Early Days of Scouting
1907 | Experimental Camp on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour from 29th July to 9th August. Scouting, conceived in Mafeking, is born. |
1908 | Scouting for Boys published. First issue of The Scout, a weekly publication for boys. First Scout camp led by Baden -Powell at Humshaugh in Northumberland. 1st Torquay Scout Group (later 1st Torbay) founded by Scout Leader The Rev. Steinmetz 3rd Torquay Scout Group (later 3rd Torbay) founded by Mr Frost & Mr Channon |
1909 | Scout Headquarters opened at 116 Victoria Street, London. Towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham form to be one Scout Association Training Ship Mercury at Buckler’s Hard used as the base for Baden-Powell’s Camp attended by 100 Scouts. 11,000 Scouts, including some Girl Scouts, attended the Crystal Palace Rally in London 6,000 girls had registered as Girl Scouts. Baden-Powell invested as a Knight Commander of the Victorian Order by King Edward VII. |
1910 | The Girl Guides Association inaugurated. First Annual Census of Scouting showed there were 100,298 Scouts and 7,688 Scouters in the UK. Baden-Powell resigned from the Army and was accompanied by Beaver and Wolf Patrols for his tour of Canada. Scouts from Torquay, Paignton and Brixham travel by train, to Exeter. The scouts marched from the station to Exeter Castle to be inspected by Chief Scout Baden-Powell Sea Scouts Branch formed. |
1911 | Scouts on duty at King George V Coronation. Royal Review at Windsor attended by 26,000 Scouts.B-P visited Preston and was filmed for the first time. |
1912 | The Boy Scout Association granted Royal Charter of Incorporation. First Scout Disaster – nine Scouts of 2ndWalworth were drowned off Leysdown. Baden-Powell married Olave St Clare Soames on 30th October at St Peter’s Church, Parkstone. |
1913 | Duke of Connaught appointed the first President of the Scout Association. Imperial Scout Exhibition at Birmingham attended by 18,000 Scouts. The Mirror, sailing ketch, hit by a steamer, 3 Scouts and a leader were drowned. |
1914 | First National Good Turn to help the Blind. Thousands of Scouts enrolled for War Service |
1915 | The first of four Scout Huts to help British Soldiers was opened. |
1916 | Jack Cornwell, a former Scout, posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery on board H.M.S. Chesterat the Battle of Jutland. Wolf Cub Handbook published for the new section for 8 – 11 year old boys. Roland House opened to help Scouting in East London. Wolf Cub Display held at the Caxton Hall in London. |
1917 | A scheme for Senior Scouts introduced. New Scout Headquarters opened at 25 Buckingham Palace Road, London. Ernest Carlos, artist of The Pathfinder and other Scout pictures, killed in action. |
1918 | Senior Scout Section renamed Rover Scouts. The War ends of the 100,000 former British Scouts in the Forces 10,000 were killed |
1919 | Baden-Powell and Olave moved into their new home, Pax Hill, in Bentley, Hampshire. Gillwell Park in Epping Forest purchased by William de Bois Maclaren. Baden-Powell led the first Training Course for Scoutmasters at Gillwell with Francis Gidney as the Camp Chief. John Frederick Wilkinson from Cheshire, a former 1st Blackpool Scout, was one of the 18 participants. |