Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scout Movement died on 8 January 1941 in Nyeri, Kenya. His gravestone bears a circle with a dot in the centre, which is the Scout trail sign for ‘Going home’, or ‘I have gone home’.
During the South African War (1899-1902) Baden-Powell commanded the British garrison at Mafeking which was besieged by the Boers for 217 days. The garrison managed to hold out thanks to deceptive techniques devised by Baden-Powell and his officers.
Having commenced with his military career In 1876, he was posted to Natal, South Africa in the 1880’s where he developed his military scouting skills.
Major-General Baden-Powell formed the South African Constabulary at the end of October 1900, who were involved, for the remainder of the war in military, rather than policing duties, being engaged in counter Boer commando activities, mainly on the block-house lines which covered large parts of the Free State and Transvaal.
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