| The Scout Movement was only eight years old when Roland Philipps, aged twenty-six, was killed. Taken by the ' First World War' Baden-Powell's tribute to Roland Philipps must have seemed remarkable, in that it ranked this one individual above all the others that had fallen. Those who had known Roland Philipps persisted in their unique praise for this one man, long after the war had finished, by which time many more Scouts and Scouters from the early days of the Movement had perished. What then, did Roland Philipps achieve in his very short life to earn such pre-eminence?
Early Years
The Honorable Roland Erasmus Philipps was born on February 27th, 1890, the second son of the Viscount, Lord St. David. of Stockleigh House, Regents Park. The Philipps family, like Baden-Powell's own predecessors, were also deeply committed to the church.
The Philipps family Latin motto translates 'Love of Country Guides Me'
Early schooling at Lockers Park, a preparatory school nr. Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. then on to public school at Winchester before going up to New College, Oxford, in 1908. becoming a keen a member of the Oxford Union as a skilled and fiery orator. He was, by all accounts, a compelling personality with deep and persuasive convictions. This, coupled with his Public School then Oxford education,
In his spare time he worked for the Charity Organisation Society. He became aware of 'settlements', charitable foundations working particularly in the East End of London and in 1909 visited the Oxford House, Bethnal Green, in London where much charitable support was given to the local community.
He became a radical Liberal and could have become a Member of Parliament, being offered vacant Liberal Candidatures in four constituencies. He did become the prospective candidate for South Glamorgan, but as far as I know was not called upon to fight a General Election, as the seat was not contested between his candidature and his death.
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