LOOKING BACK
Guiding has a wonderful history.
Every year, on the 22nd of February, we celebrate Thinking Day.
This is because both Lord Baden-Powell and Lady Olave shared a birthday on the 22nd of February, although their birthdays were 32 years apart
THE STORY OF HOW GUIDING STARTED
Childhood years of Robert Baden-Powell
He was born on 22 February 1857. He was the fifth son in a family of six. His father died when he was 3 years old. Their mother brought up the children single-handedly. She was a wise and understanding lady. She gave her sons a great deal of freedom. They spent most of their spare time out of doors, hiking, camping, and sailing. Through sailing, Baden-Powell learned the value of working as a team. The boys owned a small boat, and they often spent their holidays sailing up rivers and exploring the countryside. In this way, they learned to look after themselves.
He went to school at Charterhouse in England. Although he never excelled as a scholar, he was a keen sportsman and enjoyed acting. He also had a flair for drawing, a gift inherited from his mother, who was an artist. When he had the time, he would wander into the woods which adjoined the school grounds. During these quiet hours, he learned to love and understand nature. Through this awareness, he developed qualities of patience and observation which stood him in good stead all his life.
When Bade-Powell left school, he wrote an entrance examination for the Army. He passed so well that he was given a commission to enter into active service as an officer. By then he was only 19 years old. He chose to be sent to India where the pay was higher and he was able to save enough money to send it home to help his mother.
India
He enjoyed army life and was very popular with his fellow officers. He used to organize concerts for entertainment to lighten up the dull evenings. He loved animals and had a gift in training them. He would buy horses cheaply, train them and then sell them. He would send the profit home to his mother.
He was often sent out to spy on the activities of the enemy. His early training, keen eyesight and resourcefulness, as well as the skills of observation which he had developed at school, enabled him to make useful observations which guided the army chiefs in planning attacks.
While he was in India, he admired the activities of a splendid reconnaissance regiment called the ‘Corps de Guides’ after which he named the Girl Guide Movement.
On one occasion, when he was sent on a ‘finding out’ expedition to try to discover the enemy’s plans, he dressed up as a blind beggar, and in his disguise, he was able to find out everything he needed to know.
Southern Africa
In 1896, Robert Baden-Powell was drafted to South Africa where he came into contact with the Zulu and Swazi tribes. He was most interested in one aspect of their “coming of age” ceremonies. Boys of 15 were stripped and their bodies were painted white. They were then sent into the bush to fend for themselves until the paint wore off. Only the fit and resourceful boys survived. Of this custom Baden-Powell said in later years “Boys should be trained to manliness, they must know how to endure and not whine at hardships”.
He was also sent to Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) to settle trouble there. During this expedition he was given the name “Impeesa” which means “The Wolf that never sleeps”. He acquired the nickname because of his observation and watchfulness.
His alertness helped him one day when fighting against the Matabele. He was his guide, a man with a heritage from Africa, dropping seedpods on the path as they went along. He suspected that he was being led into a trap and decided to slip away and watch to see what would happen. Soon enough a party came along the path to catch him. This is one of the many examples of how his alertness saved his life.
Siege of Mafeking
During the Anglo-Boer war, Baden-Powell and his regiment were stationed at Mafeking (now Mafikeng). The Boers surrounded Mafeking thus preventing supplies coming in. By stopping the supply of food, they hoped to starve the garrison so that they would surrender. Baden-Powell always remained cheerful even though the situation was extremely serious. He made sure that everyone in the town helped in one way or another.
He decided that even young boys could assist if given the opportunity so he assembled them and divided them into small groups and gave them responsible duties such as keeping watch and acting as messengers. The boys were kept out of the danger zone and were kept busy. This arrangement was a great success.
Baden-Powell thought up many clever ideas to confuse the enemy and keep them at bay. One project involved making a searchlight and mounting it in a large tin. The lamp was fastened to a long pole, and at night, it was placed in a certain spot. It was lit and left there for a while. Then it was put out and rushed to another place.
This procedure continued throughout every night and the Boers, fearing that the defender of Mafeking had a large number of searchlights around the town, were unwilling to risk an attack in the dark.
Baden-Powell was resourceful and cheerful and this made the people in the town cheerful too, thinking that there was nothing to worry about if the Chief always looked happy and went about whistling a merry tune. Every morning he would go around the outskirts of the town greeting everyone with a cheerful smile, whatever he might be feeling. But one day he met an old friend and greeted him without a smile.The old man was worried and asked him why he was not happy. Baden-Powell replied: “Every day I have full hope, but today for some reason I do not know, I cannot see ahead in the future”.
The old man took from around his neck a leather thong and put it into Baden-Powell’s hands and said: “Sir, when I was born my mother tied this thong around my neck to keep off the evil spirits and to bring me good fortune. Now I am old I do not need it anymore. You are young, take it so that fortune may come to you and I may see you smile and hear you whistle again each morning.” That leather thong is still used by the Scout Association today.
That day Baden-Powell received a message to say that a relieving force hoped to reach the town within four days.
Finally, the siege was broken, and, as a reward for his outstanding services, Baden-Powell was promoted to the rank of Major General. When the war was over, he was asked to train a force of young men in the South African Constabulary to keep law and order in the newly acquired parts of South Africa. This group adopted the motto “Be prepared” as a tribute to their Trainer’s preparedness.
Scouting
Baden-Powell had already written a book called “Aids to Scouting” for his Scouts based on his experience while still in the army. There was an interest in this book from the boys. He realized that the boys enjoyed activities where they were brought together in small groups. So he re-wrote his army book and before having it published, he decided to try out the suggestions in it by holding a camp for them.
Brownsea Island
He selected 23 boys from all walks of life, rich and poor alike, and took them to a camp on Brownsea Island on the south coast of England. This was the first Scout camp ever to be held. The boys worked and played together harmoniously and the success of this camp proved to Baden-Powell that his idea of a movement for boys could succeed.
Scouting for Boys
And so he started a Movement called “Scouting”. He renamed his book “Scouting for Boys” which was published in 1908 chapter by chapter in a magazine which appeared fortnightly.
Troops sprang up all over England, and numerous boys queued up at chemist shops, where the installments were sold to buy each new chapter. Then groups hurried off to read and carry out the interesting and stimulating suggestions made in the magazine.
But boys were not the only ones to read, enjoy and carry out the challenges suggested in “Scouting for Boys”. Their strictly reared sisters also obtained copies and did their best to put the ideals of Scouting into practice. What fun and what adventures they had! But they had to carry out their activities as unobtrusively as possible because, for girls at the time (1909), it was not considered “ladylike” to do tomboy things!
WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
Crystal Palace
Baden-Powell held his first rally at Crystal Palace in London in 1909 to see how his new Movement was progressing. Among the 11 000 boys that were there, was a group of girls that were dressed in khaki and looking nearly like boys. They were not allowed to look like this in Edwardian days! When they were asked who they were, their leader came forward and saluted Baden-Powell and said that they were the Wolf Patrol of the Girl Scouts and that they wanted to do Scouting like the boys!
Seeing this, Baden-Powell asked his sister, Agnes, to help them organize themselves in a Movement of their own. He gave them the name “Girl Guides” after the famous Corps de Guides regiment in India.
Expansion
At the first World Scout Rally which was held in London in 1922, Baden-Powell was proclaimed Chief Scout of the World. The movement numbered one million. Seven years later, King GeorgeV conferred on him the life title of “Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell”.
Scouting and Guiding quickly became international movements and Baden-Powell, who was astounded at the success of his venture, resigned from the army in order to give his full attention to his ever expanding movement.
Baden-Powell was the author of many books, a maker of maps, a gifted artist, an inspired actor and a dedicated lover of nature. His insatiable curiosity to venture out and discover gave him a deep understanding of all that is worthwhile in the human character. He had a great love of children, and he inspired their regard and admiration in return. He had a tremendous faith in God the Creator, and he attributed all goodness to Him.
The Scout movement was founded in the days when there was not much for a child to do – at a time when children were to be seen and not heard. Thus B-P aimed to give them something to occupy their spare time, and to bring them together as friends. He wanted to teach them to be self-sufficient, to help others and to appreciate and care for nature.
He also wanted them to have fun – to camp, hike, make their own decisions, and to grow into caring and concerned adults who would be loyal to their homes and families, their country and their God.
B-P had worked himself to capacity and beyond, for many years, but by 1938 his health was failing, and he could no longer lead the strenuous life to which he was accustomed. So he and his wife left England and they retired to their country home in Kenya where they had spent many happy holidays. Their home, near Nyeri, Kenya was called PAXTU. There they lived, quietly and peacefully, for three years until B-P died on 8 January 1941 at the age of 82. He was buried near their home at Nyeri.
He gave the world the Boy Scout and Girl Guide Movements and those early traditions continue to be as valid today as they were in 1910.
Olave St Clair Soames
Olave St Claire Soames was born in Chesterfield, England in 1889. She lived a sheltered childhood. She was tutored at home instead of going to school. She loved animals, especially horses and dogs, and enjoyed being out of doors.
She learned to play the violin and her instrument, named Diana, is now at the Guide Headquarters in London where selected Guides can have the privilege of learning to play on it. As Olave grew older, although basically a lady of leisure, she busied herself in the neighbourhood with helping charities especially those for the local people. Tennis was the sport she liked best, but she longed for more adventure away from the rather sheltered life she was leading.
When Olave was 19 her father decided that a sea voyage would be good for her and he booked a passage on the “Arcadian”. Olave wrote home, “there is only one interesting person in this ship, and that is General Baden-Powell, the Scout man”. Before they reached Jamaica they were engaged, and were married on 30 October 1912. The honeymoon was delayed until January 1913 when they went camping in Algeria.
Thinking Day
Both the Baden-Powell’s shared February 22nd as the date of their birthdays and because of this coincidence the Guide World Conference of 1932 finally accepted the idea of calling 22 February, Thinking Day. On this day, ceremonies, good turns and fundraising events are held throughout the world. The money raised is used to promote Guiding wherever the need is greatest.
Lady Baden-Powell’s life in the Movements
Soon after her marriage to Baden-Powell, Lady B-P became involved in helping the Scout Movement especially the Cubs as she was felt to be too young to help with the guides. In fact it was not until 1917 that she was actually enrolled as a GIRL GUIDE. For many years her first love was the Scout Movement, but as she became more and more involved with the girls and their leaders her love of people enabled her to encompass both Associations with her goodwill and concern. In 1918 she was appointed UK Chief Guide. In 1919 she formed the International Council which later developed to become the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scout. She preferred speaking to writing, and listening to reading. Her involvement with people was paramount in her life.
The Baden-Powell’s were blessed with three children: Peter, Heather and Betty. After the end of the Great War, they decided to buy a home in the south of England and settled on a place called Blackacre. They decided to rename the home and called it Pax Hill in honour of the armistice and of the Scout and Guide ideal of peace through friendship. They spent 20 years in Pax Hill, although many months at a time were spent travelling, usually during school terms in the British winter.
After their retirement to Kenya, Lady B-P devoted herself to her ailing husband, driving him around to special fishing spots, game viewing places and other wildlife vistas that he loved so much. After his death in 1941, Olave stayed on for a year or so working in Kenya with the Women’s League, but in September 1942 she bravely returned to a war-torn England. She helped with wartime Guiding, toured, encouraged and lifted spirits, especially those of the Guides helping in the Guide International Service.
After the war was over, and because air travel made things quicker, the Chief Guide increased her touring to an incredible extent. She literally toured the world several times and visited Guides in many countries. The first visit of the Chiefs to South African Guiding was in 1926 and in subsequent years one or both of them returned a further six times. Her correspondence was enormous because wherever she went she sent notes of thanks, messages of goodwill and letters full of concern and love. Lord and Lady B-P sent over 2 000 Christmas cards each year which were designed by B-P himself.
Olave Baden-Powell dedicated herself to the Guide Movement until 1970 when she was forced to stop travelling due to her ill health. She died on 25 June 1977 and her ashes were buried next to those of her husband in Kenya.
Guiding in South Africa
Guiding started officially in England in 1910 as a result of the Crystal Palace Rally. The news aroused immediate interest in South Africa and Miss Dorothy Rogers opened the Hospital Hill troop in Johannesburg , in 1910. Guiding soon spread to other towns and Pretoria, Germiston, Benoni and King Williamstown also had companies open in 1910.
In 1911 Guiding soon spread to other towns – Middelburg, Newcastle, Pietermaritzburg, Durban, Cape Town and towns in the Orange Free State. In 1916 Lady Buxton, wife of the Governor General called an important meeting at Government House in Cape Town, for “all who might be interested in Guiding”. At this meeting the Honourable Doreen Buxton was appointed Organising Commissioner.
In 1917, Sir Robert Baden-Powell asked Lady Buxton to become the first President of Girl Guides in South Africa and to organize the units into an Association. Provincial Commissioners were appointed in the Cape (1916), Transvaal (1918), Natal and Orange Free State (1919). At a conference held in Johannesburg in 1920, a constitution was drawn up for the new organization, The Girl Guides of South Africa. Mrs Loveband Fulford (Transvaal Commissioner) was elected to succeed the Hon. Doreen Buxton as Organising Commissioner. The title “Organising Commissioner” was then changed to Chief Commissioner and Mrs. Loveband Fulford became S.A’s first Chief Commissioner. Guiding in South Africa was very closely linked with London and Imperial Headquarters. By 1932, Guiding had grown so much that it was decided to divide the Cape Province into two Guide regions – Cape West and Cape East.
In the early years, a separate Association , the Wayfarers had been started for black children but in 1936 the Wayfarer Association was linked to the Girl Guides Association and the girls were known as Wayfarer Guides. In 1945 the term “Wayfarer” was dropped and all girls became Guides without qualification.
In 1955, the first South African Commissioner’s Conference was held in Somerset West and in 1956 the South African Girl Guides Association became totally independent from London and a new constitution was drawn up and published.
With ever increasing numbers in the Cape, it was decided to split into a further Guide region in 1961, to be known as Northern Cape.
1970 was Diamond Jubilee Year. Guides all over the world celebrated sixty years of Guiding. The highlight in South Africa was the visit of Lady Baden-Powell who celebrated her 81st birthday in Cape Town on 22 February and was presented with a diamond from S.A On her return to London this diamond was sold and the money was donated to World Guiding.
In 1970, another new Guide region came into being – Northern Transvaal and by 1976 there was a further division in the regions and Natal was divided into three Guide Regions: Southern Natal, Coastal Natal, Inland Natal. Transvaal was further divided into Transvaal and Transvaal East. In 1977 Transkei became an independent region.
Despite the dark presence of Apartheid in our country, Guiding continued to flourish as a united organization and after 1994, Guiding continued to develop as an organization advancing girls and women. Through a process of strategic transformation in 2002, a new Constitution was adopted. New Regions are being formed as and when needed to meet the growing demand for Guiding in communities. Funding has been sought to provide much-needed resources to ensure the continued development and growth of the girls and women in Guiding, and also to offer the necessary skills to cope with the ever-changing threats to society. Guiding’s profile in the outside world is a focus of the transformation and Guiding is recognized for its work in dealing with issues such as HIV/Aids, Gender-based violence and poverty.
