Blasts from the Past: The Scarf Shield

On 9th December 1941, a host of aircraft were preparing to take off from RAF Butterworth, in what was then northern Malaya. This formation sortie was charged with attacking the Japanese advance base at Singora, Thailand. Out of nowhere, the enemy made a combined dive-bombing and low-level machine-gun attack on RAF Butterworth, taking out all the aircraft except one, which was already airborne. The pilot of this plane could have abandoned the operation, how much damage could they inflict after all. But, for the morale of the rest of the squadron, he continued with the mission and completed the attack successfully. It was not without significant cost to himself, however. When enemy fighters began to attack their aircraft, he was badly wounded: his left arm was shattered and he suffered several injuries to his chest and back. In spite of his, he flew brilliantly, manoeuvring almost through trees, and managed to make a forced landing, very close to base, ensuring the survival of the rest of the crew. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, the pilot, aged only 28, died in the operating room. He was Arthur Stewart King Scarf, a pupil at King's from 1922 until 1930.

It was not until 1946, when the full details of Scarf’s heroism became known, that he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. It was announced by the Air Ministry on 21st June 1946, and Sally Scarf was presented with her late husband’s medal at an investiture at Buckingham Palace (for a time, the medal was on display at the school). The account of his bravery which was published in the Times on 2nd July 1946 was reproduced in the school magazine, and the Head Master, Hubert Dixon, read it out to the whole school.

The following year, a portrait of Scarf, commissioned by the Old King’s Club and painted by Edward Mossforth Neatby (OK 1903), was unveiled at the school. Air Vice-Marshal Combe (OK 1920) gave an address in which his praise of Scarf was unstinting: ‘The most striking thing about Scarf’s feat is its cool, calculated bravery. Scarf sized up the situation and decided that for the good of the Squadron and the Service his sortie was necessary. Having decided that, he had a measure of time to think on his way to the target. Many of us might have had the temptation to turn back. Scarf resisted that temptation.’ Air Vice-Marshal Combe concluded by saying that he hoped the portrait would ‘inspire boys, both present and future, in their work and sports in after life, to do their utmost in whatever position they may be placed.’ That year, the Scarf Shield, given to the best all-round sportsperson at the school, was presented for the first time. It was a fitting tribute: not especially academic, at King’s Scarf had been an enthusiastic sportsman, a keen rugby player and an exceptional rower. The award also recognised the spirit to which Air Vice-Marshal Combe alluded: the commitment to always doing one’s best.

The Scarf Shield continues to be awarded in Scarf’s memory to this day. On occasion, it has been won by the same person two years in a row. Between 1953 and 1955 Patrick Kelly went one better and secured it three times but he was captain of cricket, rugby and hockey, and a member of the squash, tennis, athletics and golf teams!

Very recently, one of the smaller copies of the shield, which winners could keep, was generously given back to the school by the family of an early recipient: John Arthur Hugh Curry (OK 1957). ‘My Father received many awards and honours during his lifetime,’ his daughter explained ‘but it was the Scarf Shield that always held pride of place by his desk.’ Curry, possibly best known for his chairmanship of the All England Lawn Tennis Club from 1989 to 1999, excelled at sport whilst at King’s. He played in the first XV rugby and XI cricket teams and was captain of hockey. Not surprisingly, he was also captain of the tennis VI. He won the Lawn Tennis Under 16 Singles Championship whilst at school, the Public Schools Singles Tennis Championship, and reached the semi-finals in both the doubles events and the quarter-finals of the singles at Junior Wimbledon. On leaving King’s he went to St Edmund Hall, Oxford, where he was awarded both a rugby and tennis blue.

The significance of the Scarf Shield to John Curry is perhaps not surprising, however. To win it was to be recognised not only as an exceptional player but one with a commendable spirit. And, for that post-war generation, Scarf’s sacrifice would have been even more meaningful than it is today: too many young men like him had not returned from the war, the losses must have felt personal. Even at the distance of 80 years, I still feel emotional reading the words of Scarf’s friend and fellow RAF pilot, written in the aftermath of Scarf’s death: ‘His walk was springy and light, and I can still see him now, walking along our mud roads, his face beaded with sweat, or climbing into L.1134 with his fitter and operators. He would not, I know, wish me to paint him a hero; he would, I think, prefer me to say that we all liked him, and wished we had even more like him. One may be certain that even to-day, whatever work he is doing in his New Life, will be undertaken in the same carefree and humorously kind spirit that accompanied him throughout his stay with us, his comrades.’ A true role model indeed.

The Scarf Shield which belonged to John Curry will be hung next to the portrait of Scarf. At last, the prize and the person who inspired it will be reunited.

As ever, please do email if you have stories to share or questions about the school archive: I can be contacted at archive@kcs.org.uk. 

Dr Lucy Inglis | School Archivist