International Jamborees: 1967 Report Mozambique
1967 - Lourenço Marques Jamboree, Moçambique.
South African arrival - by Peter Barnard, Assistant Contingent Leader
Ack: 'The Jamboree Internal Field Diary'
Our contingent arrived in camp the day before yesterday, and after spending a usual very busy first day setting up the camp, we are now beginning to enjoy the Jamboree. During the late afternoon we took to the sea for the first time and appreciated the temperature of the water, which we estimated to be approximately 85 F (29 C). Those members from the cold-water areas, possibly felt it a little warm.
The first full day at the Jamboree started with an impressive flag raising ceremony followed by beach games and swimming. Time was spent making gadgets gateways and setting up our information centre. The Scouts are visiting boys from other countries and swopping badges, while at the same time inviting all other Scouts and Scouters to visit our campsites and the information centre. You will be welcome.
The South African Contingent consists of 283 Scouts and 38 Scouters as detailed below:
| Scouters | Scouts | |
|---|---|---|
| Transvaal Coloured | 3 | 8 |
| Pretoria Indian | 0 | 8 |
| Natal Indian Division | 4 | 29 |
| European Divisions: | ||
| Transvaal | 12 | 55 |
| Central | 1 | 26 |
| Natal | 0 | 12 |
| Midlands | 2 | 15 |
| Border | 1 | 7 |
| Cape Western | 15 | 123 |
We would like to express our sincere thanks to our hosts for their hospitality and friendliness.
Report from a Cape Western Scout – Peter Ravenscroft
Our Group (1st Clifton) sent six boys to the International Jamboree at Lourenco Marques (Maputo) in January 1967. This was the full Court-of-honour, excluding one Patrol Leader who was under age.
On the station we heard a speech by the mayor of Cape Town, which was to a large extent swamped by the announcer dealing with the incoming and outgoing trains.
Scouts filled 4 coaches of the train, (15 Scouters and 117 Scouts) and everyone seemed determined not be bored. Inter-carriage warfare with water-pistols, detergent bottles and even mugs developed, but after someone gave a Stationmaster in the Karroo a mouthful from a Lux Liquid bottle the Scouters clamped down and hostilities ceased. In Johannesburg we picked up the rest of the contingent and from there the train was completely filled with Scouts.
For many of us the journey to Lourenco Marques was covering new ground and we found it most interesting, as were the speeches of welcome in Portuguese on our arrival! Our hosts did, however, welcome us in English as well!
In camp we found the Portuguese and Rhodesians already settled in, so we had to set up camp quickly.
The programmes were not very strict for which we were grateful. Each morning and afternoon there was one item, which usually didn't fill the whole time, so we had a fair amount of leisure. Some of the boys in our troop, myself included, got friendly with a Portuguese patrol. One of them could speak good English, two could, speak a fair amount of Afrikaans. None of could speak Portuguese, but we got on splendidly.
When we went in to town we went together and consequently got to see more of the places of interest than those who went alone.
Lourenco Marques stands on a river mouth. On the opposite bank of the estuary stands a fishing village, which we crossed to see by ferry. The houses are shacks in extreme disrepair, built on stilts. Underneath they keep fowls, dogs and pigs. However, what surprised us was that each house had, mounted on boards, an average of about four massive outboard engines, which implied a large number of fishing boats per household.
One day it was arranged for the Sea Scouts to go rowing. A Club lent us 3 rowing boats with sliding seats and although our boat leaked buckets and we couldn't go far, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Time passed all too quickly and we soon had to say goodbye to L.M. and our new friends. After another session of speeches we all packed in the train and as we left the station everyone shouted (each troop with its own "call") and banged on the carriage sides so hard that it appeared as though they were about to fall off.
The Jamboree was very interesting and enjoyable experience and I would like, on behalf of the boys who went, to thank everyone who made our attendance possible.
Report from a Transvaal Scout - L T Swart
Amidst great noise and excitement the train carrying the South African Contingent arrived at LM for our 8 day adventure in a strange country, reports Patrol Leader Swart in "Transvaal Scouter". It was to be one of the most interesting periods in our Scouting careers, Highlights included:
- Wonderful hospitality from our hosts, the Portuguese Scouts, at the Jamboree camp 5 miles out of Lourenco Marques.
- An impressive Opening Ceremony, followed later on by a grand parade in Lourenco Marques itself, when we gathered in front or the City Hall to meet the Mayor. Afterwards, delegates from the South African and Rhodesian Contingents presented the Mayor with messages from our own Mayors back home. Recordings were made by LM Radio, which later broadcast them.
- The cooking of 1,500 Koeksusters for 'South Africa Day', when we entertained our hosts and other visitors to traditional South African Volkspele.
- The exploration of the fascinating city itself. We were fortunate to be allowed to climb the spire of the imposing Cathedral of our Lady of the Conception, and will long remember the beautiful sight as we looked out over the city, with its broad avenues and the harbour in the background.
- The arrival of "Royalty". A great joke. We got the British Consul in LM to telegraph the Jamboree authorities indicating that the Prince of Wales would arrive at the Jamboree the following day. The Portuguese Scouts spent hours tidying up their campsites and preparing for the Royal Visit. Next morning, at the flag-raising ceremony. a wave of excitement spread through the ranks of the Portuguese Scouts when a large black Mercedes Benz, together with police escort, roared up to the parade ground. Out stepped the "Prince", dressed in a suit and dark glasses, complete with a few medals ... who turned out to be none other than Graham Granger, a member of the Transvaal Training Team. Our hosts took the joke well, and after that everyone bowed and scraped to him on sight.
Report from a Natal Scout – Kevin Kemm
- The Jamboree camp gateway had a large drawbridge which led on to a bridge which went up into the trees to a height of about 30 feet, and down again to the ground. This was built entirely of split poles by the Portuguese Scouts. We pitched camp in half an hour. After the Official Opening we went for a swim - you have to walk about a mile out to sea before the water reaches your chest!
- We all went for a hike on the Monday. Then swam. That evening we had a film show, and that night it rained in bucketsful. Tuesday saw a Civic Reception in LM.
- A commando course and a Camp Olympics were features of the next day. That night South Africa invited everyone to a campfire.
- The "Cemetery Gag"! At the Inspection on Thursday the Portuguese boys turned all the South African "totem poles, which were used as markers for Inspection, into a cemetery - by building mounds and putting stone slabs in front of each pole. Then they fell in with owed heads, wearing black armbands. Someone played "Last Post", and a log was buried. This was taken in good fun. It was retaliation for the "Prince of Wales" joke we had played on them, reported above.
S A Scout Heritage