The Third World Rover Scout Moot held at Monzie near Crieff in July 1939


Happiness and Sorrow in Reflection



Peter MacGregor from Gilmerton - official Piper






Despite the rattles of the sabres and  the distant sounds  of war  drums  , Crieff ( and specifically  Monzie ) were the focal  point  for  some 3 500 Rover Scouts  from all over the World . A “ Moot “ was  the scouting  term  for a meeting or  gathering and the Scouts had  declared their internationalism by  holding Moots , firstly in Kandersteg in Switzerland in 1931 and then in Ingaro Sweden in 1935 . Both these  events  attracted   some 3 000 Rover Scouts from many countries . It was a great honour that Scotland was  chosen and indeed Strathearn  and Monzie were to  play host .










Although the prevailing turmoil had begun to ruffle the  waves in Europe , some 3 500 arrived at Crieff Station in July 1939 to march or be bussed the  comparatively short  distance  to Monzie Castle and Estate . Special  mention in the press of the day was made of three Australian Scouts ,Wladyshaw Wagner, David Walsh and Bernard Plowright who sailed from Sydney in a 50 foot yawl to these shores !
This  letter was  sent  by Irishman Victor Edmonds in response  to a  query on the Scout web  site as to whether there were any  Irish Rovers at Monzie .
“  24 Rover Scouts including the 12 man 1st Wicklow, Lord Powerscourt’s own Rover Scout pipe band attended the 1939 moot. The band were immensely popular and gave exhibitions of Irish dancing as well as piping. The Irish shared their campsite with HRH Crown Prince Emmanuel of Liechtenstein and his Rovers. My late father Samuel Edmonds was one of the Irish rover scouts who attended and said that the local people brought the Rovers into their homes for tea. Despite extensive research I have never seen your Monzie photos before. Yours in scouting, Victor Edmonds”

 
Indian Rover Scout
Iraqi Rover 

Polish Rover - Poland was invaded on the 1 September





One must wonder whether these three guys  made it home  to Oz and if they survived the War .
Official figures denote that there was some  45 nationalities  at Monzie . Groups attending had to provide details on their port of entry and were directed to find their way to Crieff by rail where they would be bussed to site. Scottish Rovers served as guides, security and ‘uncles’ for the duration. The camp fee was £4 which covered all train travel within the UK to Crieff and food, firewood and some excursions.
Twenty-one different hikes were included from which the Rovers could select and the Moot included a visit to Edinburgh. Countries represented included Armenia, Siam, Trinidad, USA, Indo-China and India. The camp ran from July 15th  to July 29th .
The focus at Monzie was on international friendship ahead of what must have been increasingly apparent to these young men was looming on the horizon. At the end of the camp the entire camp re-located to Edinburgh for three days of activity. A huge reception and display was held at Murrayfield following a march past of the 42 participant countries down Princes Street.





EDINBURGH 

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