Scout Signalling Competition

Flag Semaphore is used for conveying information by visual means. Information is encoded by the position of the flags. It is used between ships, and ships to shore and vice versa, especially during daylight.

32nd Raffles Signalling Team

The 32nd Raffles group entered a few scout crafts competitions with other scout groups. They were tent pitching, bridge building, signalling and others. I remembered the signalling competition well for we practised very hard for it. Everyday after school, we would go to the field behind the school building to practice sending and receiving morse code and flag semaphore. The competition was held in St Andrew School ground at Woodsville Road. They were all in morse codes which were in dots and dashes to represent letters and numerals. Morse codes came in the form of sound, light flashes and hand held triangular flags movements known as semaphore.

Each team was split into 2 groups with each group sending a fixed messange to the other. The team that send the message with the fastest speed and accuracy, would be declared the winner. I forgot which scout team won. Most likely we lost.