Visit of the World's Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell, and the World's Chief Guide, Lady Baden-Powell, to Sydney

PXA 7689

fonds

March 1931

Graphic Materials, Photographs

9665904

30 photographic prints (1 box) - gelatin silver - 21 x 25 cm and smaller

The founder of Scouting, Lord Robert Baden-Powell was born in 1857 in England. He lived a busy and adventurous life, and as a boy spent much of his spare time in open-air pursuits. He won a scholarship which gave him entry into the British Army, where he was sent to India and served for many years. As a soldier, Baden-Powell rose to public prominence during the war against the Boers in Africa at the end of the 1800s. He tried out his ideas of training soldiers in “Scouting”, teaching them how to develop experience in stalking and fending for themselves. He set down his ideas in the book Aids to Scouting.

1 August 1907 is regarded as the beginning of the Scout Movement worldwide, following an experimental camp on Brownsea Island off the Dorset coast of the UK. The camp was a great success. Baden-Powell recorded his experiences in a book, Scouting for Boys, first published in January 1908. Two years later Baden-Powell retired from the army as a General to devote his life to this new Movement called Scouting.

The Girl Guides were formed in 1910 by Baden-Powell’s sister, Agnes. In quick succession came other branches of the movement. The Group system of Cub Scouts, Scouts and Rover Scouts under the leadership of the Group Scoutmaster was established in 1927, Deep Sea Scouts in 1928, Air Scouts in 1941 and Senior Scouts in 1946 (now known as Venturer Scouts). Meanwhile Scouting spread to Australia, New Zealand and India in 1908 and other countries followed shortly after.

Lord Baden-Powell was proclaimed World Chief Scout at the first Jamboree at Olympia in the UK in 1920; he was raised to the peerage (given the title of Lord) in 1929 and was awarded the order of Merit in the Coronation Orders in 1937. He travelled widely, encouraging Scouting in every country he visited. He visited Australia three times, in 1912, 1931 and to the first Australian Jamboree in 1934-35.

Meanwhile Scouting had become established as a most successful scheme for the training of boys. Soon a headquarters was set up and leadership provided by recognised leaders in the community. Baden-Powell retired to Kenya, where he spent several happy years with his family. He died there on 8 January 1941.

Reference:
https://scouts.com.au/about/what-is-scouting/history/


Olave Soames was born on 22 February 1889. In 1912, she met Baden-Powell on board the RMSP Arcadian. Though 32 years her senior, they were engaged in the same year and married in October 1912.
Olave was interested in her husband's Scouting activities and soon became involved in Girl Guides. In 1916 she was chosen to be County Commissioner and two years later became Chief Guide for Britain. In 1920 Olave helped form an International Council which grew and developed, and eventually became the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). She was elected World Chief Guide in 1930.
In 1932, Olave was awarded the Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE) by King George V in recognition of her volunteer work. During her lifetime, Olave made many sea voyages, 648 flights, and visited 111 countries. She was honoured by many countries and organisations for her work.
She died peacefully in her sleep on 25 June 1977, aged 88. Her ashes were taken to Kenya to be buried in the same grave as her husband.

Reference:
https://girlguidesballarat.org.au/resources/history-of-girl-guides/olave-baden-powell/


Roy Frederick Bennett was a World War I army captain who served at Gallipoli. Bennett moved from Melbourne to Sydney in 1924 to take up the position of general secretary to the Boy Scouts Association in New South Wales, after being chosen from 300 applicants. He was appointed Honorary Aide-de-Camp to Governor Sir Dudley de Chair, the Chief Scout, and attended all scouting functions with him. In 1926 he was elected Federal Secretary of the Boy Scouts Association of Australia. Bennett was General Secretary of the NSW Boy Scouts at the time of the 1931 Baden-Powell tour.

Reference:
Library correspondence file

These items belonged to the donor’s grandfather, Roy Frederick Bennett.

1. Lord Baden-Powell with the Lord Mayor, Alderman Jackson, and others, at Sydney Town Hall, 18 March 1931
2. Lord Baden-Powell with the Lord Mayor, Alderman Jackson, and others, at Sydney Town Hall, 18 March 1931
3. Lord Baden-Powell addressing a civic reception at The Sydney Town Hall, 18 March 1931
4. The town clerk, Mr. Layton; the Lady Mayoress, Mrs. Jackson; Lady Baden-Powell; and the Lord Mayor, Alderman Jackson, at Sydney Town Hall, 18 March 1931
5. Lord Baden-Powell with guests in formal photograph, at Government House, Sydney, 19 March 1931
6. Lord Baden-Powell at Government House, Sydney, 19 March 1931
7. Lord Baden-Powell at Government House, Sydney, 19 March 1931
8. Guests at the dinner and reception for Lord and Lady Baden-Powell at Government House, Sydney, 19 March 1931
9. Guide leaders, Scouts and Guides procession, at the King Edward Statue Gate, Sydney, 20 March 1931
10. Crowd outside Burdekin House for the Scouts and Guides procession, Macquarie Street, 20 March 1931
11. Lord Baden-Powell watching the Scouts and Guides procession, outside Burdekin House, Macquarie Street, 20 March 1931
12. Lord Baden-Powell watching the Scouts and Guides procession, outside Burdekin House, Macquarie Street, 20 March 1931
13. Lord Baden-Powell watching the Scouts and Guides procession, outside Burdekin House, Macquarie Street, 20 March 1931
14. Lord Baden-Powell watching the Scouts and Guides procession, Sydney Hospital in background, Macquarie Street, 20 March 1931
15. Lord Baden-Powell watching the Scouts and Guides procession, outside Burdekin House, Macquarie Street, 20 March 1931
16. Lord Baden-Powell watching the Scouts and Guides procession, outside Burdekin House, Macquarie Street, 20 March 1931
17. Lord Baden-Powell meeting with navy and army veterans, Randwick Racecourse, 21 March 1931
18. Lady Baden-Powell with Girl Guide and Scout leaders, Randwick Racecourse, 21 March 1931
19. Lord and Lady Baden-Powell watching the rally of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, Randwick Racecourse, 21 March 1931
20. Lord Baden-Powell addressing the rally of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, Randwick Racecourse, 21 March 1931
21. Rally of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, Randwick Racecourse, 21 March 1931
22. Lord and Lady Baden-Powell at the Commemoration thanksgiving service, Sydney Cricket Ground, 22 March 1931
23. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides at the Commemoration thanksgiving service for the visit of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, Sydney Cricket Ground, 22 March 1931
24. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides at the Commemoration thanksgiving service for the visit of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, Sydney Cricket Ground, 22 March 1931
25. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides at the Commemoration thanksgiving service for the visit of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, Sydney Cricket Ground, 22 March 1931
26. Scout leaders and other gentlemen, location and date unknown
27. Scouts laying wreath at Cenotaph in Martin Place, date unknown
28. Possible Anzac Day parade, location and date unknown
29. Scouts on parade ground with Jamboree flag, location and date unknown
30. Scout leaders presenting trophies to young athletes, location and date unknown

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Photograph captions devised by cataloguer.

Photographer unknown.

Some have stamps to verso: McLeod & Smith; Hall & Co., The Register News-Pictorial.