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Q CAMPS COMMITTEE

HAWKSPUR CAMP FOR BOYS

This is a transcription of SA/Q/HB1, a carbon typescript on blue paper, apparently circulated by the Hon. Secretary of the Q Camps Committee, Dr. Marjorie E. Franklin [MEF], to friends and members of the Q Camps Committee. It originally formed part of the David Wills Collection, and is given here in full and without corrections to spelling or apparent typographical errors]

17th September, 1945. Copy of composition by “JACK”, aged 13.

Hawkspur Camp, Gt. Bardfield, Essex.

When I first arrived at Hawkspur I found a very nice friendly air about the place. I soon made pals with all the boys.

I was then informed of Camp Council and Camp Council Executive Committee, which is as I saw it a very good idea. It allows the boys to rule themselves and run the Camp their own way. It was run so that the stronger could not rule the weaker.

I then looked round properly and wondered why people looked so dirty. I then saw that the dirt wasn’t the dirt of ages but rather a day’s dirt, which I find can’t be helped unless you keep on washing all day long.

I then ran through the rules of Camp Council. The main rules are: bed at nine o’clock: any assault: 6d; tax for C.C. Funds: 4d. each. To have a chairman, a secretary, a treasurer, a games master, a minister of the water front who looks after a raft which we float on the river.

In the way of stock we have one horse, 11 ducks, 30 chickens, 4 rabbits, 5 goats, 4 kittens, 1 cat and a dog. These are all looked after or owned by several people.

The buildings are all made of wood and bricks. We have one building which is in three sections, a dining room, kitchen and scullery. Another small room which has two sections which are used as bed rooms; a building which is used as a play-room; a large room which is made into two rooms, one a school room, the other a staff member’s room. We have another small room which has to sections, one a staff member’s room, the other a visitor’s room. The bunk-house is another room which is a bedroom. The last and largest is the Office and Stores. It has four downstairs rooms and one upstairs room. Downstairs there is, one, Camp Chief’s Office, two, Camp Bursar’s Office, three a workshop, four, a stores. The upstairs room is a bedroom. There is one other small hut with three compartments, all used as bedrooms for staff members.

Perhaps readers would like to know what the daily routine is.

Eight o’clock we have breakfast, which consists of porridge, toast, marmalade, bread, marge, and a cup of tea.

Squad jobs at nine o’clock, which is sweeping floors making beds, washing-up etc. The squads are run by C.C., and have each a squad job leader which is a member of the staff. There are three squads, bed squad, milk squad, washing-up. These jobs end ten o’clock.

School then starts with P.T. This taken by Noel, Camp Bursar. Then comes a writing lesson when we write letters, etc. After that we have the usual school lessons. At eleven o’clock we have a cup of milk. Then we return to school till quarter to one.

At one o’clock we have dinner, varies from day to day, generally it is, meat, potatoes, marrow, greens, carrots, spinach, gravy, two helpings if necessary. Then we have a sweet which is pudding and custard.

The rest of the afternoon is ours unless we are on washing-up. Tea is served at five o’clock which consists of tea, jam, bread, butter, and marge, and cake (on Sundays). At eight o’clock supper is served which is bread and marge and fruit or drink. We then have a shower and go to bed. We have to be settled down at nine o’clock.

Things are improving day by day. The whole life here is what the people make it. The boys are a good lot, and are making the place a good place to live in. We are here to prove that a place can be run without punishment. If we can prove this we have started a great thing for the world.

During the time that I have been here I have seen a good few changes. For example, hot water being installed in the bathroom, huts being painted, etc.

We have a party of people went by the I.V.S.P. They are putting up a hut 90’ X 24’, the largest to be constructed yet. One of the I.V.S.P. liked the idea that he is staying on the “Q” Staff. The person mentioned is a very useful man to have around the Camp. His name is Harry known now as Pop.

We get quite a number of people that come to help without getting paid for their work. They are mostly school teachers. and young men and women that are still going to college.

I am now continuing my story in the school-room; to-day there has been a riot in the school. But because we are still keeping to aim we have not been hit or punished. Noel, who was taking the lesson just refused to continue the lesson so everybody left. Tempers were many. Sometimes I wonder whether the Camp will succeed by reaching its aim. We have as an average about one window broken a day by tempers. These people that break the windows are being dealt with at C.C. and C.C.E.C. which at this period has no real control over its members, which is a very bad thing. As a rule we get very little fighting amongst the boys.

Perhaps I am going too fast for readers, some readers would like to know what beds are like, for instance.

The beds are like camp beds, four short legs and then a wooden frame with pig-wire stretched as springs, bedclothes, mattresses, four blankets, 1 or 2 sheets, pillowcases and pillows. This list is not the same for everybody, some have sheets and some haven’t.

The boys’ clothing are supplied by parents or the person responsible for the boy.

School is given in one of the huts, desks are lent by the Essex County Council, the teachers are Noel, Bunny (Camp Chief), and soon, Harry.

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Note. Jack remarked when showing me this, “You may not like it, but it’s what I think – no one gave me any suggestions.”

It is left unaltered, just as Jack wrote it. He has omitted to say that tea is “high tea”, and includes something fairly substantial such as egg, salad or sardines. School is going well now, and there has been no more school rioting in the six weeks that have elapsed since the incident described.

M.E.F.

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This page authored by: Craig Fees