Order of World Scouts - History

History

In 1909, a group of troops withdrew from Baden-Powell's Boy Scouts Association and formed the British Boy Scouts (BBS), out of a concern that Baden-Powell's association was too bureaucratic and militaristic.

Sir Francis Vane was the Boy Scouting Association's (BSA) London Commissioner. He felt that Scouting should be non-military and reconciled through mediation the British Boy Scouts (BBS) with the BSA by having BBS as an affiliated organisation.

With Vane pushing for a more democratic BSA, his position was eliminated by Baden-Powell's BSA headquarter staff. In a protest meeting, the London area Scoutmasters voted overwhelmingly in support of Sir Francis, however Baden-Powell even though he promised,{{disputed|cite is unpublished-OR?}} never reinstated him.

Members of the National Service League, a pro-military group, were appointed to BSA headquarters. On December 3, 1909, Sir Francis Vane accepted the presidency of the British Boy Scouts taking most London area Troops with him. The Quakers' Birmingham and Midland Troops also followed. Vane was instrumental in gaining Quakers to sponsor Scout Troops. Support was given by George and Barrow Cadbury.

With Vane having an Italian summer home, he and his co-founder Remo Molinari were able to launch the Scouting Movement in Italy with the Italian Boy Scouts (Ragazzi Esploratori Italiani) in 1910.

In 1911 France, Vane assisted Augustin Dufresne, a ship owner, to organise a French Scouting organisation.

With spread of the alternative British Boy Scouts program throughout the world via CHUMS publication and Vane's efforts, Vane informally aligned the various groups as the Legion of World Scouts, the first international organization, in 1911 then formally launched as the Order of World Scouts on 11 November 1911. This day was influenced by the French, as it was the day that Baldwin was crowned King of Jerusalem, on 11 November 1100 (St Martin's Day). Vane became the Grand Scoutmaster of the Order of World Scouts.

Representation covered 15 Countries (counting Ireland as being separate) being; the UK, Ireland, Italy, the United States (American Boy Scout), Canada, France, Belgium, India, South America, China, South Africa, Canada, Egypt, Australia and New Zealand.

Vane put his wealth behind the organizations: providing a London headquarters and financed the organisation, even the manufacture of Scout uniforms not only for the BBS, but also for the Italian Scouts. This over burdened his finances to the point of having to declare bankruptcy. Thus the British Boy Scouts and the Order of World Scouts lost their headquarters, source of equipment and uniforms and their leader, Sir Francis Vane.

The Order was left with member Troops in England (remaining to the present), and in Australia. The Australian BBS, proved more resilient than was initially thought. The 4th Alexandria (Australia) British Boy Scouts existed in the 1950s, and possibly beyond that date, Individual members in Australia corresponded with the British Chief Commissioner up until the late 1960s. Robert Campbell an Australian Scout researcher credits the continuation of membership in Australia to the 1990s, when the Scouts of Australia became the successors to the BBS, which "Ceased activity in Australia c1950s but retains members".

In the mid 1980s expansion began again with members joining in Hawaii (USA). In the early 1990s, contact was made by a Scouting organisation in Australia, followed by Scouting organisations in other countries.

With Contact in 1991 with the Independent Scouts of Australia Incorporated, the Order was more formally organised with the appointments of a BBS Commissioner for Australia in 1991 and a Chief Commissioner of BBS & BGS in Canada in 1999.