The Order of World Scouts (OWS), founded in 1911, is the oldest international Scouting organisation. It is headquartered in England, with the administration headquarters in Italy.
The Order of World Scouts was formed by Sir Francis Fletcher-Vane, 5th Baronet upon the British Boy Scouts which had spread across the British Empire and the National Peace Scouts. The British Boy Scouts were formed in 1908 as the Battersea Boy Scouts. The Battersea Boy Scouts briefly registered with The Baden-Powell Boy Scouts in September 1908 but withdrew out of a concern that Baden-Powell's organisation was too bureaucratic and militaristic. The Battersea Boy Scouts (BBS) were reconstituted as the British Boy Scouts (BBS) and launched as a national organisation in March 1909.[1]
Francis Vane had been the Baden-Powell Boy ScoutsLondon Commissioner. He felt that Scouting should be non-military and pushed for the Baden-Powell Boy Scouts to be a more democratic organization. Through mediation, Vane reconciled the British Boy Scouts with the Baden-Powell Boy Scouts by having the British Boy Scouts as an affiliated organisation. However, Baden-Powell appointed members of the National Service League, a pro-military group to his Boy Scouts Headquarters and Vane's position was eliminated. In a protest meeting, the London area Scoutmasters voted overwhelmingly in support of Sir Francis. Baden-Powell promised to reinstate Sir Francis but never did.[2]
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,[1] with support given by George and Barrow Cadbury.[3][failed verification] Discussions with the pacifist Boy's Life Brigade led to the creation of the National Peace Scouts, launched on 1 April 1910. The Order of World Scouts was an international extension of these efforts.
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.[1][4]
In 1911, in France, Vane assisted Augustin Dufresne, a ship owner, to organise a French Scouting organisation.[5]
With the spread of the British Boy Scouts program throughout the world via the CHUMS (paper)[6] and Vane's efforts, Vane aligned the various national Scout organisations as the "Legion of World Scouts", the first international organization, launched on 1 May 1911.[7] This included the 'American Boy Scout'.[8] The relationship with the American Boy Scout was short lived due to its overt militarism.
Vane then launched 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).[5][9] Vane became the Grand Scoutmaster of the Order of World Scouts.[9]
Representation covered fifteen countries (counting Ireland as being separate) being; the UK, Ireland, Italy, the United States (isolated troops), Canada, France, Belgium, India, South America, China, South Africa, Canada, Egypt, Australia and New Zealand.[10]
Vane put his wealth behind the World Scouts, BBS and other national Scout organisations: providing a London headquarters and financing the organisations, even the manufacture of Scout uniforms not only for the BBS, but also for the Italian Scouts.[11] This over-burdened his finances to the point of having to declare bankruptcy. Thus the Order of World Scouts and BBS lost their headquarters, source of equipment and uniforms, and their leader, Sir Francis Vane.[1][5]
The World Scouts 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,[12] Individual members in Australia corresponded with the British Chief Commissioner up until the late 1960s.[13] Robert Campbell, an Australian Scout researcher, traced the BBS in Australia and 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 c. 1950s but retains members".[14]
In the mid-1980s expansion began again with members joining in Hawaii (USA).[15] In the early 1990s, contact was made by a Scouting organisation in Australia, followed by Scouting organisations in other countries.[16]
After contact in 1991 with the Independent Scouts of Australia Incorporated,[a] 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.[10]
Italian Boy Scouts (IBS) was the first Scouting association in Italy founded by Francis Vane and Remo Molinari lasting from 1910 to 1914. While short lasting, its existence influenced others to start other Scouting organizations in Italy.
History
1. To do his duty to God, King and Country.
2. To help anyone whatever the cost.
3. To trust the word of a brother Scout and always tell the truth, if he lies he is no longer a Scout.
4. A Scout is loyal, he supports his friend and especially his comrade on any occasion.
5. A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout, rich or poor, fortunate or unfortunate.
6. A Scout is courteous to all, especially to the weak, women, children, invalids and the crippled. A Scout is a gentleman, strong and must show his strength helping the weak.
7. A Scout is a friend of every living creature and will never allow an animal to suffer needlessly. He, like St Francis, feels himself brother to all living things, because he loves them and in exploring the hills has come to know them.
8. A Scout follows orders with intelligence, that is he reflects on the meaning of the order given and attempts to execute it. He is a soldier of the world and thinks before he obeys.
9. A Scout does not burden himself with sorrows, he smiles even when he suffers, because his pain will pass faster if he accepts it with a smile.
10. A Scout is thrifty but never mean. He saves not for himself but to have the means to help others.
Francis Vane's winter home was in Bagni di Lucca, Italy in the Apennine Mountains. Vane started a troop at a local school which spread the ideals of the Scouting movement and the backing of the Catholic Church. On July 12, 1910, an official launch of the Italian Boy Scouts at the Lawn Tennis Club in Bagni, followed with a royal inspection on November 6, 1910, at by King Victor Emmanuel with the co-founders of a troop of 30 boys. The royal inspection led to the patronage of the Italy King for the organization with the King becoming president of the Italian movement. For Rome organizer, Prince Di Cassano was appointed to the position.[27] Initially, the REI had a long 10-point Scout Oath, but was replaced in 1911 with a shorter 9-point oath.[26]
With World War I and other absence of Vane, the IBS ended in 1914 with many of the troops joining the National Explorers Youth Corps.[27]
Symbols
The National Peace Scout Lily badge was initial used by Vane for the Italian Scouts plus a variant with "Be Prepared" beneath the lily for the Bagni troop. This was soon replaced by an Italian overly ornate lily. Being too ornate, this was replaced by a stone lily in the Lanaivoli Fiorenti Chapel in the Church of Corpoazioni Medioevali di S. Agostino found by a Scout.[21]
^The Australian organisation was known as "Independent Scouts of Australia Incorporated" 1986-1992, then "Scouts of Australia" 1992-2001, and finally reverting to the previous name for legal reasons, minus the addition of "Incorporated" in 2001
^Given Joseph Regis COORY died on 20 September 1912 in Adelaide, it is unknown how he could have been assistant grand scoutmaster to 1914.[25]
References
^ abcd"The BBS Story". boy-scout.net. Dorset, England, UK: The British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association. 28 September 1999 [1997]. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
^J O Springhall (1968). YOUTH AND EMPIRE (unpublished) (PhD Thesis Sussex). pp. 211–249. deals with the history of the BBS from inception to 1914, and includes details of the protest meeting, and following events
^ abcd"MS Complete History of the Order of World Scouts". BBS Archives. Tarrant Hinton, Dorset. 2008.
^Ted Scott, "Verbal information given to Dr Michael Foster", Tarrant Hinton Dorset, BBS Archives, Scott, a Scoutmaster in Balham, who later became the Grand Scoutmaster (1993-2000)
^ abThe British Scout. September 1985. ISSN0266-2264. back page
^"The Order of World Scouts history". boy-scout.net. Dorset, England, UK: The British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association. 1997. Archived from the original on 28 June 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
^"Patriotic citizen". Daily Herald. Vol. 3, no. 797. South Australia. 28 September 1912. p. 7. Retrieved 20 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
