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Sir Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden Powell of Gilwell

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Lord Robert Baden Powell of Gilwell
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Representative Article Image
Artist Attributed to I.T. Design
Dimensions 55.2 cm × 43.8 cm ( 21 3⁄4 in ×  17 1⁄4 in)

Overview


This man was Robert Baden-Powell (1857-1941), a soldier, artist, actor and free-thinker. Best known for his spirited defence of the small South African township of Mafeking during the Boer War, he was propelled to further fame as the Founder of Scouting.


Background

Early Life


BP, or ‘Stephe’ as he was known as a child, was born in Paddington, London, on 22 February 1857. He was the eighth of 10 children of the Reverend Baden-Powell, a professor at Oxford University.


BP preferred the outdoors to the classroom and spent much of his time sketching wildlife in the woods around his school. His irrepressible personality infuriated and impressed his teachers in equal measure. After school, he went into the army, where he led a distinguished career through posts in countries including India, Afghanistan, Malta and various parts of Africa. [1]

Military Achievements


He was responsible for the organisation of a force of frontiersmen to assist the regular army. While arranging this, he was trapped in the Siege of Mafeking, and surrounded by a Boer army, at times in excess of 8,000 men. Although wholly outnumbered, the garrison withstood the siege for 217 days. Much of this is attributable to cunning military deceptions instituted at Baden-Powell's behest as commander of the garrison. Fake minefields were planted and his soldiers were ordered to simulate avoiding non-existent barbed wire while moving between trenches. Baden-Powell did most of the reconnaissance work himself.


During the siege, a cadet corps, consisting of boys below fighting age, was used to stand guard, carry messages, assist in hospitals and so on, freeing the men for military service. Although Baden-Powell did not form this cadet corps himself, and there is no evidence that he took much notice of them during the Siege, he was sufficiently impressed with both their courage and the equanimity with which they performed their tasks to use them later as an object lesson in the first chapter of "Scouting for Boys". The siege was lifted in the Relief of Mafeking on 16 May 1900.[2]

Chief Scout of the World


BP wrote no less than 32 books, the earnings from which helped to pay for his Scouting travels. As with all his successors, he received no salary as Chief Scout. He received various honorary degrees and the freedom of a number of cities, along with 28 foreign orders and decorations and 19 foreign Scout awards.


In 1938, suffering ill-health, BP returned to Africa to live in semi-retirement in Nyeri, Kenya, where he died on 8 January 1941 at the age of 83. He is buried in a simple grave at Nyeri within sight of Mount Kenya. On his headstone are the words, 'Robert Baden-Powell, Chief Scout of the World' alongside Scout and Guide emblems. He was later commemorated in Westminster Abbey, London. BP is remembered on Founder’s Day, which is celebrated on his birthday (22 February) each year. To this day Scouts continue to enjoy activities in the outdoors and live out BP’s ideas. [3]

The Scouts Movement




Representative Image


Awards

  • Ashanti Star (1895)
  • Matabele Campaign, British South Africa Company Medal (1896)
  • Queen's South Africa Medal (1899)
  • King's South Africa Medal ( 1902)
  • The Boy Scouts Association Silver Wolf
  • Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award (1926)
  • Boy Scouts International Committee Bronze Wolf (1935)
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Dannebrog, Denmark (1921)
  • Großes Dankabzeichen des ÖPB (1927)
  • Großes Ehrenzeichen der Republik am Bande (1931)
  • Goldene Gemse (1931)
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau (1932)
  • Member of the Order of Merit (1937)
  • Wateler Peace Prize (1937)
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

[4]

References


  1. ↑ C. (n.d.). Lord Baden-Powell. Retrieved May 10, 2017, from http://scouts.org.uk/about-us/heritage/lord-baden-powell/
  2. ↑ N. (n.d.). Major General (Later Lieutenant General) Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Retrieved May 10, 2017, from http://www.bwm.org.au/site/Robert_Baden-Powell.php
  3. ↑ C. (n.d.). Lord Baden-Powell. Retrieved May 10, 2017, from http://scouts.org.uk/about-us/heritage/lord-baden-powell/
  4. ↑ N. (n.d.). Major General (Later Lieutenant General) Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Retrieved May 10, 2017, from http://www.bwm.org.au/site/Robert_Baden-Powell.php



External Links

http://scouts.org.uk/about-us/heritage/lord-baden-powell/ https://scouts.org.uk/media/52831/baden_powell.pdf

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Category tags

[[Category:History]]
[[Category:English]]

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