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3rd September 1939, the 2nd World War began. Most of the Rover crew, who had been in the Territorial Army, R.N.V.R. and R.A.F. etc, seemed to vanish overnight and others volunteered their services to the country. It was with depleted ranks, that the 16th turned out for the 1939 October Church Parade, the pipe - band consisted of; 1 regular piper, 1 learner piper (Sam Adie), 3 side-drummers, 2 tenor-drummers and a bass-drummer, they all marched from Myers Road East to St. Andrews Church. Sam Adie's drones were making such a noise that Eric Strachan (side drummer), spent most of the march with his finger stuck down a drone to stop the noise whilst the march proceeded.
It is posible that this Chuch Parade was the last one Skipper Sharp (R.N.V.R.), Scout Master, took part in before being called up to the Navy. Before he finally left for service in the 'Andrew', he attended regular scout meetings at the church hall but somehow, maybe because the volunteers were making camouflage nets in the hall, the scout meeting ended up in the cellar where waste paper was being stored for the war effort. Skip gave the scouts a talk on the seriousness of the war, and intimated that he hoped the troop would continue in the future, although under adverse conditions, even if it was reduced down to the youngest scout present.
It was not very long before the Pipe Band was reduced down to the learner piper, 3 drummers and a drum-major, but the numbers in the troop began to increase due mainly, to the efforts and personality of Eric Wood. Soon Sam Adie was joined by John England on the pipes, Eric Wood started teaching drummers, whilst Robert Dunsmore took over the 'mace'. It was at this time that the group Scoutmaster: Mr Arthur Crawford, became Commanding Officer of the A.T.C. Squadron, based at Breeze Hill, Bootle, and at his instigation, the 16th Pipe Band became the Squadron Band also and turned out in A.T.C. uniform when required - this was approximately 1940.
The band at two pipers was just not good enough and scouts interested were tutored in piping. The pipe tutor was the learner scout of the 1939 pipe-band, Sam Adie became pipe-major. Soon the 16th could turn out 6 pipers on parade, these were: John Adie, Robert Dunsmore, Jim Fry, Eric Glen, Bill Crichton and Geoff Wilson. There was also an increase in drummers, Ed. Roberts and Bill Walters on the tenor drums and Colin Rowlands on the bass with Gordon Knowles, Mick Rhodes and Jack Ray on the side drums with Phill Carter.
Norman Stewart then approached the 16th to support the 85th Battalion (West Derby) Home Guard and to turn out on parade with them, using the Home Guard uniforms with their own Cameron kilts. The youngest piper in the 16th at this time was Jim Fry, who was then 10 years of age, this did not deter him from turning out, nor did his height put him off - it was noticed that to keep in step with the rest of the Home Guard pipe band Jim had to stride out with the result that his torso practically touched the ground with each step on the march. This resulted in Jim being given the nickname 'Samson' by the older members of the home guard.
As the war progressed, demands on the pipe band increased also. They were committed to attend their own monthly parades at St. Andrews, District Scouts St. Georges Day parades, Annual Scout Fairs, alongside Crosby Civic Church, Armistice Service, Home Guard and A.T.C. parades. They were also involved with entertaining the forces in the district, raising funds for the war effort, Salute the Soldier weeks, War Weapons Weeks and Spitfire Weeks, etc.
In 1943, it was suggested by the Government that local authorities should organise 'Holidays at Home', for entertaining the community. Again, The 16th Pipe Band was called upon to assist.
Mr Crawford, the Scouts' Parent Association (Chairman Mr P.C. Pickering) and others including the 16th Crosby Scout Troop, committed themselves to organise a 'Highland Games' to be held at Coronation Park Recreational Ground, Crosby, on a Saturday afternoon 10th July 1943. West Derby and Bootle battalions of Home Guard were approached and agreed to support the event with their pipe bands. It was forseen that there would be a difficulty in the numbers of dancers eligible to partake in the competitions for Highland Dancing, and for a display of Exhibition Highland Dancing. Although at that time there were four or so of the Troop that had been trained for Highland Dancing by Mr Bobbie Anderson, they would be required for Band duties. It was therefore, decided to approach the Girl Guides and the youth organisations of the district for volunteers. Thus was carried out by Sam Adie, and eventually 40 girls came forward. One of those being Rene McDonald (a gold medalist in Highland dancing), who proceeded to work very hard in training the girls.
On the great day it rained, but the Highland Games went on with Massed Pipe Bands, Displays of Scottish Country Dancing and exhibition Highland Dancing, competitive Highland Dancing, Putting the Weight, Tossing the Caber, etc. In fact most events you would find being carried out at a similar event in Scotland.
Robert Dunsmore gave an exhibition of Sword Swinging for which purposes a high stool was provided to prevent him cutting up the stage because the swords were longer than him.
The proceeds raised from this event went to the 16th Crosby Group fund.
From that moment in 1943 until 1956, a permanent Exhibition Dancing Team of Scottish Dancing came into existence, affiliated to the 16th Crosby Scout Pipe Band. They used the Rover Scout Den for practice once a week; Tuesday night, and took part in many events with the 16th during the war and in the peace entertaining people.
The Meadows Recreation Ground, Maghull, was another 'Holidays at Home' event held in late 1943, as well as helping to organise this event, the U.S. Forces supplied transport to bring the Pipe Band back to Maghull from a camp at Tawd Vale and to take them back to Crosby with the Exhibition Dancing Team (who were also involved), after taking part in a days display to raise funds for the war effort. On this oocassion, for the first time since 1939, 9 pipers were on parade - due to the effects of 'call up', so the training programme for the Pipe Band had intensified to replace lost numbers.
Croxteth Hall was the venue for the Liverpool Show's 'Holidays at Home' event in 1944. The Pipe Band turned out 12 pipers, 6 side-drummers, 3 tenor-drummers and a bass-drummer and gave a display of counter marching, including forming a circle on the march and completing the display by playing a selection of strathspeys and reels. On this occassion approximately 40 dancers were present and gave a display of Scottish Dancing - the music being supplied by the Pipe Band.
In 1945 the U.S. Forces invited the band to take part in entertaining the U.S. Army Air Force at Burtonwood Aerodrome. Amongst the celebrities taking part were the Deep River Boys.
1945 saw the end of the war years, during which the band had taken part in many Home Guard Parades and sports Days, including the Final Victory Parade through Liverpool and the Stand Down of the Home Guard. Their final committment during the war in Europe was to put on a show at waterloo Central School on V.E. night and parade around the district of crosby celebrating the victory.
In late 1945, the Crosby Caledonian Society was founded - Sam Adie being a founder member and honorary piper, the St. Andrews 16th Pipe Band was invited to play at all major functions between 1945 and 1956, including St. Andrews Nights, Burns Nights and Hogmanays.
The band was still in demand now the war was over, being ivited to participate in district galas held in Crosby, Litherland and Garston. On one occassion,a Scottish night was organised by Crosby Gala Committee, the band and dancers being invited to take part, this was nearly a non-event as on the night, very few participants from other groups turned out. However, thanks to the efforts of the 16th and the girl dancing team, it turned out a great success. The band and dancers entertained for two and a half hours non-stop. Though one of the girls, thinking she had twisted her ankle, carried on dancing. She was later informed at Waterloo Hospital, that she had in fact broken it!
On another occasion organised by the Litherland Gala Committee, the Morris Dancing Team turned up for a display, but their band failed to arrive. The 16th volunteered their services and again played for 2 hours non-stop.
One major event was entering the Pipe Band and Dancing Competitions held at the Lancashire and Cheshire Scottish Federation Highland games, held at Crawfords Playing Fields and Sports Ground in Wavertree and being awarded third place in the Pipe Band events. A number of the girl dancers entered into the dancing competitions and medals were awarded in some cases.
During this period, a group of students approached the dancers with a view to teaching country dancing at the Halls of Residence in Ullet road. The outcome of this led to a Miss Stella Baker, who was in charge of the Rodney Youth Centre in Liverpool, contacting the band with a view to helping raise funds for the centre. This involved playing at various parades in the city - on one occasion the parade took us around the Bullring, and it was duly noted that the Mounted Police escort stayed outside and left us to it.
The highlight of the Rodney Youth Centre was the Annual Arts Ball, held at St. Georges Hall. The band gave a display of counter marching etc., playing for dances such as the Gay Gordons, old fashioned waltzes and reels and of course the usual display of Highland Dancing given by our team of girl dancers. On one occasion, we had the job of piping in the New Year at both St. Georges hall for Rodney Youth and St. Luke's Crosby for the Crosby Caledonian Society - we managed the two commitments by splitting our forces and finally re-united at St. Georges Hall to finish the New Year celebrations.
It was duly noted and agreed by the band in general, that on these occassions, Eric Wood's personality came to the fore and that he more than qualified for his 'Entertainers Proficiency Badge'.
The world was changing fast by the time 1959 arrived, bandsmen had emigrated to Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, others had left the district and many were married with young families. We had cone a long way from 1939 and due to personal commitments it was difficult to 'turn out' the numbers required, as although the Troop was still in existence, there were not enough recruits coming forward, and it was agreed to disband the Rover Troop Pipe Band in the September of 1959.

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