Bedford's First Girl Guide Camp

Girl Guide group, c.1915 [Z1176/5]

Tuesday 7th September 1915: Bedford’s Girl Guides have returned from their first camp, held in a field at Biddenham from Saturday 4th to Monday 6th September. Due to the war conditions it was decided it would be better for the girls to march out and back each day rather than to sleep out. It was a small camp with just 17 girls and three officers. They were fortunate to have good weather for all three days and thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor life. Their daily timetable was:

• 7 a.m. - Parade
• 7.30 a.m. – Arrive at camp; six cooks, the rest put up tents
• 8.20 a.m. – Breakfast
• 9.00 a.m. – Cooks wash up, rest tidy camp
• 9.45 a.m. – Drill
• 10.45 a.m. – fetch provisions from village
• 10.55 a.m. – Lunch
• 11.00 a.m. – Ambulance
• 11.30 a.m. – Signallying
• 1.00 p.m. – Dinner
• 2.00 p.m. – Rest
• 2.45 p.m. – Signalling
• 3.15 p.m. – Inspection by Commissioner
• 3.45 p.m. – Games
• 4.30 p.m. – Tea
• 5.15 p.m. – Clear up camp and rest
• 6.00 p.m. – Porridge and milk
• 6.30 p.m. – March home

On Sunday the programme was changed to include a Church parade and afternoon bathing. An incident on their march home shows the need for explanation of the usefulness of the Guides’ training. A well dressed women passed the Guides on the Bromham Road, stopped and said loudly, “Did you ever see such fools?” Not only where the girls offended by this remark, they were also astonished that anyone could be so ignorant of what their uniform stands for and of the work they do.

The numbers for this camp were small due to short notice. Now that a beginning has been made to Guide camps in Bedford it is hoped that a large scale camp will take place next summer with the 150 Bedford Guides joined by girls from the surrounding villages where Guide companies are being started.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 10th September 1915