Rose Kerr

Rose Kerr
Born 1882
Died 12 December 1944
Draycott Avenue, London, SW3
Spouse(s) Mark Kerr
Children Mrs Alix Liddell
Louise Rosemary Kerr
Parent(s) Major Wilfred A. Gough
Beatrice Guthrie

Rose Kerr OBE (1882 – 12 December 1944)[1] was a pioneer of the Guiding movement from Great Britain.

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..[2]

Personal life

She was born in Dublin as Rose Margaret Guthrie Gough, daughter of Major Wilfred A. Gough,[2] Her father was killed in action when she was 2 and her mother remarried Captain Henry Denison to whom she became quite devoted. She studied music in Dresden.[2] In 1906 Rose Gough married Admiral Mark Kerr (born 8 September 1864 - died 20 January 1944); they had two children: Alix Liddell (1907–1981, née Kerr) and Luise Rosemary Kerr [3](1908–1986).

Robert Baden-Powell proposed to Rose Gough first, but was refused in December 1905.[4] However they remained close friends.

Guiding

Juliette Gordon Low persuaded Kerr to lead a Guide company in 1912.[5] 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.[6] 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. 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.[2]

World War II

During World War II, a message was smuggled to Kerr from Anni Collan, the Chief Guide of Finland. Collan wrote "It is a pity that our two countries are at war with one another - but that does not make any difference to us!"[7]

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 (Now Girlguiding UK)

WAGGGS

Works

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Deaths". The Times. London, England. 13 December 1944. p. 1. KERR.—On Dec. 12, 1944, at 19, Draycott Avenue, S.W.3, Rose Margaret Kerr, O.B.E., widow of Admiral Mark Kerr, C.B., M.V.O.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Furse, Katherine (1944-12-19). "Mrs. Mark Kerr: Work for Girl Guides". The Times. London. p. 6.
  3. ↑ "Peerage.com, p. 1502". Retrieved 2007-05-04.
  4. ↑ Jeal, Tim (1991). Baden-Powell. London: Pimlico. p. 348.
  5. ↑ Kerr, Rose (1976). Story of the Girl Guides 1908-1938. London: Girl Guides Association.
  6. ↑ Shultz, Gladys Denny (1958). Lady from Savannah. J.B. Lippincott Company. p. 302.
  7. ↑ Liddell, Alix (1976). Story of the Girl Guides 1938-1975. London: Girl Guides Association.
  8. ↑ http://www.spanglefish.com/calgaric
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