The Order of World Scouts was founded on the 11th November 1911, and was the earliest World Scouting organisation. The date was chosen to echo the declaration of Baldwin as King of Jerusalem, concluding a successful end to the first Crusade, 11th November 1100. Most folk today know little, or nothing about this known organisation as events from 1912 onwards reduced the organisation to a mere remnant of what it had been. Its glory was short lived. It was an organisation that was in fierce competition to Baden-Powell's organisation. You can find some reference to its existence in Tim Jeal's Biography on Baden-Powell (Baden-Powell, Published by Hutchinson, London 1989 & in paperback by Pimlico, London 1991, pages 408, 428 and 544, both editions).

The main source of information about the spread of the BBS is given in CHUMS, volumes for the years 1909-1911. These various national organisations of Scouts formed a loose federation early 1911 called the Legion of World Scouts under the leadership of Vane.

In France Monsieur Augustin Dufresne, a ship owner formed a French scouting organisation in the summer of 1911 (a precursor to the Eclaireurs de France), help was give by Sir Francis Vane. In May 1910 an American Newspaper owner, Hearst formed and Incorporated the American Boy Scout (ABS, note the singular ending) which competed with the Boy Scouts of America, (BSA) an allied organisation to that of B-P's organisation in the UK.
Further details on the Order of World Scouts can be gained by E.Mailing
ows@boy-scout.org
Individual and Corporate membership can be gained by individuals, or by Scout groups, members of which, have taken a Scout Promise which reflects B-P's original. If sufficient people are interested, a book will be published covering the whole history of The British Boy Scouts, and the Order of World Scouts. Included in the text are details on dozens of other organisations which were connected with scouting (Woodcraft Folk, The Order of Woodcraft Chivalry, Kibbo Kift, Life Pioneers, British Scout Federation, British Pathfinder Scouts Association, the Outlanders, Federation of European Scouts UK Association, Baden-Powell Scouts Association, along with more details of the other organisations mentioned above) Details of the 1919 Court Case in New York over the United States Boy Scouts, the British Chartered Associations (Protection of Names and Uniforms) Act 1926, which was sponsored by friends of the Boy Scouts Association, and took 5 years to get through Parliament are included. The 1926 Act has been used recently against an FSE group in England - details in the text. If sufficient folk order a book (no payments are required yet), it will be published. If not a photocopied version will be available. Details E.Mailed on request. An earlier version was published in 1987, which was used by Time Jeal in the research for his biography, but the work has grown too large for the BBS to publish the book itself (76,277 words plus dozens of photographs and illustrations) without guaranteed sales. Advanced Orders will allow a professional product -hard covers, dust jacket.