My Trip To Austria

by K. Yogarajah
The Victorian 1951


he Malayan World Jamboree Contingent left Singapore on July 4th, 1951, on the Surriento. We arrived at Marseilles on the 24th July and spent the whole day admiring the beautiful city with its impressive buildings and avenues.

At 8 p.m. we left by train for Calais. We arrived in Paris the next morning, but could not see much of this world-renowned city as we had to leave at noon. We were in Calais at 4 p.m. and soon we were aboard a launch sailing across the English Channel.

We left Dover at 6.30 p.m. for London by train. On our way I could not help admiring the beautiful country-side with all its colourful flowers. At dusk we were in London. This great city was illuminated with lights of many colours. The roads were wide and the buildings massive.

In London we joined the British Contingent, consisting of three thousand scouts from the Commonwealth. Our Chief Commissioner Mr. E. M. F. Payne (who was also the headmaster of the V.I.) also joined us here. Three days before our departure for the Continent the British Contingent was inspected by Princess Elizabeth at Clarence House.

On our way to Austria we passed through beautiful countryside in France. The towns of Switzerland were also very beautiful and all the more so because of the beauty of the surrounding lakes. At last, we arrived at our destination - lovely Bad Ischi, the site of the 7th World Jamboree.

The Boy Scouts of Austria extended us a very warm welcome, and showed us our campsites. We spent the night in a big marquee. The next morning the Malayan Contingent made camp on the cosy hillside spot which was allotted us. The nights were very, very cold, but during the day the weather was very warm.

At the opening ceremony of the Jamboree Scouts from all over the world marched past. In the arena were hoisted the flags of the previous six World Jamborees. The flag of Austria was then hoisted to mark the 7th World Jamboree.

In the days that followed we spent the greater part of our time visiting and making friends with brother scouts from foreign countries. Daily, thousands of visitors came to see us. At every meal there were a large number of onlookers who had come to watch us eat.

An event I shall always remember was tile presentation of the King's Scout Certificates by Lord Rowallan. As I walked up to receive my certificate I felt that it was the greatest moment of my life. Then there was a Camp-Fire. We contributed two items - Terang Bulan and a Bersilat demonstration.

All too soon the Jamboree was over, and it was with deep sorrow that we departed from Austria and the friends we had made there. We returned to London to stay at Chingford. After a pleasant but short stay here we left for Southampton where we boarded the Corfu and were homeward bound.




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