The Boy Scouts
Robert Baden-Powell was a high-ranking Army Officer in the Boer War in South Africa (1899-1902). Having learned bush craft skills he wrote a book about his experiences of military scouting and wilderness survival. He had been impressed by the Cadet Corps, a group of youths who ran messages and supported the regular troops in their duties. He believed that the skills and qualities shown by these young cadets would be beneficial to all boys. He returned from the War a National hero and sales of his book exploded.
Thousands of boys up and down the Country spontaneously organised themselves into Scouting 'Patrols’ using Baden-Powell's book as their guide.
The first Scout's Rally was held in Crystal Palace, London in 1909 with over 10,000 boys in attendance.
Many girls also attended calling themselves 'Girl Scouts' and Baden-Powell decided they needed their own Movement, the Girl Guides, which was started later in the same year.
One year later the Boy Scouts had a Membership of over 100,000. Today there are over 46 million registered Scouts and 9 million Girl Guides from 216 Countries and Territories around the World.