Rose Kerr

Rose Margaret Guthrie Kerr (née Gough; 28 April 1882 – 12 December 1944) was a British pioneer of the Guiding movement.

She was one of the founders of the Rangers section of Girl Guides and was involved in the formation of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and authored numerous publications on Guiding. She was awarded the Silver Fish. In 1938 she was made an O.B.E. When she was 2, her father was killed in action at the Battle of Abu Klea, and her mother remarried Captain Henry Denison to whom she became quite devoted. She studied music in Dresden.

Robert Baden-Powell proposed to Rose Gough first, but was refused in December 1905. However they remained close friends.

Guiding Juliette Gordon Low persuaded Kerr to lead a Guide company in 1912. According to the story, Juliette Low using her deafness failed to hear Rose Kerr's excuses that she didn't have time and didn't live in London. She gave up this company on going abroad in 1913 to Greece and later Italy. While staying at the Baden-Powell's home, Ewhurst Place, in 1916, Olave Baden-Powell insisted that Kerr become a County Commissioner for The Girl Guide Association. She started as Chief Commissioner for the County of London but later turned her attention to international Guiding also. She continued to lead her own Ranger company from that time on.

Rose Kerr's daughter, Louise Rosemary "Rosie" Kerr, was a close friend of the pilot, Richard Hillary, and was reportedly engaged to the Squadron Leader, Jacques-Henri Schloesing until he was killed in action in 1944. Schloesing had been a Scout leader before the war, and the street where Passy Cemetery stands in Paris is named for him.

Appointments

The Girl Guide Association Guider County Commissioner Member of the Executive Committee Head of Rangers Deputy Chief Commissioner, London and the Home Counties Vice-Chairman, International Council Commissioner for Publications (first) International Commissioner Chairman of subcommittee appointed by Robert Baden-Powell to consider the formation of a World Association

WAGGGS Chairman of First World Committee (first) Commissioner for Tenderfoot Countries Head of Publications Editor of The Council Fire

Works 1929: The Commissioner's Book 1932: The Story of the Girl Guides 1934: The Cruise of the Calgaric 1935: The Cruise of the Adriatic 1938: The Cruise of the Orduna 1939: The Story Of A Million Girls - Guiding and Girl Scouting Round The World (Compiler) 1954: The Story of the Girl Guides: 1908- 1938 (Revised by Alix Liddell)