3rd Banstead Scouts Visit the Battlefields of the Somme

At 5.30 am on 29th April, 18 Scouts and leaders left Scout Ridge and took ‘le Shuttle’ to a small campsite at Rebreuve sur Canche in the Pas de Calais.

After pitching camp and some lunch. they set off for the Sheffield Memorial Park at Serre Cemetry, (Pals Battalions). Under the guidance of leader Simon Osborne, an expert on the 1st July 1916 battles, they learned of the disastrous attack. They then made a charge from the trench up the hill and fell into the long grass.
They finally visited the tombstone of Rifleman James Crozier, at the Sucriere Cemetary, who was executed for cowardice at the age of 18 despite having been into battle several times. He lied about his age to join up, and being so young he effectively had a nervous breakdown because of his experiences. A wreath was laid at his grave and a minute’s silence followed.