3rd Enfield Company history

The first Daily Telegraph Shield competition

In 1906 the annual London District Display at the Royal Albert Hall was destined to be changed forever. The proprietors of the Daily Telegraph kindly presented a handsome shield for a new competition, which tested Boys' Brigade Companies in drill and general efficiency. While drill played an important part in the competition, marks were also given for the other branches of the Boys' Brigade work, including Bible Class, gymnastics, clubroom and band. The first round of the competition was held at the headquarters of the London Rifle Brigade, R.V., on the 9th April 1906, when six London Battalions were represented by the following Companies: 9th London, 54th London, 66th London, 86th London, 3rd Enfield and 1st South Essex Companies. Captain R H Moody acted as judge and selected the 54th, 66th London and 3rd Enfield Companies for further examination and competition. The 66th London with 118 marks and the 3rd Enfield with 116.5 marks proved successful in the second round, which consisted of examinations in branches of Brigade work other than drill.

On Saturday 10th May 1906 the 66th London and 3rd Enfield Companies competed for the final of the first ever Daily Telegraph Shield competition at the Royal Albert Hall. Strictly speaking this was a London District BB competition, but held in a national arena and supported by a national paper; the competition took on a status which could not be matched outside London. The 3rd were hopeful to continue the success of the previous year when they had won the Meares Colours, which at the turn of the century was the London District Drill title.

At the start of the display, the parade for the Guard of Honour, composed of the two finalists, were summoned by the brazen strains of the bugle, which cut through the Albert Hall air. As they halted defiantly facing each other, each vying to stand the smartest, the onlookers speculated at their respective merits, there was understandably much tension in the air. Not, however, for long; the trim figure of a guardsman appeared in the arena. A word of command, a couple of clicks, and the judge for the competition, Captain H St L Stucley, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, Commandant of the Chelsea School of Instructors, was minutely scrutinising the Companies, and marking them for the condition of their uniforms. Then he returned to the platform, and the display was allowed to continue.

During the evening the handsome shield, whose design is emblematic of the work undertaken in the BB was on view on the platform. Although there were several important guests present for the display, including Sir William A Smith and Major-General Baden-Powell, it was the giant circular shield that was the centre of attention.

The final of the Daily Telegraph competition was eagerly anticipated by everyone. It was the first time such a competition had been held at the Albert Hall, and the experiment certainly was justified. At the appointed time the 66th London, hailing from Kentish Town, marched into the arena amidst great applause by the onlookers. This Company, whose members were younger than their opponents from the 3rd, started the final with an advantage of 1.5 marks gained in the preliminary round. The movements set by the judge were well selected and exhaustive; and though mistakes were made, the 66th passed through the ordeal with credit. However, on that evening the 3rd Enfield performed a sharper and cleaner display of drill.

Robert Wilson

 

Daily Telegraph Shield - winners and runners-up 1906 to present

YearWinnerRunner up
19063rd Enfield66th London
19073rd Enfield4th London
190821st London86th London
190976th London3rd Enfield
19103rd Enfield76th London
19113rd Enfield21st London
191262nd London3rd Enfield
191362nd London3rd Enfield
191462nd London3rd Enfield
191594th London3rd Enfield
19163rd Enfield94th London
19173rd Enfield6th South Essex
191883rd London3rd Enfield
19193rd Enfield83rd London
192083rd London3rd Enfield
192183rd London18th South Essex
192276th London14th West Kent
192314th West Kent1st Barnet
19241st Enfield76th London
19251st Barnet1st Enfield
19261st Enfield76th London
19271st Enfield76th London
19285th London1st Enfield
19295th London74th London
19301st Enfield5th London
193176th London1st Enfield
193294th London58th London
193394th London62nd London
193476th London2nd West Kent
19352nd West Kent58th London
19365th London2nd West Kent
19375th London19th South Essex
19385th London19th South Essex
19395th London1st Enfield
19403rd Enfield62nd London
19411st Enfield41st London
19421st Enfield1st New Barnet
19433rd Enfield41st London
19441st Enfield41st London
19451st Enfield2nd West Kent
194614th West Kent1st New Barnet
19471st New Barnet1st Enfield
19481st Enfield2nd West Kent
19491st Enfield1st New Barnet
19501st Enfield6th South Essex
19511st New Barnet1st Enfield
19521st Enfield1st New Barnet
19531st New Barnet1st Enfield
19541st New Barnet1st Enfield
19551st New Barnet41st London
19561st New Barnet72nd London
19571st Enfield41st London
195872nd London88th London
195972nd London2nd West Kent
19601st Kenton2nd West Kent
196172nd London6th South Essex
19622nd West Kent6th South Essex
19631st Kenton2nd West Kent
19642nd West Kent14th West Kent
19652nd West Kent6th South Essex
196614th West Kent2nd West Kent
19675th Croydon2nd West Kent
19685th Croydon2nd West Kent
19695th Croydon2nd West Kent
19705th Croydon2nd West Kent
19712nd West Kent5th Croydon
19722nd West Kent5th Croydon
19731st Enfield2nd West Kent
197410th Sutton6th Waltham Forest
197514th West Kent10th Sutton
197614th West Kent10th Sutton
197710th Sutton14th West Kent
197810th Sutton2nd West Kent
197910th Sutton5th Croydon
198010th Sutton14th West Kent
198114th West Kent10th Sutton
19822nd West Kent14th West Kent
1983  
198414th West Kentn/a
1985Enfield BattalionWest Kent Battalion
1986Enfield BattalionWaltham Forest Battalion
1987Enfield BattalionWaltham Forest Battalion
1988Enfield Battalionn/a
198914th West KentEnfield Battalion
1990  
1991  
1992  
1993  
1994  
1995  
1996  
1997  
1998  
1999  
2000  
2001  
2002  
200370th Londonn/a
200470th Londonn/a
200570th Londonn/a
20061st Enfield/Amicusn/a
20071st Enfield/Amicusn/a
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