The original of this article appeared in the The Times on 28 January 1941 and is reproduced with
the kind permission of the publisher. All rights reserved, July 2004.

The Times of London, 28 January, 1941

IN MEMORY OF B-P

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SCOUTS’ TRIBUTE

5,000,000 REPRESENTED AT ABBEY SERVICE

  The spirit of Baden-Powell himself must have brooded lovingly over the congregation gathered at the service to his memory in Westminster Abbey yesterday. Uniforms not only of scouts and guides but of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, Red Cross workers and nursing detachments symbolized so richly the service in the true Christian sense he did so much to build and foster--a service now become urgent and insistent throughout the Empire. The King, other members of the Royal House, and the Prime Minister were represented. Other members of the Cabinet were present in person and Ambassadors of Allied and neutral countries and representatives of the British Commonwealth attended.

  Had this been a time of peace thousands on  scouts and guides would have come to pay homage. In present circumstances, however, it devolved upon, 50 scouts and 50 guides to represent at the service the 5,000,000 scouts and guides in the world.

DIGNITY AND PRIDE

  It was an honour they bore with dignity and with an especial pride. They were met at the great West Door of the Abbey by the Dean of Westminster (Bishop de Labilliere), and led by him past the tomb of the Unknown Warrior to seats allotted to them with members on the late Chief Scout's family. Refugee scouts from countries overrun by the Nazis were given an opportunity to serve as. delegates on their own national associations.

  The service was conducted by the Dean, and at the close the Blessing was given by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

  The opening sentences of the .Burial Service were sung to Merbecke's music, and were followed by the Psalm beginning, “I will lift up mine, eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” After the Lesson, taken from Ephesians vi, 10-18, Cecil Spring Rice's hymn,. “I vow to thee my country,” was sung to Gustav Holst's setting. The prayers included thanks “for the joy of service in union with Thee, and for the fellowship of our beloved Chief Scout and Founder, whom Thou hast now called to higher service.” Then came John Bunyan's. triumphant and inspiriting hymn, “He who would valiant be,” the Blessing, and finally, the Requiem Eternam, specially chosen, because its composer, Mr. Basil Harwood, was a contemporary at Charterhouse and a line-long friend of “B. P.”

The names of some of those present appear on page 7.

The Times of London, 28 January, 1941 — page 7

LORD BADEN-POWELL
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MEMORIAL SERVICE IN THE

ABBEY

 

  The King was represented by Colonel Lord Wigram at a memorial service for Lord Baden-Powell, which was held yesterday in Westminster Abbey.

  Queen Mary was represented by Captain Lord Claud Hamilton, the Duke of Gloucester by Major Ronald Stanyforth, and the Princess Royal by Mrs. Mark Kerr.

  Field-Marshal the Duke of Connaught was represented by Colonel C. S. Price Davies, and Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone and Major-General the Earl of Athlone by Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Mure.

  The Queen of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard (Royal Commissioner, Nederlandsche Padvinders) were represented by Major-General Ellemeet.

  The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Dean of Westminster, Archdeacon F. L. Donaldson, Canon S. J. Marriott,, the Rev. Dr. A. C. Don, the .Rev. Dr. Jocelyn Perkins, and the Rev. C. Hildyard took part in the service.

  Representatives from the London Embassies and Legations of the following countries attended: The United States, Poland, Colombia, Switzerland, Estonia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Latvia, Iceland, China, Hungary, Norway, Chile, the Netherlands, and Czechoslovakia.

  The Prime Minister was represented by Mr. Anthony Bevir.

  Members of the family and others present included:—

  Sir Armigel Wade, Major and Mrs. A. G. Wade and Miss J. Wade (representing Lady Baden-Powell and family). the Hon. Mrs. John King (daughter), Mr. and Mrs. R. H.. Baden-Powell, Mrs. C. Powell, Miss M. L. Powell, Major and Mrs. Gerard Clay. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Moore, Miss Joan, Miss Cynthia. and Miss Anne Moore. Mrs. A. Jackson.

  Colonel Charles Ponsonby. M.P. (representing the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs), the Lord Privy Seal (Mr. C. R. Attlee), Rear-Admiral Arthur Bromley (representing the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs and the Secretary of State for the Colonies), the Secretary of State for India and for Burma. Lord Croft (Under-Secretary of State for War).

  Wing Commander Sir Louis Greig (representing the Secretary of State for Air) and Lady Greig, Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Haining (representing the Army Council), Mr. B. L. Pearson (representing the President of the Board of Education), Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Edward Grigg. M.P.

  Mr. L. G. P. Freer (representing the Prime Minister. of Northern Ireland), Mr. E. C. McLeod (representing the High Commissioner for Canada), Mr. V. C. Duffy (representing the High Commissioner for Australia), Mr: D. B. Sole (representing the High Commissioner, for South Africa), Squadron Leader F. R. Newell, R.N.Z.A.F. (representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand), M.T. S. Lail (Deputy High Commissioner for India). Mr. Claude James (Agent-General for Tasmania), Mr. M. F. Troy (Agent-General for Western Australia).

  Lord Hampton (representing Lord Somers. deputy Chief Scout). Mr. K. B. Bennett. K.C. (representing the Boy Scouts of Canada). Lieutenant Robert Talbot (representing the Montreal Boy Scouts Association). Mr. G. E. Cator (Malaya). Mr. G. W. Knapman (East African Dependencies), Mr. Hugh Fraser (Sudan Government\. Major J. M. Henderson (Northern Ireland Government).

  Commandant Wietzel (representing General Dc Gaulle). Lord Huntingfield. the Dowager Marchioness of Reading (chairman. W.V.S., and member of council. Girl Guides Association). Sir Henry McMahon, the Mayor of the City of Westminster, the Rev. Max C. Petitpierre (representing Doc the Rev. E. D. Gale (representing the Rev. P. T. B. Clayton), General Sir Ian Hamilton. Mrs. Carnegie.

  Sir Edward Campbell, M.P. (member of the council Boy Scouts Association), and Lady Campbell, General Sir Alexander Godley. Mr. Z. F. Willis (general secretary. National Council of Y.M.C.A.s), Mr. Adam Scott (representing Irish National Executive. Y.M.C.A.), Lieutenant-Colonel Granville Walton (Home. Commissioner, Boy Scout-Imperial Headquarters). Sir Lawrence Chubb (general secretary. National Playing Fields Association). Mr. Robert Hyde (Industrial Welfare Society), Major T. B. Bingham-Hall (general secretary, Church of England Temperance Society).

  Mr., H. T, Bishop (representing the Sea Cadet Corps),. Miss Heath-Stubbs and Miss Bollen (representing the Girls Friendly Society), Mr. R.: J.- Spencer (representing the Rev. Dr. S. W. Hughes), Major T. J. May (also representing the Matabeleland and Mashonaland Campaigns Re-Union Committee and the Mafeking Defence and Relief Columns Re-Union Committee), Mr. H. D. Foster, Miss Beatrice Swaine (representing the Head,-. quarters, Girl Guide Council), Mrs. J.- Fryer (representing Old Guides), the Rev. J. H. Peerless and Mr. E. Weeks (representing the Church Lads Brigade). Lady Rasch, Mrs. M. P. G. Leonard, Brigadier-General J. H. E. Crow (representing Mr. Cyril Maude), Sir John Archer, Sir John Monck, Miss Talbot.

  Captain the Marquess of Kildare and Caotaln C. H.: Blacker (representing 5th. Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards), Admiral Heard, the Rev. W. ,N. McCann, Mrs. J. S. Morrison, Major N. A. Lewis (representing. the Earl of Home, president, Boys Brigade). Mrs. Pennethorne, Sister Miller, Sister Shepherd. Mr. Charles Dyer, the  Rev. D. A. Whitwham, Miss Hanbury-Williams. Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Geare. Lady Perceval, General Sir John Shea, Mr. A. Renou (chief commissioner, Free French Scouts), Mr., .and Mrs. H. J. Howland,, the Rev. L. Spitler, Surgeon Lieutenant Alderson, R.N., Mr., E. F. Piercy, Mr. W. J. Morgan (Y.M.C.A.), XX Leonard Collier, Warden, Trinity Hospital, Greenwich) and Mrs. Collier.

  General Sir Reginald Wingate (president, East Lothian. Boy Scouts Association), Lady Agnes Peel, Dr. J. Hussey, Mr. F. J. Chamberlain, Squadron. Leader Berryman, Colonel H. G. Kennard (representing Sir Alfred Edwards), Miss Raphael (Jewish Council of. Guides), Mr. S. Hilhouse (treasurer, Camping Club), Mrs. V. F. Storr, Mrs. John Rowe. Captain Ridley, Mrs. St. J. Atkinson. Mr. and Mrs. John King,

  The Master of Charterhouse and Mrs. Birley,. Mrs. Walter Elliot (representing National Council of Girl Clubs), the Hon. Mrs. Godley Marsham (chairman, Girl .Guides Association). Mrs. Peter Drummond-Hay (also representing Mrs. Broom), Mr. Gustave Raoul-Buyse (Belgian Commissioner), Mr. and Mrs. D. Eustace.

  Colonel F. W. Jarvis (Old Comrades Association, South Africa .Constabulary), Miss Rhys Davids, Mr. C. G. Falcon (Commissioner for British Scouts in France). Lieutenant-Colonel D. A. Stirling (commanding 13th/18th Hussars) and Major .R. T. Harrap, Lieutenant H. ,A. Murder, the IL-S.-M.. and members of the Sergeants' Mess of the  regiment, Major J. D.. Kennedy, Mr. D. Dofar (Czechoslovak Scouts). Mr.. Saunders Griffiths (representing. Mr. A. C. Probyn Hanbury-Williams), Miss Musgrave (Metropolitan Essex Red Cross)..

  Dr. Israel Feldman (representing the Chief Rabbi), the Hon, Mrs. Geoffrey Gibbs. Miss J. Mathews (Commissioner for Training in England), Mr. C. Lowe, Mr. P. D. Power,. Miss Janet Allan (representing Girl Guides Headquarters, Extension, branch), the Hon. Mary Pakington; Mr: and Mrs.: P. B. Nevi, Mr. Harold Lem (Overseas Commissioner), and Mrs. Legat and . Mr. G. .Gay.       
  Miss Agnes Baden-Powell (sister) was kept away by influenza.

  An account of the service is given on page 2.