The Hackney Scout Song Book facts for kids
The Hackney Scout Song Book is a special collection of songs. These songs were very popular with young people in the early days of the Scout Movement in the United Kingdom. Even though it was first made for Scouts in the Hackney area of East London, it quickly became super popular. Soon, Scouts all over the UK and even around the world were using it! The first version came out in December 1921, and the last one was printed in 1972.
What is the Hackney Scout Song Book?
The Hackney Scout Song Book is a small, soft-covered book. It was made to be easy to carry in your pocket. Inside, you could find all sorts of songs. There were traditional folk songs, popular tunes of the time, and even some hymns. It also included songs written just for Scouts! Two songs, "National Anthem of the Ancient Britons" and "Michael Finnagen", appeared in print for the very first time in this book. The book was also a way to remember the brave Hackney Scouts who sadly passed away serving their country between 1914 and 1918.
How the Song Book Started
The idea for the song book came from special indoor "campfire" gatherings. These events were for Hackney Scouts and were organized by Stanly Ince. Stanly Ince was a local Scout Commissioner, which means he was a leader in the Scout Movement. He had been very ill after serving in World War I.
Famous people, like Robert Baden-Powell, who started Scouting, even came to these meetings! Stanly Ince noticed that the Scouts didn't have many songs they all knew and could sing together. So, he decided to create a "Song Book Committee." In December 1921, their hard work paid off, and the first Hackney Scout Song Book was printed.
A Worldwide Success
Even though the book was first made just for Scouts in Hackney, it became a huge hit! The very first edition sold out in just a few months. It stayed in print for more than 50 years, selling over 130,000 copies. That's a lot of books! It was even translated into 27 different languages, showing how popular it was with Scouts all over the world.
