1st World Scout Jamboree
placeholder badge as no official badge was issued
LocationOlympia, London
CountryUnited Kingdom
Date30 July 1920 to 8 August 1920
Attendance8,000 Scouts
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2nd World Scout Jamboree

The 1st World Scout Jamboree was held from 30 July 1920 to 8 August 1920 and was hosted by the United Kingdom at Kensington Olympia in London.[1] 8,000 Scouts from 34 nations attended the event, which was hosted in a glass-roofed building covering an area of 6 acres (24,000 m2).

It was at this event that Baden-Powell,[2] the founder of Scouting, was acclaimed the Chief Scout of the World.[3] The organizing secretary was Major Alexander Gawthrope Wade, MC.[4][5]

Visiting diplomat Lord Robert Cecil, architect of the League of Nations noted the shared vision of the Jamboree (a "League of Youth"[6]) and the League.[7]

Olympia and camping

Poster used to advertise the 1st World Scout Jamboree

The Olympia arena was filled with a foot-(30 cm)-deep layer of earth, which was turfed over, enabling the Scouts to pitch tents within the glass-roofed hall.

500 Wolf Cubs perform a Grand Howl in the arena at Olympia

However, around 5,000 of the Scouts were encamped at the Old Deer Park in nearby Richmond.[8][9] The Scouts rotated in and out of Olympia to give them all the opportunity to participate in the events there. The Thames flooded the campsite one night and Scouts had to be evacuated.[10]

Olympia hosted numerous exhibitions, pageants and contests (including tug-of-war[6][11]) during the Jamboree event.[2][12][1][13] Olympia and Old Deer Park events were open to the public.[9] Attendances were such that entrance was restricted to restrict incidents of crushing.[7][12]

Oswald Stoll produced a show at the Alhambra Theatre of Variety for visiting scouts.[14]

Chief Scout of the World

In order to honour Baden-Powell's role as the founder of Scouting, it was suggested by James E. West, the Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America that he be awarded the title of Great Indian Chief.[15]

However, during the initiation ceremony, one of the young Scouts shouted out "Long live the Chief Scout of the World",[16][17] and so it became Baden-Powell's official title within Scouting until his dying day.[18]

No other Scouter has held the title since Baden-Powell.

Opening show

The event was formally opened by the King's uncle (Prince Arthur Duke of Connaught and Strathearn), and daughter (Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood.[19] The King, George V, unable to attend the event,[20] sent a message of welcome to the visiting contingents in a message to Baden Powell.[19]

Closing speech

The League of Youth
War-weary World (at the Jamboree). "I was nearly losing hope, but the sight of all you boys gives it back to me."
Cartoon in Punch magazine 4 August 1920, referring to the 1st World Scout Jamboree in the context of the aftermath of World War I

Baden-Powell gave a closing speech at the end of the Jamboree:

"Brother Scouts. Differences exist between the peoples of the world in thought and sentiment, just as they do in language and physique. The Jamboree has taught us that if we exercise mutual forbearance and give and take, then there is sympathy and harmony. If it be your will, let us go forth fully determined that we will develop among ourselves and our boys that comradeship, through the world wide spirit of the Scout brotherhood, so that we may help to develop peace and happiness in the world and goodwill among men".[21]

Jamborees since 1920

Many lessons were learnt from the first World Scout Jamboree, including the acknowledgement that an indoor venue was too restrictive for the activities and numbers of Scouts who would attend. It was also realised that above all else, a Jamboree is a means of developing a spirit of comradeship among the boys of many nations and the more that aspect can be stressed, the more successful a Jamboree becomes.

Contingents

Exhibits

Amongst the thousands of Scouts, there was also a selection of wild animals at the Jamboree:

Official badge

There was no official badge for this event; the first badge was made for the 2nd World Scout Jamboree.[30] There was later a placeholder badge made to make the set of reminder badges complete.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Olympia Thrills". Evening Standard. 6 August 1920. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Young Envoys of Peace". Evening Standard. 6 August 1920. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Wilson, John S. (1959). Scouting Round the World (First ed.). Blandford Press.
  4. ↑ "1st World Jamboree Olympia, England, 1920". Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "Ten mile hikes, camping raids and Scout games: how women helped secure Scouting's survival in the early 20th century". Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "A World Gathering of Boy Scouts". Manchester Guardian. 31 July 1920. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 "Jamboree Carnival". Evening Standard. 2 August 1920. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com. They are young. The future lies with them. We, of the older generation, have got the world into a terrible mess, a welter of slaughter and famine. There is only one hope stands above the flood, that after all the terrible destruction we see around us this is to be the dawn of a new era.
  8. ↑ "Scouts' Farewell". Evening Standard. 9 August 1920. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "The Scouts' Programme". Evening Standard. 28 July 1920. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Kuiper, Deborah (3 August 2007). "Arnold, 100, commemorates first world scout jamboree". The Cumberland News. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
  11. 1 2 "An English Day - The Jamboree Revisited - A tonic for Weather Weariness". Manchester Guardian. 7 August 1920. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 "At The Jamboree". Evening Standard. 3 August 1920. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. 1 2 3 "Scouts' Jamboree". Evening Standard. 24 July 1920. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Boy Scout Post". Evening Standard. 2 August 1920. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "1st World Jamboree, Olympia, 1920. Home Page". Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2006.
  16. ↑ "Chief Scout Of The World - Wolf Cubs' Great Howl". The Times. London. 9 August 1920. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Last Shout Of Jamboree - Hailing Chief Scout Of World". The Weekly Dispatch. London. 8 August 1920. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Silver Buffalo". TIME Magazine. Vol. 7, no. 19. 5 October 1926. ISSN 0040-781X. EBSCOhost 54752960.
  19. 1 2 3 "Jamboree Opened". Evening Standard. 30 July 1920. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com. I welcome the contingents from abroad who have come to take part in the competitions and displays, and whose friendly rivalry cannot fail to act as a healthy stimulus to the boys of all.
  20. ↑ "Inspection of Scouts". Evening Standard. 10 August 1920. p. 7 – via newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "ScoutBase UK: The Library - Scouting history - World Jamborees". Archived from the original on 22 March 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2006.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The End of The Jamboree". Manchester Guardian. 9 August 1920. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Scouts' Big Jamboree - World Rally In London - Living League of Nations". The Daily Telegraph. 12 June 1920. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. 1 2 3 "Joyous Jamboree - Scouts of All Nations - Great March-Past At Olympia". The Times. London. 3 August 1920. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Shipping News - After The Jamboree - West Indian Scouts Homeward Bound". Western Daily Press. Bristol, England. 25 August 1920. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Dutch Boys Go Home". Evening Standard. 6 August 1920. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "The Norwegian Boy Scouts". Manchester Guardian. 5 August 1920. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "King and the Scout". Evening Standard. 23 July 1920. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Five Young Hopes". Evening Standard. 4 August 1920. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "NVVSO Nederlandse Vereniging Verzamelaars Scouting Objecten". www.nvvso.nl.
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