One of the few relic's of B-P's schooldays is this Birch.
A label attached to it, written by B-P reads:- "Birch used for training boys in character when I was at Charterhouse."
B-P gained a scholarship and started at Charterhouse, then still in London, in 1870. The school moved to Godalming, Surrey, in 1872.
B-P was not an outstanding scholar or a brilliant athlete although he took part in games. Football was his favourite and the school magazine often praised his goalkeeping. He took part in most of the School's many Clubs and Societies and was on the Committees of the Boat Club, the Museum, Sports Day and the Hockey Club.
He and a few friends even started a private society known as the Druids Club. Members had special names and B-P called himself "Lord Bathing Towell". One of the rules of the Club stated:"Any brother not producing a song or speech (within a minute after being called on) the latter in length not less than five minutes or one year, shall be fined a bottle of lemonade".
Another side of B-P's life at Charterhouse took place beyond the school playing fields known as "The Copse". Although this was out of bounds, B-P was often to be found there. In the woods he taught himself the elements of Scouting - snaring rabbits and cooking them over a bushman's fire, using an axe, tracking and loving silently through the bush, climbing trees, learning the ways of the birds and animals.
Many years afterwards he said it was the copse that he gained what helped him in after life to find the joy of living.
School holidays provided some exciting adventures, with his brothers on various boating expeditions and tramping holidays in different parts of the country.
By 1876 B-P, now 19, was in the 6th Form and Second Monitor of his House. He sat for the open examination for an Army Commission. Out of the 700 candidates he gained second place for cavalry and fourth for infantry.
On the 11th September, 1876, he was gazetted a Sub-Lieutenant in the 13th Hussars and sailed for India.

Source "The Scout", Date unknown.

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