Millicent Olivia Rawlins (née Burges) (died August 1930) was involved in Scouting

Scouting

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....

 and Guiding in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

. She was secretary to the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts first World Camp.

Family life

Burges was the first daughter of Colonel William E. P. Burges (known as Peter) and Millicent P. Burges (née Miller). She was raised at the family's home in South Gloucestershire

South Gloucestershire

South Gloucestershire is a unitary district in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, in South West England.-History:The district was created in 1996, when the county of Avon was abolished, by the merger of former area of the districts of Kingswood and Northavon...

, called The Ridge. She had one sister.

Burges married Major Stuart B. Rawlins in 1925. They had two sons, Christopher and Philip. Burges died giving birth to her third child, a daughter, in August 1930. The child also died.

Scouting

The Burges family were friends of the Baden-Powells. Robert Baden-Powell had founded Scouting in 1907 and Guiding in 1910.

In April 1914, Burges founded a Scout troop at Chipping Sodbury

Chipping Sodbury

Chipping Sodbury is a market town in the county of South Gloucestershire, south-west England, founded in the 12th century by William Crassus . The villages of Old Sodbury and Little Sodbury are nearby...

. Assisted by her sister, meetings were initially held at The Ridge. During World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, the boys became messengers for a regiment quartered in Chipping Sodbury. Records from 1917, describe the Scout troop involved in the 'Air-Craft Defence Scheme'. A list of names and addresses was held at Chipping Sodbury Police Station of all Scouts who owned a bicycle and were able and willing to undertake delivering messages in an emergency.

Guiding

Burges became involved in Guiding around 1916. For several years, she sat on the Guides' executive committee as head of Rules and Awards.

Olave Baden-Powell

Olave Baden-Powell

Olave St Clair Baden-Powell, Baroness Baden-Powell, GBE was born Olave St Clair Soames in Chesterfield, England...

 and Burges formulated the idea for the first World Camp in September 1923, during the latters stay at the Baden-Powells' home, Pax Hill

Pax Hill

Pax Hill, near Bentley, Hampshire, England, was the family home of Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout movement, and his wife, Olave, for over twenty years during the 20th century. It is located at the end of a half-mile drive, off the main A31 road....

. Burges agreed to be secretary for the camp. The camp was held from 16–24 July 1924 at Foxlease

Foxlease

Foxlease is a training and activity centre of Girlguiding UK near Lyndhurst, Hampshire, UK. The Foxlease estate has been owned and managed by Girlguiding UK since 1922. The estate is and main house is known as The Princess Mary House, in honour of her marriage...

. At this time, Burges was Deputy Chief Commissioner for the West of England.

After her marriage, Burges' involvement in Guiding decreased, but she remained interested in the movement.

External links

• Ridge Wood