The Scout movement, founded by Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell, spread rapidly after his Scouting for Boys was published in 1908. Baden-Powell also founded the Girl Guides, in 1910, led by his sister Agnes Baden-Powell.
The Langholm scoutmaster was Harry Robinson, an artist, born in Yorkshire. The Guides were run by Miss Marion Buchanan, daughter of Rev James Buchanan, minister of the parish church.
The scouts assisted the Red Cross hospital by delivering messages, and the guides helped with cutting and rolling bandages and taking collections.
The scoutmaster’s son, also Harry, was given the Silver Wolf award, the highest Scout award, by Baden-Powell ‘for services of the most exceptional character’. He served with 3rd Battalion KOSB and died of wounds near Ypres, Belgium, on 9 June 1915, aged 19. On hearing of his death, Baden-Powell wrote to his father (see 22nd June in the Diary).
The E&L published an article about ‘Miss Baden-Powell’s Girl Guides’:
The Girl Guides, under the leadership of Miss Agnes Baden-Powell, are rendering national service at this juncture quite equal to that of the boys, but in different spheres of action. They have rendered invaluable assistance to the British Red Cross Society in numerous directions, but more especially in the cutting and rolling of bandages, in which every girl shows expert skill and speed. In cycling, map-reading, and signalling they are as useful as the boys. They also give voluntary help with invalid cookery for hospitals, and in the soup kitchens for the poor. Many a tired mother is helped in the nursing of a sick child, and with her housework, mending, and darning. Gardening also appears to come quite naturally to these girls, who have been trained to turn their hands to anything, and whose motto is “Be Prepared”. The chief need at present is for teachers, lieutenants, and captains, and girls from eighteen to twenty-one are required to fill these positions.
E&L, 5 May 1915
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