SAM History

A Brief History of Scouting in Malta
Historical notes from "Scouting in Malta - An illustrated history" by J. A. Mizzi (1989)

Few countries have a tradition in Scouting as Malta has. It was during his term as Assistant Military Secretary to his uncle General Sir Henry Smyth, who was Governor of Malta between 1890-93, that Baden-Powell showed that concern for the welfare of the soldiers which in time led to his writing 'Aids to Scouting'.

With his connections with Malta and his many Maltese friends following his career, it was natural that The Scout Association of Malta would be the first overseas branch of the British Association. It was formed only months after the first Scouts appeared on the Island and within a short time of the camp at Brownsea Island in July-August 1907.

The Malta Scout Association formally applied to become a member of the British Movement on November 9, 1908 and was officially recognised a year later.

Those first few Scouts started a tradition that has kept Scouting in the very forefront of youth education in Malta. Since its early years Scouting has been the most active and strongest youth organisation on the Island.

Baden-Powell visited Malta on several occasions and took the Maltese Scouts under his wing, often writing to them with advice and praising 'the progress in efficiency and the spirit of the Boy Scouts of Malta'.

Shortly before his death Baden-Powell typed what was possibly his last letter, on July 21, 1940 from Paxtu in Kenya 'to congratulate my old friends, the Maltese on the plucky way they have stood up to the infernal bombing of the Italians ... They have the spirit of fearlessness and patience which enables them to face danger with a smile to stick it out to the triumphant finish ...'

The Scouts of Malta played a notable role in the aerial siege of the Island between 1940 and 1943. They were collectively decorated with the unique honour of the Bronze Cross 'in recognition of their courage and devotion to duty in the face of continuous enemy action in the war for freedom'.

The Scout Association of Malta was until 1966 a branch of the British Association. Malta became an independent state in 1964 and in October 1966 the Maltese national organisation became a member of the World Scout Conference.

The Maltese Scouts have been represented at all Jamborees except two, those in the Philippines and Japan. It was the Maltese Scout contingent which at Olympia in 1920 initiated the move that proclaimed B-P Chief Scout of the World.

The Scouts of Malta have maintained throughout all these years their sense of service and dedication to the ideals of the Movement as conceived by its founder.

Malta Scouting Milestones 1890 - 1893 Baden-Powell, then known as Captain R. S. S. Baden-Powell, was on February 7, 1890 appointed as Assistant Military Secretary and served in Malta during the period that his uncle, General Sir Henry Smyth, was Governor of Malta. During the same period he also served as Intelligence Officer for the Mediterranean.

November 9, 1908 The Malta Boy Scouts Association was formed on November 9, 1908 and officially recognised, as was the procedure then, exactly a year later with Captain R.F. Lock R.A. as Scout Commissioner. The strength of the Association then, counted three (3) Scoutmasters and 338 Scouts.

August 1911 A group of six (6) Scouts from Malta were present at the rally at Windsor Park on the occasion of the Coronation of King George V.

1916 The Wolf Cub section for boys aged 8 to 11 was established.

October 30, 1912
Baden-Powell marries Olave St. Clair Soames.

February 1913 Chief Scout Baden-Powell together with Lady Baden-Powell visit Malta during their delayed honeymoon. The Chief Scout inspected six Troops from Barracca, Dockyard, Floriana, Sliema, Tigne and Valletta. He recognised and shook hands with two of the Scouts he had tea with in London during the Coronation in 1911.

15 September 1913 The Malta Boy Scouts Association is formally registered by Imperial Headquarters in London as an Overseas Branch of The Boy Scouts Association.

August 1914 War was declared in August 1914. Most of the Scout leaders were servicemen and within weeks of the declaration of hostilities they were on their way to the Western Front. Camps were cancelled and the Scouts volunteered for war service as interpreters, in hospitals, in convalescent centres, in the censor's office and as coast watchers and messengers. There were by November 1915, 84 Scouts on war duty, 44 of whom had qualified for a special war badge.

December 1915 At the end of 1915 membership stood at 105 Scouts and Leaders.

24 May 1916 On 24 May 1916, Empire Day, the Association held the first of its now traditional annual parades by marching along the main streets of Valletta. The 118 Scouts were inspected by the acting lieutenant-governor, Mr Edgar Bonavia, at a rally on Palace Square. The drums and pipes of the King's Own Malta Regiment of Militia were in attendance.

28 May 1917 On 28 May 1917, Empire Day, the Association held its second rally on Palace Square, Valletta with 636 Scouts on parade.

14 October 1917 On Sunday, October 14, 1917 a rally for all Scouts was held at Mosta. On parade were 2 District Scoutmasters, 20 Scoutmasters, 33 Assistant Scoutmasters, 115 Patrol Leaders and 625 Scouts. The Chief Scout, Lord Methuen presented warrants to the first Island Commissioner of the Malta Boy Scouts Association, Mr E. Bonavia.

30 November 1917 At its General Meeting held on 30 November 1917 the chairman of the Executive Council reported that the Association had 1,200 members with 28 Troops in Malta and one in Gozo.

24 May 1918 On 24 May 1918 the Scouts paraded in Valletta to celebrate Empire Day in what was reported as "the finest parade so far held in Malta". 1,020 Scouts in 26 Troops led by the 1st Battalion The King's Own Malta Regiment marched down Strada Reale to Palace Square.

20 April 1919 The Association bade farewell to its Chief Scout, Lord Methuen. His successor was none other than General Plumer, who had led the column which relieved Mafeking in 1900 and who later became chairman of the Council of the Association when it was first formed in 1909.

July 30 - 8 August 1920 37 Scouts from Malta take part in the First World Jamboree at Olympia, London

June 1921 Major F.R. Lucas, the Chief Scout's Visiting Commissioner for Overseas Scouts, visited Malta to report on the Association. The report which Major Lucas submitted was full of praise for the Association.

21 April 1924 On 21 April 1924 the Association bid farewell to its Chief Scout Lord Plumer. Lord Plumer was succeeded as Governor by General Sir Walter Norris Congreve V.C. whose name will always be linked with the Scouts of Malta.

28 February 1927 Sir Walter Congreve dies after a long illness. His funeral took place on March 4. Scouts carried the wreaths in the funeral cortege and also lined the route together with the servicemen for the slow procession with the coffin which was carried from the Palace in Valletta to the Customs House. From there it was taken to sea on board H.M.S. Chrysanthemum to be committed to the deep in accordance with Sir Walter's last request. The late Governor's old regiment, the Rifle Brigade, planned to erect a memorial in his memory and at the request of the then Island Commissioner this took the form of a building to serve as headquarters for the Boy Scouts of Malta.

3 March 1927 On the eve of Sir Walter Congreve's funeral the death was announced of the first Island Commissioner, Mr Edgar Bonavia.

28 October 1928 The Association took part in the first rally on October 28, 1928 to celebrate the feast of Christ the King which had been instituted by the Universal Church.

July 1929 32 Scouters and Scouts represented the Association at the 3rd World Jamboree held at Arrowe Park in Birkenhead, England in July 1929.

8 May 1932 The Chief Scout of Malta, Sir David Campbell, inaugurates the new Scout Headquarters at Floriana. A memorial tablet recorded that the building was erected TO THE MEMORY OF GENERAL SIR WALTER NORRIS CONGREVE V.C., K.C.B., M.V.O., A.D.C., GOVERNOR OF MALTA (1924-29) ERECTED BY HIS FRIENDS IN THE SERVICES AS A TOKEN OF THEIR ESTEEM

22 February 1933 During another visit to Malta together with the Chief Guide Lady Baden-Powell, the Chief Scout of the World Lord Baden-Powell took the salute at a Jamboree held at the Empire Sports Stadium, Gzira, on his 76th birthday.

7 April 1934 Lord Baden-Powell, as Chief Scout of the World accompanied by Lady Baden-Powell, the Chef Guide visits Malta again, this time sailing on board the White Star liner Adriatic, which ship the Chief Scout and Lady Baden-Powell had joined at Liverpool. The Chief Scout was convalescing after two severe operations.

7 April 1937 Lord Baden-Powell, as Chief Scout of the World accompanied by Lady Baden-Powell, the Chief Guide visits Malta again for the last time.

12 May 1937 103 Scouts from Malta represent the Association at the celebrations for the Coronation of King George VI in London

August 1937 13 Scouts from Malta represent the Association in the Vogelenzang Valley 5th World Jamboree in Holland

7 April 1942 Scout Island Headquarters, Floriana is totally destroyed by enemy action

3 May 1943 On St George's Day, the Scouts of Malta and Gozo were collectively awarded the Bronze Cross, the Movement's highest award for Gallantry. The citation which was signed by Lord Sommers as Chief Scout and Sir Percy Everett, Chairman of the Awards Committee, said it was being made "in recognition of their courage, heroic endurance and devotion to duty in the face of continuous enemy action in the war for freedom".

1 September 1948 The rebuilt Scout Island Headquarters at Floriana is officially opened. Inside the building the German prisoners of war who had provided a helping hand in the building works had carved a stone inscription which still reads : "This Congreve-Bernard Hall was erected on the site of the original building which was destroyed by enemy action on the 7th April 1942. The necessary funds were provided by Imperial Headquarters, Scouts of South Africa and Australia, and by public subscription in Malta. The original building was erected as a memorial to the memory of General Sir Walter Norris Congreve VC, KCB, MVO, ADC, Governor and Chief Scout of Malta 1924-27 and of Colonel Sir Edgar Bernard KBE, CMG, Island Commissioner of Boy Scouts Malta 1924-31".

November 1949 On the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Guides of Malta, Lady Baden-Powell pays another visit to Malta.

June 1953 53 Scouts from Malta attend the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Second in London.

October 1956 Lady Baden-Powell pays another visit to Malta.

February 1964 Sir Charles Maclean, Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Chief Scout of the Commonwealth pays a 10-day visit to Malta.

22 June 1966 At an Extraordinary General Meeting held at the Palace in Valletta under the presidency of Sir Maurice Dorman, Governor General and Chief Scout, two important resolutions were approved. The first concerned the adoption of the new constitution : "Be it resolved at this extraordinary general meeting that the first Malta National Scout Council, under Article VIII of the Constitution, adopts the 1966 Constitution and declares that it shall come into effect from this day, June 22, 1966". The second resolution concerned membership of the World Scout Conference : "Be it resolved that the Malta National Scout Council should seek direct membership of the World Scout Conference and that an application should be submitted to the Boy Scouts World Bureau accordingly". These resolutions were consequent to Malta becoming on the 21st September 1964 an independent State.

28 October 1966 The Malta Boy Scouts Association is officially granted recognition as a Member Organisation of the Boy Scouts World Conference and registration at the Boy Scouts World Bureau.

13 December 1966 Lady Baden-Powell as Vice President of the World Bureau visits Malta again and besides presenting the certificate granting recognition by the Boy Scouts World Bureau of the Malta Boy Scouts Association as an independent body within the Boy Scouts World Conference unveiled a memorial plaque to her husband at Scout Headquarters, Floriana. The certificate by the Boy Scouts World Bureau is countersigned by Lady Baden-Powell herself.

1-9 August 1967 The Association was represented at the 12th World Scout Jamboree held at Farragut State Park, Idaho, United States of America.

July 30 - August 9 1975 The Association is represented at the 14th World Scout Jamboree held at Lillehammer, Norway.

May 1976 Mr Victor Castillo, the first Maltese Chief Scout and President of the Scout Council took the salute at the Annual St George's Day parade in Valletta. The post had previously been held by the Governors of Malta. Since then the President of the Republic became Patron of the Association.

11-16 September 1978 50 delegates from 14 different Scout Associations attend a seminar in Malta organised under the auspices of the European Region. The theme of the seminar being "Scouting and Adolescence".

July 1980 Mr A. C. Azzopardi, Chief Commissioner attends the Scout and Guide European Region National Conference held at Lancaster University, England.

April 1983 Mr A.C. Azzopardi, Chief Commissioner attends the European Scout Conference held in Assisi, Italy

9 November 1983 The Association celebrated its 75th Anniversary since its formation.

12-18 July 1986 Mr Paul Camilleri, Chief Commissioner attends the European Scout and Guide Conference held at Ofir, Portugal.

October 1987 Malta was host to another Seminar organised by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and the European Scout Region with the theme "Making the most of diversity in youth leader training".

January 1988 36 Scouts from the St Aloysius College Scout Group and the Sliema Scout Group represented the Association at the 16th World Jamboree held in Sydney, Australia. On their way to Australia via Rome the contingent were received in private audience by Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

January 11 - 15 January 1988 Malta is represented at the 31st World Scout Conference held in Melbourne, Australia.