Robert Baden-Powell,
Founder of the World Scout Movement,
Chief Scout of the World

Links Relating to Baden-Powell

The Baden-Powell Library. A Selection of excerpts from the works of Sir Robert Baden-Powell and works relating to his life and career. Text Only Index
A Baden-Powell Photo Gallery. A collection of photographs of Baden-Powell with highlights from his "two lives" as a career officer in the British Army and as Founder of the Scout Movement. Text Only Index
In 1919, when the first Scoutmasters’ Course at Gilwell drew to an end, Baden-Powell presented each participant with a simple wooden bead from a Zulu chief’s necklace he had brought back from Africa. In future years, these beads were to give the course its name. The Wood Badge Home Page highlights the program in the Boy Scouts of America.
Paintings by Baden-Powell. B-P was an accomplished artist and most of his published works are illustrated with his own drawings and in some case, color plates from his paintings. His notebooks, diaries, journals and letters are reported to be filled with pen and ink drawings, and both pencil and water-color sketches. Here is a small collection of illustrations of his water-color paintings from illustrations in a variety of sources.
What does the horn of an African antelope have to do with Scout training? The Kudu Horn and Scouting explains a Scouting Tradition from an African War.
Eileen K. Wade, The Piper of Pax: The Life Story of Sir Robert Baden-Powell. B-P’s Confidential Secretary and administrative assistant wrote this biographical account in 1924. It provides many selections from B-P’s diaries. Chapters 7-9 recount B-P’s service in Swaziland, Malta, Ashanti and Matabeleland. Chapters 10-12 cover the period of B-P’s service in South Africa during the South African War.
"Enterprise" by Hilary Saint George Saunders. This short biography of B-P is much the idealized version of his life. Written shortly after World War Two, this chapter on B-P provides a good capsule biography and introduction to his "Two Lives." Excerpted from Hilary Saint George Saunders, The Left Handshake, 1948.
"Be Prepared," an interview with Baden-Powell describing the beginnings of Scouting, from an article published in The Listener in 1937.
The Cruise of the Calgaric, relates the story of a 1933 cruise to the nations of the Baltic by Lord and Lady Baden-Powell and a contingent of 650 Guides and Scouts. This "Argosy of Peace" carried them from England to the Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway and home. Words and photos from the cruise provide a rare picture of Scouting in these countries prior to the Second World War.
"Lord Baden-Powell: Benefactor of Boyhood," an article on B-P and Freemasonry
B-P’s Mother: Henrietta Grace Baden-Powell, 1824-1914.
"B.-P." from Great Contemporaries by Sir Winston S. Churchill. Perhaps one of the finest portraits of the significance of the life and work of Sir Robert Baden-Powell.
A Baden-Powell Photo Gallery. A collection of photographs and drawings of Baden-Powell highlighting his life and works.
Major Frederick Russell Burnham, D.S.O. Like B-P, Burnham was military scout. After serving together in Matableleland in 1896, he became a lifelong friend and admirer of Baden-Powell. In his book Taking Chances, 1944, he describes that first meeting when he and B-P scouted in the Matopo Hills. He also describes a little known and interesting historical event, the dedication of Mount Baden-Powell in the Sierras in 1931.
On July 4th, 1911, 30,00 Scouts assembled in Windsor Great Park for a rally and a review by King George V. Baden-Powell referred to this event as "was one of the most thrilling moments of my life." B-P describes the scene in his book Adventures and Accidents, 1915.
Honors and Decorations: Sir Robert Baden-Powell, O.M., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.C.B., Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell. B-P’s military and civilian honors included several Knighthoods, a Peerage, recognition for service to the Sovereign, his country and his fellow man.
In 1876, Baden-Powell was posted to his first regiment, The 13th Hussars, a cavalry regiment with a long tradition. They were perhaps best known for their part in the Charge of the Light Brigade before the guns at Balaclava in the Crimean War. The regiment continues today as part of The Light Dragoons, an armored regiment of the British Army that saw service in Desert Storm.
Baden-Powell’s painting "South Africa, August 21st, 1900." When C. R. B. Barrett was writing the History of the XIII Hussars, he looked to one of the most distinguished veterans and serving officers of the 13th Hussars, Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Baden-Powell. The two volume set has several color plates, some done exclusively for this history. Volume II is introduced with Baden-Powell’s painting "South Africa, August 21st, 1900." It depicts a member of the 13th Hussars offering a "hand up" to a dismounted Hussar during an engagement near the Buffalo River. The regimental history reported the events of the day.
B-P’s first Commanding Officer, Sir Baker Creed Russell, 13th Hussars.
Chief Dinizulu of the Usutu. Russell Freeman’s Scouting with Baden-Powell provides an easy to read and enjoyable account of B-P’s two lives — as a serving officer in the British Army, and as the Founder of the World Scout Movement. His chapter on B-P in South Africa in the 1880’s gives a good second-hand account of B-P’s service there. It includes a description of his pursuit of Dinizulu during the Zulu civil war of 1883-1884.
On March 25, 1897, Baden-Powell was appointed to command the 5th Dragoon Guards. He served with the Regiment in India until June 1899.
Lessons from the Varsity of Life is Baden-Powell’s most complete autobiographical account. Here he presents interesting and enjoyable stories of his "two lives" in Soldiering and in Scouting.
A Baden-Powell Bibliography. Laszlo Nagy, who was the Chief Executive of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), developed this detailed bibliography for his book 250 Million Scouts published in 1985.
"My House in the Woods, 1911" From a water-color painting by Sir Robert Baden-Powell.
[Please note, this graphic is over 170K]
E. E. Reynolds, B-P: The Story of His Life, is a major source of biographical information about B-P. It is one of several works by E. E. Reynolds documenting the life of the Chief Scout and the early days of the Scout Movement.
Around the World with Baden-Powell: Words. Pictures and Links. A collection of links derived from my travels about the World Wide Web and specific searches using the Alta-Vista, Lycos, Web Crawler, and InfoSeek Search Engines. They represent a work-in-progress and are by no means complete.
Baden-Powell always tried to provide youth with guidance on living life to its full. Success and Happiness were two important elements he described in Rovering to Success.
What Scouts Can Do: More Yarns for Scouts is one of several books of "yarns" — stories about subjects he thought would be of interest to Scouts. It was first published in 1921 and reprinted a number of times. It was one of B-P’s more popular books. Here are some yarns from Chapter VII. He talks about the techniques of stalking, the Scout’s staff, and the "Thanks Badge," surprisingly in the form of a swastika.
Baden-Powell traveled widely. He enjoyed the open road and had a keen sense of adventure. In his book, What Scouts Can Do: More Yarns, he says "I want every Scout to be happy, and one of the best ways I know of being happy is to go for a good bike ride. In Biking in Bosnia he provides a fascinating picture of this war-torn land before the two World Wars.
Stevens Publishing of Kila, Montana has a wonderful selection of reprints of many of B-P’s writings. These include, among others: Aids to Scoutmastership, Lessons from the Varsity of Life, Memories of India and My Adventures as a Spy. There are works about Scouting, about B-P’s first career as a soldier, and about B-P’s views on Scouting and life. Stevens also publishes reprints of works by Ernest Thompson Seton and Dan Beard, two founders of the Boy Scouts of America. They are a unique source of information on Scouting.
Sources for B-P Biography & Bibliography from Randy Wooster’s Scouting History and Traditions.

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