Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Associations

The Scout movement, founded by Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell, spread rapidly after his publication Scouting for Boys in 1908. Baden-Powell founded the Girl Guides in 1910, led by his sister Agnes.

^{Scout camp on a hill overlooking Langholm, 1914 (LAG)}

The scoutmaster in Langholm was Harry Robinson, an artist, born in Heckmondwike, between Leeds and Huddersfield in Yorkshire. The Girl Guides were run by Miss Marion Buchanan, daughter of Rev James Buchanan, minister of the Old Parish church.

^{Scoutmaster Harry Robinson at centre right (LAG)}

The scouts in Langholm assisted the Red Cross hospital by delivering messages. The guides helped with cutting and rolling bandages and taking collections.

^{Two scouts are seated at the front (LAG)}

The scoutmaster’s son, also Harry, was given the Silver Wolf award by Baden-Powell, the highest Scout award, ‘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 20. On hearing of his death, Baden-Powell wrote to his father (see 22nd June in the Diary).

The E&L published an article on 5th May 1915 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.