Posts by Paul Munds

The Wainscott White Buffalo Gang of 1955
The Wainscott White Buffalo Gang was formed after we watched a life-changing episode (for young boys) of Rin Tin Tin in our back parlour on our tiny black and white TV. The gang was originally called ‘The Red Hand Gang’ and we haunted the back alleyways around the Wainscott Walk. We had a nemesis gang called ‘The ‘Erberts’ that was made up of a combination of Herbert boys, Grants, Smiths and Disneys. As a gang we would meet in my dad’s shed at the bottom of our garden at 30 Wainscott Road where candles would be lit, oaths of undying allegiance taken and our own version of poker played for monopoly money. One fateful Wednesday in a school holiday we were all watching an episode of Rin Tin Tin (Shandy’s favourite TV show) and this episode entitled ‘The White Buffalo’ made such an impression on us that our gang immediately changed its name to ‘The White Buffalo Gang’. You would really need to watch it to understand exactly what happened to us (it’s still obtainable on the internet I believe (dailymotion.com/video/x48309a) – and various forums confirm that many other boys from here and across the ocean in the USA at that time were similarly spiritually affected). Basically, bad white buffalo hunters were killing these animals willy-nilly (Buffalo Bill please take note!). The Indians who depended on the buffalo for meat, clothing etc. tried to stop them. The US cavalry stepped in to mediate between the two sides. Rusty and Rin Tin Tin were told the legend of the white buffalo by the indian chief (the white buffalo would appear only once in a brave’s lifetime to avert imminent danger and disaster – but only if that warrior’s heart was brave and true). The bad white hunters asked the US cavalry captain just who’s side he was on – theirs or the dastardly red-skins? The captain said that he was on the side that was right. The baddie tries to escape and stampedes a whole herd of buffalo. The buffalo trample him. Rusty runs but the herd is still stampeding – oooer missus! The white buffalo appears on the hilltop (cue heroic music) and stops the stampeding herd –. Rusty tells his story and get made an honorary member of the tribe. Well I can tell you that we were well and truly moved by that story and the White Buffalo Gang was immediately formed (you could only become a member if your heart was brave and true). Membership cards were carefully crafted. Mysterious white buffaloes were chalked on Wainscott Walk walls and on paved footpaths. One even mysteriously appeared on Mrs. Herbert’s front door!
Our hearts were brave and true.
Happy days, huh!