Hero Bailiwick Scout receives national award
A GUERNSEY Scout leader, who said that Scouting had remained his one constant during treatment for a brain tumour, is the first Bailiwick Scout to receive a national award for heroism.
Jonathan Charmley collected the Cornwell Scout Badge from Bailiwick Commissioner Andy Snell at a ceremony at Rue Maingy.
He is due to attend the Scouts’ National Day of Celebration & Recognition at Windsor Castle on 23 April, where he has been invited to meet Chief Scout Bear Grylls and other senior Scouts at a special reception.
‘I was at university in Reading when my phone rang and I thought “Why am I getting a call from Guernsey?”,’ said the archaeology student.
‘When I found out about the award, I felt incredibly humbled that people wanted to present it to me. After all, we don’t do it for recognition – we do it for the love of Scouting.’
Jonathan joined Cubs in 2010 when he first arrived in Guernsey at the age of eight, partly as a way to meet other children in an unfamiliar community.
He is now a fully qualified Scout leader, who relishes the opportunity to teach young people skills such as fire lighting, pioneering and camping.
It was during the first Covid lockdown in 2021 that Mr Charmley noticed a deterioration in the peripheral vision in his left eye.
He visited Specsavers and they referred him to the Medical Specialist Group.
‘I had scans on 11 April and then I had to have two operations in the UK,’ he said.
‘Unfortunately, during the second one, they bruised the ‘third [oculomotor] nerve’ which controls 90% of eye muscle movement, which means I’ve effectively lost sight in my right eye because the lid is shut.’
The damage is not necessarily permanent, he explained, but the process of rehabilitation is slowed by the fact that his radiotherapy treatment ‘went through the same spot’.
‘It’s a slow road but a road’s a road, as long as it gets you home,’ he said.
Mr Snell described Mr Charmley as a phenomenal young man and said he was truly deserving of the award.
It is given to those under 25 years who have demonstrated great heroism or pre-eminently high character and devotion to duty coupled with great courage and endurance.
‘His diagnosis has had a permanent impact on him and the way he’s dealt with it has been inspirational,’ Mr Snell said.
‘He exhibits all of the attributes and all of the never-give-up attitude of a Scout. We’re thrilled to have him continuing as a volunteer and we look forward to his doing so for many years to come. He won’t let his disability get in the way – I’ve no doubt he’ll do something special with his life.’
As well as his affiliation to the Bailiwick’s 4th Air Scouts, Mr Charmley has become Reading’s Youth Commissioner after joining the 73rd Reading (Park) Scout Group, while reading archaeology at Reading University, where he still studies.
He will have returned to university by the time of the national celebration event at nearby Windsor Castle, where he will be joined by his proud parents, the Revs Mark and Tracy Charmley.
Mr Charmley said he was grateful to all those who had helped him in his recovery thus far.
‘I want to say massive thanks to the Scouting movement and to the Guernsey Blind Association and Headway Guernsey,’ he said.
About the badge
The Cornwell Scout Badge was created by the Scout Association to commemorate the heroism of John ‘Jack’ Travers Cornwell, a Scout from London, who, at the age of 16, served as a gun sighter on board the Royal
Navy’s HMS Chester during the battle of Jutland in the First World War.
Despite being gravely wounded, he stood by his post, but died three days later.
He became a national hero and was posthumously awarded both the Victoria Cross and the Bronze Cross, Scouting’s highest gallantry award.
The Cornwell Scout Badge was created by the Scout Association to commemorate the heroism of John ‘Jack’ Travers Cornwell, a Scout from London who at the age of 16 served as a gun sighter on board the Royal Navy’s HMS Chester during the battle of Jutland in the First World War.
Despite being gravely wounded, he stood by his post but died three days later.
He became a national hero and was posthumously awarded both the Victoria Cross and the Bronze Cross, Scouting’s highest gallantry award.
