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The First 50 Years.

In 1897 there came to live in Gourock an ex-officer of the 1st Glasgow Company, The Boys’ Brigade, who being a BB enthusiast, felt there was a need for another company of the Boys’ Brigade in Gourock and having gathered together a number of like minded men, they launched the 2nd Gourock Company the following year. This officer was Captain John Stewart and the Committee of Management who started the Company comprised Rev. Homer Young M.A, John Stewart, John Lawrie, Matthew Campbell, William Findlay, Lachlan Gibson and Donald Munro. The Company was formed in September 1898 in connection with St. John’s United Free Church and a most encouraging start was made, with approximately 40 being enrolled. A grant was received from the Deacons’ Court to equip the boys and it is pleasing to note that every penny was repaid in 1900.

The first Annual inspection & Presentation of Prizes took place in the Drill Hall, Binnie Lane. As early as 1899 the company had a fine brass band in addition to a pipe band, Donald Munro acting as Instructor in the latter.

The company had thriven ever since its inception, and today in spite of other attractions numbers ?? Officers and boys. To begin with the activities were confined to drill and attendance at Bible Class and the meeting place was the present Lesser Hall.

On retiral of Captain Stewart in 1901 after three years service, Lieutenant John Lawrie assumed command, and owing to the increase in numbers it was found necessary to hold the drill parades in the Masonic Hall, John Street, and this continued until the erection of the present Church Hall in 1908.

Captain Lawrie retired from active command in 1904 and for a time the company meeting were discontinued, after which the Rev. Homer Young was successful in persuading Mr William Balfour, and ardent volunteer in the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders to accept the Captaincy, and with Robert Waddell Snr. And Donald Orr as Lieutenants, the company was reborn. Until 1914 events pursued their natural tendency, but with the outbreak of hostilities in that year all the then serving officers (Captain Balfour, Lieutenants Robert Waddell Snr, Donald Orr, Bertie Watson and Staff Sergeant Robert Waddell Jnr.), left to take part in the sterner battle of life. Bereft of all its officers and senior non-commissioned officers, it looked as if the company would again cease to function, but Corporals at that time viz. John A. Sutherland, James H. Gordon, Arthur Logan and William Waddell determined that this would not happen they carried on for the remainder of that session.

Captain David Holms Scott of the 1st Gourock Company sacrificed much time to the supervision of these young N.C.O’s and so successful were his efforts that in the following year the company for the first time in it’s history won the Greenock Battalion Shield for Physical Drill with Rifles.

About 1916 Lieutenant Archibald Hope Robertson R.N.V.R was detailed for Boom Defence Duty at Gourock and being a BB enthusiast immediately offered his services and acted as Captain until the cessation of hostilities when Captain Balfour returned to take charge. In 1921 Captain Balfour resigned and lieutenant Robert Waddell Jnr. Was appointed Captain by the Kirk Session.

Just prior to this we changed from the old Pill Box to the Kilt and Balmoral. Here again great credit must go to another officer of the 1st Gourock Company Captain James Rees Pedlar, for it was due to his efforts together with the late Provost John M. Adam that the Gourock Companies are now adorned with the Kilt.

Under Captain R. Waddell the company continued from strength to strength and with the disappearance of the Dummy Rifles on the amalgamation with the Boys’ Life Brigade in 1925 other new and attractive interests were introduced. Free Gymnastics and Club Swinging were taught by Mr M. Drummond a first class Aldershot Instructor and these were so successful that the company became well known for its bright displays. Lieutenant Cyril Gladman and Archibald Gillies proved such apt pupils under Mr Drummond that they were able to carry on this good work long after Mr Drummond’s retiral. It seemed we were on the crest of a wave when the 2nd World War descended upon us and Captain R. Waddell was transferred to the Admiralty to the other Sphere in 1939 and Lieutenant William Waddell assumed Acting Captaincy.

In 1941 the Rev. Ian Macgregor M.A during his visitation discovered the ardent Pipe Major in the person of Mr Charles McDonald and persuaded him to undertake the formation of a pipe band. In 18 months “Mac” as he affectionately became known produced one of the finest pipe bands ever to have been heard in the district.

Prior to 1939 the three Gourock Companies had always camped together but with the advent of War camping was prohibited by the authorities. In 1943 this ban was removed and a company camp was held at West Kilbride. This venture proved so successful that the summer camp is now one of the strongest features in the session’s programme.

The company has always taken a leading part in joint ventures with the other Gourock Companies and in the Inter Company Competitions has had a fair measure of success.

The Life Boy Team has always proved a source of fine recruits to the company. Formed in 1920 under Lieutenant H. McLachlan it is still carried on successfully by Mr(s) David Boyd.

For fifty years the company has triumphed over may difficulties and goes forward to the next fifty years full of hope and in the full knowledge that so long as we remain faithful to the great rules laid down by our Founder Sir William Alexander Smith we cannot go far astray.