Francis Gidney: Difference between revisions
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'''Francis "Skipper" Gidney''' (1890–1928) was an early leader of the [[Scouting]] movement in the [[United Kingdom]]. He was appointed the first Camp Chief of [[Gilwell Park]] in May 1919, and organized the first [[Wood Badge]] adult leader training course there in September 1919. He served in the Scouting organization until 1923, and was |
'''Francis "Skipper" Gidney''' (1890–1928) was an early leader of the [[Scouting]] movement in the [[United Kingdom]]. He was appointed the first Camp Chief of [[Gilwell Park]] in May 1919, and organized the first [[Wood Badge]] adult leader training course there in September 1919. He served in the Scouting organization until 1923, and was honoured by having the Gidney Cabin at Gilwell, a training centre, named for him. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Gidney started one of the first Scout |
Gidney started one of the first [[Scout Troop]]s in 1908, when he was only 17 years old.<ref name="milestones">{{cite web | last = Walker | first = Johnny | authorlink = | year = 2006 | url = http://scoutguidehistoricalsociety.com/biogs-g-m.htm#gidney | title = Gidney, Francis 'Skipper'. 1890-1928 | work = Scouting Personalities | publisher = Johnny Walker's Scouting Milestones | accessdate = 2 November 2016}}</ref> Gidney then served in [[World War I]]. He was seriously wounded and invalided out of the army before the [[Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)|Armistice]]. His position in Scouting led to financial and marital difficulties: he himself complained that he was underpaid, and his wife did not care much for Scouting. The marriage eventually foundered. They had at least three children, one of whom died in 1921.<ref name="milestones"/> His son, Alan Francis Gidney, later became an officer in the [[10th Gurkha Rifles]] and was [[mentioned in dispatches]] during the [[Burma Campaign]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unithistories.com/officers/IndianArmy_officers_G01.html |title=Indian Army Officers: 1939-1945 - G |last1=Houterman |first1=Hans |last2=Koppes |first2=Jeroen |date= |website=www.unithistories.com |publisher= |access-date=2 November 2016 |quote=}}</ref> |
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Gidney established the [[pen name]] of "Gilcraft" which he used when writing articles in ''[[The Scout (magazine)|The Scout]]'' and the ''[[Headquarters Gazette]]'', also in several instructional books and booklets for both adult [[Scouter]]s and boys. The pseudonym continued to be used by his successors at Gilwell in the [[interwar period]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Sharma |first=Tara Chand |title=Scouting As A Cocurricular Activity |year=2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CAFrYgcM3JwC&q=%22Gilcraft%22+Gidney&pg=PA104 |location=New Delhi |publisher=Sarup & Sons |pages=103–104 |isbn=81-7625-351-0 }}</ref> It was his idea to start the 1st Gilwell Scout Troop (today the 1st Gilwell Park Scout Group) for all Wood Badge holders, with its distinctive [[neckerchief]], and he successfully established the pattern still used for modern-day Gilwell Reunions.<ref name="milestones"/> |
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Disputes over how Gilwell Park should be managed led to Gidney resigning in 1923, which greatly upset the founder of the Scouting movement, [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Robert Baden-Powell]].<ref name="milestones"/> Gidney then worked as a Master at a [[Preparatory school (United Kingdom)|preparatory school]] in [[Bournemouth]], before retiring due to ill health. He died from complications to his war wounds in 1928 at the age of 38.<ref name="milestones"/> The Frank Gidney Memorial Cabin was built at Gilwell by Don Potter, one of the staff members, who had been given his first set of woodworking tools by Gidney.<ref>{{cite web | last = Walker | first = Johnny | authorlink = | year = 2006 | url = http://scoutguidehistoricalsociety.com/biogs-p-r.htm#potter | title = Gidney, Francis 'Skipper'. 1890-1928 | work = Scouting Personalities | publisher = Johnny Walker's Scouting Milestones | accessdate = 2 November 2016}}</ref> The cabin was opened by Baden-Powell on [[Easter Sunday]], 1930.<ref name="milestones"/> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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{{Persondata |
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| NAME = Gidney, Francis |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Scouting leader |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = 1890 |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = |
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| DATE OF DEATH = 1928 |
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| PLACE OF DEATH = |
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}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gidney, Francis}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gidney, Francis}} |
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[[Category:1890 births]] |
[[Category:1890 births]] |
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Latest revision as of 05:18, 12 July 2022
Francis "Skipper" Gidney (1890–1928) was an early leader of the Scouting movement in the United Kingdom. He was appointed the first Camp Chief of Gilwell Park in May 1919, and organized the first Wood Badge adult leader training course there in September 1919. He served in the Scouting organization until 1923, and was honoured by having the Gidney Cabin at Gilwell, a training centre, named for him.
Biography
[edit]Gidney started one of the first Scout Troops in 1908, when he was only 17 years old.[1] Gidney then served in World War I. He was seriously wounded and invalided out of the army before the Armistice. His position in Scouting led to financial and marital difficulties: he himself complained that he was underpaid, and his wife did not care much for Scouting. The marriage eventually foundered. They had at least three children, one of whom died in 1921.[1] His son, Alan Francis Gidney, later became an officer in the 10th Gurkha Rifles and was mentioned in dispatches during the Burma Campaign.[2]
Gidney established the pen name of "Gilcraft" which he used when writing articles in The Scout and the Headquarters Gazette, also in several instructional books and booklets for both adult Scouters and boys. The pseudonym continued to be used by his successors at Gilwell in the interwar period.[3] It was his idea to start the 1st Gilwell Scout Troop (today the 1st Gilwell Park Scout Group) for all Wood Badge holders, with its distinctive neckerchief, and he successfully established the pattern still used for modern-day Gilwell Reunions.[1]
Disputes over how Gilwell Park should be managed led to Gidney resigning in 1923, which greatly upset the founder of the Scouting movement, Robert Baden-Powell.[1] Gidney then worked as a Master at a preparatory school in Bournemouth, before retiring due to ill health. He died from complications to his war wounds in 1928 at the age of 38.[1] The Frank Gidney Memorial Cabin was built at Gilwell by Don Potter, one of the staff members, who had been given his first set of woodworking tools by Gidney.[4] The cabin was opened by Baden-Powell on Easter Sunday, 1930.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Walker, Johnny (2006). "Gidney, Francis 'Skipper'. 1890-1928". Scouting Personalities. Johnny Walker's Scouting Milestones. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ Houterman, Hans; Koppes, Jeroen. "Indian Army Officers: 1939-1945 - G". www.unithistories.com. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ Sharma, Tara Chand (2003). Scouting As A Cocurricular Activity. New Delhi: Sarup & Sons. pp. 103–104. ISBN 81-7625-351-0.
- ^ Walker, Johnny (2006). "Gidney, Francis 'Skipper'. 1890-1928". Scouting Personalities. Johnny Walker's Scouting Milestones. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
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