Slough Scouts

 May 17th 1901 the town of Mafeking in the Cape Colony South Africa under the command of Brevet Colonel Robert Stephenson Smythe Baden-Powell is relieved after a siege by the Boer Army lasting 216 days.May 1900 Queen Victoria promotes Baden-Powell to Major General.May 1900 Wild celebrations break out in Britain. Baden-Powell is proclaimed the hero of the hour.1901 B-P returns to England and is invested with the C.B. by King Edward VII at Balmoral.1902 Boer War Ends.1903 B-P appointed Inspector of Cavalry.1906 B-P Inspects Boys Brigade. Discusses with Sir William Smith founder of Brigade how boys could benefit from Scouting type training.1906 B-P Discovers boys are forming themselves in to groups of Scouts and are using the book called "Aids to Scouting" he wrote in 1899, as their training manual.1906 B-P decides to write a handbook for boys on Scout training after discussions with Arthur Pearson the publisher.August 1907 B-P holds experimental Camp on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour. 20 boys attend 10 from Public Schools and 10 from Working Class backgrounds. Boys are formed into Patrols and learn fieldcraft, tracking and other skills. January 1908, Scouting for boys is published in 6 fortnightly parts and is bought by boys in their thousands and goes on to be in 4th Place in all time best sellers list, behind the Bible the Koran and Mao-Tse-Tung's little red Book.14th April 1908 first edition of "The Scout" the weekly magazine for boys is published.1908 B-P finds his original idea of other organisations using his training methods is not going to work, as boys are now setting up Groups of Scouts and getting adults to lead them. It becomes obvious that a separate Organisation is needed and the Boy Scout Movement is formed.1908 Mr Arthur Pearson provides an Office for the Movement and MajorScouting started in Australia, Belgium, Gibraltar, Malta, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa.22nd August 1908 B.P. holds second Scout Camp at Humshaugh, Northumberland.  1908 in Slough, a Scout Patrol is formed made up of boys from St Paul’s Church Choir who called themselves into the Curlew Patrol with E Johnson as their Patrol Leader. At about the same time, boys from the British School in Herschel Street form themselves into a Patrol called the Hounds with W Huston as their Patrol Leader.6th June 1908 The above two Patrols come together under the leadership of the Reverend R Burne a Curate at St Mary’s Church to form the 1st Slough Troop. After a short period, the Rev. Burne left to start the 3rd Slough Troop, and handed over the Troop to the Rev. A Goetz who became Scoutmaster with J Beake as his ASM. 1908 Official Scout uniform is devised, based on South African Constabulary Uniform. 1908 By the end of the year 60,000 boys are enrolled in the Scout Movement.Scouting started in Canada, Chile, Denmark, Guyana, India, Russia and Sierra Leone.1909 B-P visits Brazil, Argentina and Chile.1909 Sea Scouts started.July 3rd 1909, a meeting is called by the Rev. R Burne, now a Curate at St Mary’s Church in the front room of 27 Church Street to form the 3rd Slough Scout Troop. Mr William Druce is appointed Scoutmaster.July 1909 first edition of "Headquarters Gazette"(later called "The Scouter") the magazine for Leaders is published. One of the first two names of Scoutmasters to appear in it was Mr A Chambers of Slough.1909 1st Stoke Poges Scout Troop is formed.1909 A further Training Camp is held at Bucklers Hard In Hampshire.October 1909 B-P is honoured by King Edward VII with Knight Grand Cross Victorian Order and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath 4th September 1909 Rally for 11,000 Scouts held at Crystal Palace. During the Rally B-P is confronted by a small group of girls who inform him that they are Girl Scouts. September 1909 a rally is held in Glasgow for 6000 Scouts.1909 Mr William Boyce an American Businessman becomes lost in the fog in London he is guided back to his hotel by a boy who refuses payment for helping him, telling Mr Boyce that he is a Scout and it's his good turn for the day. Mr Boyce is intrigued by this and seeks out B-P and discovers more about Scouting. On his return to the USA he sets up the Boy Scouts of America.December 1909 a paragraph in the "Headquarters Gazette" states that due to the growth of Scouting in Slough, it had been found necessary to form a Committee.1909 1st Stoke Poges Scout Group is formed.11th December 1909 a constitution for the Slough Committee is drawn up.The end of 1909 over 80,000 boys enrolled in the Movement.