The STORY OF ROBERT STEPHENSON SMYTH BADEN POWELL

                                                           The Story of B.P

                 

                               If you want to understand Scouting completely you must know something about the man who founded the Boy scout movement, one of the most real “boy-men”  who has even lived- Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell. Chief Scout of the World, affectionately known to all Scouts as “B.P”.

                                    ROBERT STEPHENSON SMYTH BADEN POWELL was born in London, England , on February 22, 1857 – the day on which Americans celebrated the 125^th birthday of Gerge Washington. His father was the Reverend H.G Baden Powell, Professor at Oxford. His mother was the daughter of the british Admiral W.T. Smyth. His great-grandfather  , Joseph Brewer Smyth, had gone to America as a colonist in New Jersey, But had returned to England and was shipwrecked on his way home. Baden0Powell was thus the descendant of a minister on one side and of an adventurous colonist of the New World on the other.

                                   

His father died when Robert was about three year old leaving his mother with seven children under fourteen year of age. There were often gard work for the large family, but the natural love of the mother for her children and of the children for their mother always carried them through. Robert lived a glorious outdoor life with his four brothers, hiking and camping with them in may part of England.

                                   

In 1870 B.P. entered Charterhouse School in London on a scholarship. He was not an especially outstanding scholar but he was one of the liveliest. He was always in the think of it when something was going on in the schoolyard and soon became known for his ability as a goalkeeper on the Charterhouse soccer football team. His dramatic abilities were highly appreciated by his fellow students. Whenever called upon, he will put on a performance that would have the whole school in stitches.

                                   

He was also musically inclined and his gift for sketching later made it possible for him to illustrate his own writings. At 19, B.O, graduated from Charterhouse and immediately accepted a chance to go to India as sub-lieutenant, to join the regiment which had formed the right of the cavairy line in the famous “Charge of the Light Brigade” in the Crimean war.

                                   

Beside performing excellent military service—he was Captain at ht e age of twenty-six –he won the most desired sport trophy in all India that for “pig sticking” , wild boar hunting on herseback with a short lance as the only weapon. You will realize ho dangerous this sport is when you know that the will is often spoke of as “the only animal that dares adrink at the same water hole with a tiger.

                                   

In 1887 we find B.P. in Africa, taking part in the campaigns against the Zulus, and later against the fierce tribes of Ashanti and the savage matabele warriers. The natives freed him to much that they gave the name of “Impasse”. The “wolf –that-never-sleep”,  because of his courage, his scouting skills and his amazing tracking abilities. Baden-Powell’s advancement in rank was almost automatic, so regularly did it occur---- until suddenly be stepped into fame. It was the year 1899 and B.P. has risen to colonel. Trouble was brewing in south Africa. The relations between the British and the government of the Transvaal republic had reached the breaking point. Baden Powell was directed to raise two battalions if mounted rifles and proceed to Mafeking, a town in the heart of South Africa. “Who holds Mafeking, holds the reigns of South Africa: was a saying among the natives, which proved to be true.