From what we know the Company was enrolled on March 23rd 1926. It’s Church was Arlington Street Wesleyan Methodist. The founder Captain was Mr. Roy Dennis. Other Officers Ernest Dunning, Alec Gordon, Herbert Stather ( band master ), George Penistone who was the leader of The Life Boys, Rev. R. W. Hall who was Chaplain and Mr. F, Warren.
Great work was done by all these Officers and the Company grew from strength to strength. Meeting night for the Company was on Mondays. As the years went on new Officers joined the Company. On the 16th October 1928 tragically Mr. Roy Denniss aged 22, passed away. Mr. Eric Stather took over has Captain.
Story of the founder of 5th Grimsby Boys Brigade Company.
The Newly formed Battalion has suffered a great loss by the death of Roy Denniss, Captain of the 5th Grimsby Company, Arlington Street Church, on the 16th October 1928, at the age of twenty-two. His introduction to the B.B, was the result of the Brigade Secretary’s visit and address to Sunday School teachers in January, 1926. What Mr. Smith then said made a strong appeal to the young man of twenty, and within a month he had started a Company, with 60 Boys, and a year later a Life Boy Team. The 5th has been a strong, efficient, and well-officered Company, and a credit to the Battalion. In Battalion affairs Denniss was most energetic and capable, and he did excellent work on the Demonstration Committee. In the B.B he had found his true vocation, and the Battalion mourns the loss of an Officer of remarkable promise.
The evening before he died was spent with his Life Boy Leaders in discussing what they had learnt from Miss Webb’s recent visit, and in making plans for the Team’s future.
Nearing the end.
During the 1930’s Officers left for other things and new Officers were enrolled, namely Mr. G. Enderby, F. Wivell, R.J.Skinner, E.Bradford and H. Stamp. Also a new Chaplain was enrolled this was Rev. Wesley F. Swift.
In 1936 Mr. Herbert Lamle was enrolled as an Officer.
During the next year a good number of Officers left the Company leaving only a few staff , namely, Mr. E. Stather ( Captain ) , a new enrolment of a Chaplain Rev. H.G.Collinson, Mr. Stather, Mr. A.R. Gordon, Mr C.H. Lamle, and Mr. G. Clark.
During 1939 war broke out and many Officers were called up to serve their country. A lot of Companies suffered for this, but they seemed to cope. 5th Grimsby and 9th Grimsby tried to join forces but folded after a short period. Mr. E. Stather went to 2nd Grimsby Wellington Street and held on there until someone came back from war. After the war 5th Grimsby was reformed by Mr. B.G.Wells as Captain. Mr. C.H.Lamle and Rev. H. Tillotson the new Chaplain. In 1947 a new Officer joined the Company Mr. W. Cook. Mr. Wells stayed as Captain until 1951 when Mr. W. Cook took over as Captain. 1953 was a great upset for 5th’s, the church was no longer available and the Company had to seek new premises. On June 9th 1953 5th Grimsby Company amalgamated with the 9th Grimsby Company at Ebernezer Methodist Church Cleethorpes Road ( the site of the old Asda’s ). The 5th Grimsby and 9th Grimsby Company Church was renamed New Clee Methodist and was called 9th Grimsby under the leadership of new Captain Mr Walter Cook. In 1953 Mr. H. Lamle was asked to serve as Company Captain at Scartho Methodist Church— by coincidence this Company was the 5th Grimsby, re-enrolled December of this year.
In the 20’s they had Company camp, the first camp that I could find out about was 1929, to my surprise I found that this camp was the first camp for Mr. Herbert Lamle, who played a great part in the life of our Battalion later on.
The 5th’s went to Binbrook, and each boy paid a camp fee of £1.00 for the week ( A fully trained Police Officer at that time was getting £3.12s.00p, in new money that is about £3.60p ), so £1.00 was quite a lot of money.
Also I was told that a good many people were unemployed so they didn’t go to camp every year, but this year there was between 50-60 strong.
As other Companies the Captain and his Officers had to give up a weeks pay to go to camp as there were no holidays with pay then.
