As the bombs fell on Croydon during the Second World War scouts played an essential part in the efforts to keep people safe and treat the wounded.

This role was largely hidden from history until a chance meeting made the Croydon University Hospital chaplain determined to bring it to light.

Last year Reverend Hilary Fife spoke to a patient, Denis Perry, who shared some of his stories about being a Mayday Scout during the war.

Mr Perry, who has since died, said it was sad the efforts of the scouts were not known to the wider audience.

Months of hard work and research culminated in a ceremony at the hospital last week where his widow Angela unveiled a plaque to the scouts.

Frank Tasker joined the 9th Croydon troop in 1943 and in shifts helped carry stretchers from ambulances, spot falling bombs and get sick children to shelters during the air raids.

Your Local Guardian:
The efforts of Croydon's scouts in the Second World War have been recognised. Picture courtesy of The Mary Evans Collection / The Scout Association

Mr Tasker, 87, said: "One bomb dropped on the hospital but it did not go off and I brought it home. I still have the fins from the bomb."

One night the apprentice electrical engineer had to help with an amputation as there were no nurses available, after he had carried a woman in to the hospital on a stretcher.

He said: "One of the doctors said this lady has come in and I have to take half her arm off.

"Would you be able to help hold her arm while I cut the bone?

"It didn’t bother me."

Mr Tasker was represented at the ceremony in the hospital’s chapel by his daughter and son-in-law as he was too ill to go.

He said: "I was flabbergasted when I was told what they intended to do and I thought it was very nice.

"It’s nice to think that people thought it was worthwhile remembering."

Your Local Guardian:
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust chairman John Goulston with Chaplain Hilary Fife, Croydon mayor Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed and the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessum, at the plaque unveiling

John Ashe, 88, went to the unveiling of the plaque on April 29 to remember the contribution he and the other scouts made.

Instead of being part of the hospital scouts he was kept busy building Morrison air raid shelters as a member of the 23rd Croydon (1st South Norwood) troop.

He said: "I would get home from school and there would be a note through the door saying meet at such and such at 6pm.

"We would get round there and there would be a great pile of metal like a giant Meccano set and we would put it all together.

"I’m one of the few still standing.

"It was brilliant that Hilary Fife and the scout chaplain Andrew Dovey put together a really good evening.

"It was a service celebrating the courage and commitment of boy scouts in the Second World War."

An exhibition of the old photos will be in the Croydon University Hospital chapel from 9am to 7pm each day until May 15.