DEATH OF LORD BADEN-POWELL

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23223, 9 January 1941, Page 7

DEATH OF LORD BADEN-POWELL

FOUNDER AND HEAD OF BOY SCOUTS LAST MESSAGE SENT TO LONDON (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (Received January 8, 11 p.m.) LONDON, January- 8. The death has occurred of Lord Baden-Powell, founder and head of the Scout Movement, at his home in Kenya. He was in his eighty-fourth year. Lord Baden-Powell had been in illhealth for some time. He spent part of his last days in preparing a Christmas card which was received at the Imperial headquarters of the Scout Movement in London. One of the illustrations on the card shows Herr Hitler who, said the Chief Scout, “has done more than any other man to consolidate our nation at home and overseas.” After commending the Scout Movement for its work, he ended; “Go io it and win the war.” When the news of Lord BadenPowell’s death was received at Imperial headquarters in London, it was decided that Scouts throughout the world should hold memorial services this Sunday or the following Sunday. The funeral will take place in Kenya.

Robert Stephenson Smyth BadenPowell, first Baron of Gilwell, was born in 1857, a son of the Rev. Professor Baden-Powell, of Oxford. He was educated at Charterhouse. In 1876 he joined the 13th Hussars, with which he served in India, Afghanistan, and in South Africa where he became colonel of irregular light horse. In 1897 he was promoted to the .command of the sth Dragoon Guards. When the South African War broke out, he was in Mafeking, which was invested by the Boers from October, 1899, till May 17, 1900, when it was relieved. During the siege BadenPowell showed a bold front, and by unconventional methods and ingenious ruses held off the assault. He was promoted major-general, and organised the South African Constabulary. From 1903 to 1907 he was Inspector-General of Cavalry, and in 1908 was made lieutenant-general. Two years later he left the Army to devote himself to the Boy Scout movement. It was in 1893-94, while serving with the 13th Hussars, that he realised that the peace training of soldiers was net Sufficiently practical, and started classes in scouting and camping. He also published a book, “Aids to Scouting,” in which he set out his methods. The boy scout idea was first put into practice at Mafeking where his chief staff officer. Major Lord Edward Cecil, organised the boys of the town, into a corps for general utility on scouting lines; and the experiment proved a great success. It showed that, if their training was made to appeal to them, boys would learn readily, and that they werfe capable of taking responsibility. In 1907 Baden-Powell held a trial camp for scout training for boys at Brownsea Island. Its results exceeded all expectations, and prompted him to go on. In January, 1903, he issued “Scouting for Boys,” in Six fortnightly parts, and before the series was half finished a number of troops had been

'started in the United Kingdom. Although he had thought that scouting would merely be taken up as an additional attraction by the Boys’ Brigade and the Church Lads’ Brigade, he found that a separate movement was necessary to deal with the number of boys unconnected with these who were taking it up. By 1910 it had reached such proportions that he felt he must be free to lead it as “Chief Scout.” A Royal charter was granted to the organisation in 1912, In that year he married Olave Soamers, who had organised the girl guides on similar lines to the scouts. They had a son and two daughters. , Scouts’ War Service

On the outbreak of the Great War thousands of scouts just starting for their camps were diverted by telegrams to other work. Land scouts were set to protect railway bridges, waterworks and telegraph lines, while sea scouts took over the watching of the epast from the coastguards who had beep called up. About 23,000 lads were employed in this way, and also as messengers in Government departments, while more than 100,000 older scouts served in .the army. At Olympia, London, in 1920, a vast gathering or “jamboree” of boy scouts from 27 countries took place, for the movement had spread all over the world. The “scout law” was based on the knightly code of chivalry. The watchword is “Be Prepared” and one of the rules is that each boy should do some good deed every day. BadenPowell held up the example of backwoodsmen and explorers. Camp life, boat work, pioneering, and nature study are not only fasclnatirig, but a medium of instruction, and for proficiency in various practical pursuits badges are awarded. Baden-Powell aimed at filling the gap left by ordinary schooling in developing character and general intelligence, skill at handicrafts, physical training, and health knowledge, as well as service for others and for the State.

In 1909 Baden-Powell was knighted and in 1921 he received a baronetcy. He also received many other distinctions, British and foreign. With his wife he made, several tours of Africa, finding scouts even in the most remote spots and among the natives. In 1929 the coming-of-age of the movement was celebrated by a great jamboree near Birkenhead, in which more than 30,000 of the 2,000,000 scouts took part. Jn that year the Chief Scout’s work was recognised by his elevation to the peerage as* Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell, after Gilwell Park, Essex, which had been presented to the movement as a training camp for scoutmasters. The scouts of the world presented him with a Rolls-Royce Car and a caravan trailer, a cheque for £2?50 ahd his {tortrait in oils.

In 1934, at the age of 77, he began with his wife another of his many touts abroad to review his scouts—a nine months’ journey, during which he visited Ceylon. Malaya, New Zealand, Australia. Canada, and the United States. At the World Jamboree in Holland. in August, 1937, the Chief Scout, speaking with much emotion, said: “I am certain meat of you will pat meet,

me again. lamin my eighty-first year and at the end of my life.” He urged all the boys to work for goodwill, international understanding, and peace. Lord Baden-Powell wrote 21 books, among whieh is “My Adventures as a Spy," relating This aS ah intelligence officer IS Bis early day*In this role his gift for sKetchtii| proved very useful, wing through Europe as a “naturalist,” he brought back many “nature studies” disguising plans of fortifications as butterflies and such objects. He drew portraits very cleverly and at official functions his pendl waS never idle. His pictures were exhibited, at the Burlington Gallenefe And i piece df bis sculpture et the Academy. -