Reference

The British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association (BBS & BGS Association) holds significant historical importance in the Scouting movement. Here are some key points about its contribution:

1. Formation and Early Development: Originally formed as the Battersea Boy Scouts in 1908, the organisation was renamed the British Boy Scouts and launched as a national organisation on 24 May 1909. This occurred during the early development of the Scouting movement, which was initiated by Robert Baden-Powell with the publication of his book "Scouting for Boys" in 1908 Wikipedia.

2. Split with the Boy Scouts Association: The British Boy Scouts was an early Scouting organisation that split from the main Boy Scouts Association in 1909. This division led to the formation of the world's first international Scouting organization, the Order of World Scouts. This was significant in establishing Scouting as a global movement, rather than being confined to national boundaries ScoutWiki.

3. Membership and Influence: At its peak in 1910, the British Boy Scouts had a strong membership within the UK—50,000 out of 150,000 Boy Scouts nationally. This indicates that the BBS was a substantial player in spreading and supporting the Scouting movement during its formative years BBS and BGS History.

These aspects underline the importance of the British Boy Scouts Association in the early expansion and internationalization of the Scouting movement.