Rose Kerr
Encyclopedia
Rose Kerr was a pioneer of the Guiding
movement from Great Britain
.
She was one of the founders of the Rangers
section of Girl Guides and was
involved in the formation of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
(WAGGGS) and authored numerous publications on Guiding. She was awarded the Silver Fish
. In 1938 she was made an O.B.E..
Wilfred A. Gough,
Her father was killed in action when she was 2 and her mother
remarried Captain Henry Denison to whom she became quite devoted. She studied music in Dresden.
Robert Baden-Powell proposed to Rose Gough first, but was refused in December 1905. However they remained close friends.
persuaded Kerr to lead a Guide company in
1912. According to the story, Juliette Low
using her deafness failed to hear Rose Kerr's excuses that she didn't
have time and didn't live in London. She gave up this company on going
abroad in 1913 to Greece and later Italy. While staying at the
Baden-Powell's home, Ewhurst Place, in 1916, Olave Baden-Powell
insisted that Kerr become a County Commissioner. She started as
Chief Commissioner for the County of London but later turned her
attention to international Guiding also. She continued to lead her own
Ranger company from that time on.
, a message was smuggled to Kerr from Anni Collan, the Chief Guide of Finland. Collan wrote "It is a pity that our two countries are at war with one another - but that does not make any difference to us!"
Rose Kerr's daughter, Louise Rosemary "Rosie" Kerr, was a close friend of the pilot, Richard Hillary
, and was reportedly engaged to the Squadron Leader, Jacques-Henri Schloesing until he was killed in action in 1944. Schloesing had been a scout leader before the war, and the street where Passy Cemetery
stands in Paris is named for him.
Girl Guides
A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...
movement from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
She was one of the founders of the Rangers
Ranger (Girl Guide)
A Ranger or Ranger Guide is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 14 and 25. Exact age limits are slightly different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Rover Scouts-Early history:...
section of Girl Guides and was
involved in the formation of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Scouting organizations in 145 countries. It was established in 1928 and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout...
(WAGGGS) and authored numerous publications on Guiding. She was awarded the Silver Fish
Silver Fish
The Silver Fish is the highest adult award in Girlguiding UK. It is awarded for outstanding service to Girlguiding UK combined with service to world Guiding...
. In 1938 she was made an O.B.E..
Personal life
She was born in Dublin as Rose Margaret Guthrie Gough, daughter of MajorWilfred A. Gough,
Her father was killed in action when she was 2 and her mother
remarried Captain Henry Denison to whom she became quite devoted. She studied music in Dresden.
Robert Baden-Powell proposed to Rose Gough first, but was refused in December 1905. However they remained close friends.
Guiding
Juliette Gordon LowJuliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low was an American youth leader and the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912.-Early life:...
persuaded Kerr to lead a Guide company in
1912. According to the story, Juliette Low
using her deafness failed to hear Rose Kerr's excuses that she didn't
have time and didn't live in London. She gave up this company on going
abroad in 1913 to Greece and later Italy. While staying at the
Baden-Powell's home, Ewhurst Place, in 1916, Olave Baden-Powell
Olave Baden-Powell
Olave St Clair Baden-Powell, Baroness Baden-Powell, GBE was born Olave St Clair Soames in Chesterfield, England...
insisted that Kerr become a County Commissioner. She started as
Chief Commissioner for the County of London but later turned her
attention to international Guiding also. She continued to lead her own
Ranger company from that time on.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a message was smuggled to Kerr from Anni Collan, the Chief Guide of Finland. Collan wrote "It is a pity that our two countries are at war with one another - but that does not make any difference to us!"
Rose Kerr's daughter, Louise Rosemary "Rosie" Kerr, was a close friend of the pilot, Richard Hillary
Richard Hillary
Flight Lieutenant Richard Hope Hillary was a Battle of Britain pilot who died during World War II...
, and was reportedly engaged to the Squadron Leader, Jacques-Henri Schloesing until he was killed in action in 1944. Schloesing had been a scout leader before the war, and the street where Passy Cemetery
Passy Cemetery
The Passy Cemetery is a famous cemetery located at 2, rue du Commandant Schlœsing in Passy, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, France.-History:...
stands in Paris is named for him.
The Girl Guide Association (Now Girlguiding UK)
- Guider
- County Commissioner
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Head of Rangers
- Deputy Chief Commissioner, London and the Home Counties
- Vice-Chairman, International Council
- Commissioner for Publications
- (first) International Commissioner
- Chairman of subcommittee appointed by Robert Baden-Powell to consider the formation of a World Association
WAGGGS
- Chairman of First World Committee
- (first) Commissioner for Tenderfoot Countries
- Head of Publications
- Editor of The Council Fire
Works
- 1932: The Story of the Girl Guides
- 1934: The Cruise of the Calgaric
- 1935: The Cruise of the Adriatic
- 1938: The Cruise of the OrdunaSS OrdunaSS Orduna was an ocean liner built in 1913-14 by Harland & Wolff in Belfast for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company. After two voyages she was chartered to Cunard Line. In 1921 she went to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, then being resold to the PSNCo in 1926...
- 1954: The Story of the Girl Guides: 1908- 1938 (Revised by Alix Liddell)