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Though
few people recognised the signs, the world that Roland and
his East End scouts knew was soon to be destroyed utterly
-the ominous year of 1914 was at hand
It
was this year, while he was engaged in his philanthropic
work that the Great War broke out. True to the scout law,
his first thought was his duty to King and country. Writing
to his political supporters at Cardiff, he said, "I have
always been, as you know, an enthusiastic in the cause of
peace; but one cannot help that cause by leaving Europe
at the mercy of a militarist tyranny. I have always been
a strong opponent of conscription and a believer in voluntary
service, but it is for those who believe in voluntary service
to show that at the hour of our country's need their service
is not only voluntary, but willingly and gladly given. At
this time of supreme national crisis, I have done what I
believe to be my duty, and have joined Lord Kitchener's
army. In view of my year with the officers' training corps
while at Oxford, this seems to be the way in which I can
best help my country."
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Before he went off to his training he made one final gift to his
beloved East End. He bought a house, 29 Stepney Green, as a centre
for the work he had started and was now leaving to others. He
went into training camp at Didcot, and in due course was gazetted
a Second Lieutenant and posted to the 9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
in which many of his scout lads from Bethnal Green had already
enlisted. He went to France in due course, and in April 1915,
he and his brother Colwyn obtained short leave in order to attend
the funeral of their mother, who died on the 30th March. He was
promoted Captain early in the year, and on his brother's death
in May, became heir to his father's barony. He shared in the attack
on the Hohensollern Redoubt, south of La Basée, in which his well-trained
and well-led battalion played a distinguished part. In this fight,
Captain Roland Philipps greatly distinguished himself. He was
awarded the Military Cross, and the official account of his services,
published in the London Gazette, stated that it was "in recognition
of conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty." Although wounded
severely, he kept his men well in hand, himself killing four of
the enemy with his revolver. He stuck to his post and repelled
three attacks. He received three bullet wounds and a severe cut
in the encounter, and in giving Sir Robert Baden Powell an account
of the fight, he mentioned that his three wounds served to remind
him of the three points of his scout promise. He made a rapid
recovery, and came home for a short rest before rejoining his
battalion for duty. While enjoying this respite he attended an
investiture in Buckingham Palace, and was there decorated by the
King with the Cross that his splendid gallantry had won. In acknowledging
the congratulations of a friend, he wrote that all the honour
belongs to the men, who are brave and cheery beyond all words.
My own was just the happiness and great good fortune of being
their leader.
Roland
devoted to the army the same skills he had put at scouting's service.
His record was a distinguished one and his leaves were spent in
England where he set himself -and naturally achieved- the objective
of forming at least one new scout troop every time.
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