South Yorkshire Times, March 25th 1944
Scouting in Iraq
Swinton Airman’s Share in Pioneer Work
Appropriately arriving during the final stages of preparation for Swinton Scout Week, letters from a Swinton man serving with “Palforce,” L.A/c. John Cowles bring news of the introduction of Scouting to Iraq. It happened through the formation of a Rover Scout Crew among the medical section of an RA.F. hospital, at Habbaniya, of which L.A/c. Cowles is a member. The interest of the local Assyrian youth was aroused and the first Scout group in the country was soon formed.
To the satisfaction of the pioneers who have added the youth of yet another nation to the international brotherhood of Scouting, the group appeared before the King of Iraq, the Regent, and the Cabinet. Subsequently the R.A.F. Rover Crew was registered at Imperial Headquarters in London “1st Iraq Scout Group.”
The older members of the group are now being trained as a Rover Crew. They are seen in this picture taken at one of their socials, with the R.A.F. Rover Crew. L.A/c. Cowles is fourth from the left on the fourth row and the man in the white shirt on the left of the picture is Ken Morgan, formerly a sub-editor on the Sheffield Telegraph and Star. In the centre of the group are the Padre, with the crew skipper on his right and on the left an Iraq medical officer “who helps out with some of our problems.”
Some of the problems they were faced with are indicated by L.A/c. Cowles, in describing the concert put on by the Rover crew for the Assyrian boys and girls at the Assyrian Christmas, which falls on January 6th. In the evening, we gave them a 2½ hour show arranged by all the crew, and they certainly enjoyed it. There are such a lot of things to consider when dealing with Assyrian lads; they are so different in sense of humour and their music has only five notes, so you will understand some of the obstacles we have overcome.
A special Christmas service was part of the festival and the R.A.F. Rover Crew had printed their own Christmas greetings cards. On Jan. 19th L.A./c. Cowles wrote “Our Rover Crew is now progressing favourably and the members are many. To-day is a very important day for the crew when a “demonstration in Scouting” is to be given before King Feisal, the Regent, and the Iraq Cabinet. This, if a success, means this organisation has been recognised in Iraq. Scouting will be very popular among the lads of this country and also a great help in every respect.”
Only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Cowles, 1, Wortley Avenue, Swinton, L.A/c. Cowles, joined up three years ago and has been abroad for two years. He worked for Messrs. David Haigh’s Ltd. at Mexborough and Conisbrough. L.A/c. Cowles was not a scout but was keenly interested in the St. John Ambulance Brigade.