Our Troop Song
Many of us know we have our own Troop song (which is still being sung today), but for those who may have forgotten a word or two (or don’t know it at all), here it is (and yes, the melody across is correct – it shows almost all the first line except the ‘st’ note!):
For we are the gang of the 51st
The gang of the Trinity
For we are the gang of the 51st
The gang of the Trinity.
Oh take me back to the old camp fire
That’s where I long to be
I’ll boil my billy on the old camp fire
With the gang of the Trinity.
T R I N I T Y (Shouted)
- Did you know that in the original version of the Troop Song the pattern of TRINITY was equally spaced, so that it was T R I N I T Y? Alex Harvie, during his time as Group Scout Leader, modernised the song and changed the pattern of Trinity to what it is above, and that’s continued to this day.
- Another fact about our song is that the tune is Sarie Marais which is a traditional South African Folksong. Why did we choose it for Trinity? We have no idea at all, so if anyone knows, please do tell us.
- Did you also know that up until November 2022, as far as we’re aware, there was only one occasion when new words were formally written and the song extended? There’s an explanation below.
- However … not to be outdone, additional words were written for our Centenary. Well, why not? Here’s the Centenary version:
For we are the gang of the 51st
The gang of the Trinity
For we are the gang of the 51st
The gang of the Trinity.
Oh take me back to the old camp fire
That’s where I long to be
I’ll boil my billy on the old camp fire
With the gang of the Trinity.
For we are the gang of the 51st
The gang of the Trinity
For we are the gang of the 51st
And we’ve had our Centenary
Friendships renewed, history viewed
Fun we all agree,
Mem’ries and adventures in our 100th year
With the gang of the Trinity
For we are the gang of the 51st
The gang of the Trinity
For we are the gang of the 51st
And united will always be
A hundred years have now gone by
And time to end this song
But not before we raise more cheers
For the gang of the Trinity
T R I N I T Y (Shouted)
Sharp eyed readers will notice that the Centenary version of the song includes some of the words on our Centenary badge.
As noted earlier in this topic, the Leaders of the 51st added new words to mark the retiral of Gilbert Drummond, Minister of Trinity Church from 1967 to 1988. The new words had their public performance at Mr. Drummond’s retiral social.
The new words are below. For those who know the tune, when you get to ‘opportunity’ in the last verse you’ll need a little bit of licence to get it to fit, but it does work.
Here’s the Troop song, revamped for Mr. Drummond:
For we are the gang of the 51st
The gang of the Trinity
For we are the gang of the 51st
The gang of the Trinity.
Oh take me back to the old camp fire
That’s where I long to be
I’ll boil my billy on the old camp fire
With the gang of the Trinity.
The Rev Drummond, he has been summoned
to a cottage by the sea
For twenty one years he’s been moved to tears
by the song of the Trinity.
He’s trudged through the mud to get to our camps
He’s even lost his way
Was it worth all the hassle for a cup of tea
With the gang of the Trinity?
“Of course it was” he was heard to say
“That was my lucky day”
We hope he has many pleasant memories
To take with him on his way.
The Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venture Scouts
Would like to take this opportunity
To say good luck, we wish you well
From the gang of the Trinity.
T R I N I T Y (Shouted)
We’re thinking not many Scout Troops add to their Troop song to bid farewell to their Minister, but we’re delighted we did. Mr. Drummond told us that he was touched by the gesture and that he was sure he was in an elite Group of Ministers who had songs written especially for them!