the Liphook and Bramshott area dates back as far as 1908. Sir Bertram Sackville Thesiger founded the 1st Bramshott Scout Troop.
Personal Details
Thesiger was born on the 14th January 1875, the son of Hon. Sir Edward Pierson Thesiger and Georgina Mary Stopford. He married at the age of 46 on the island of Malta, when he was captain of HMS King George V, to Violet Brodrick Cloete (nee Henley) aged 38 on the 3rd March 1921. He lived at “Clerks” in Rectory Lane, Bramshott where he died on the 12th May 1966 aged 91. His wife Voilet died on the 21st May 1973 in a Liss Nursing Home.
His career and military service
Sir Bertram joined the Royal Navy in 1887. He was invested as a companion, Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) in 1911. He fought in the 1st World War and was mentioned in dispatches. During the 1914-18 war he commanded HMS Inconstant 1914-1915 and was in the battle of Jutland during 1916. He was invested as a Companion, Order of the Bath (CB) in 1916 and was decorated with the order of St. Anne of Russia 2nd Class with swords and the order of St.Vladimir of Russia with swords. He was also decorated with the United States Legion of Merit.
Other posts held included the office of the Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire and, during the years 1921 to 1922, he was Aide-de-Camp to King George V. During the years 1925 to1927 Sir Bertram was Admiral Superintendent of the Portsmouth Dockyard from 1927 to 1929 the Chief of the East Indies Station.
He fought in the 2nd World War and gained the rank of Commodore in the Royal Navy Reserve in was in charge of convoys and FOIC (Flag Officer In Charge) Falmouth from 1942 to 1944. In 1942 he was invested as a Knight Commander, Order of the British Empire (KBE).
His involvement in Scouting
The admiral wasn’t just “involved” in Scouting in the Liphook area he actually founded the first Scout troop in in 1908. The troop was named the 1st Bramshott Scout Troop – “Thesiger’s Own” – and existed until the late ’60s / early ’70s.
Everyone knew that Sir Bertram was a personal friend of Robert Baden-Powell but what he never boasted about, nor mentioned to anyone, that he was jointly responsible with Baden-Powell for the notion of a Scouting movement. It was his wife Lady Violet, who was very proud of the fact and would tell everyone about it, probably to Sir Bertram’s annoyance.
It is believed that, before 1928, the Scout meetings took place in Chiltley Manor in Haslemere Road. In 1928 Bishop Crossley donated a wooden building he used as a study in the garden to the troop. It was re-erected on the site of the present Church Centre with a peppercorn rent of one shilling (5p) per annum in perpetuity. The exact position was at the far end of the car park between the present building’s front wall and the hedge. There was a search light position to the rear of the hut during World War 2.
Many thanks to Terry Smithers who provided the above information.
