These medals were struck to commemorate the feat of Colonel Baden Powell who, with his troops, defended the town of Mafeking in South Africa during the Boer War for 217 days. Robert Baden Powell (1857-1941) was a British Army officer who served in India and Africa from 1876 to 1910. In 1907 he founded the Boy Scout movement, now an international organization for boys and with his sister Agnes, founded the Girl Guide movement, also now internationally established.These medals are of local interest as they commemorate Colonel Baden Powell’s heroics in defending in 1899-1900 the town of Mafeking in South Africa during the Boer War. The Relief of Mafeking was celebrated in Warrnambool in May 1900. .1 A bronze-coloured medal with an image of Colonel Baden Powell on one side and some descriptive text on the other. The medal has a metal ring at the top to attach the medal to a cord. .2 as .1 above except that the top metal ring is missing .1 Colonel Baden Powell Defender of Mafeking Relief of Mafeking May 1900 and Baden Powell The Hero Who Kept the Flag Flying For Over 215 Days .2 as .1 above colonel robert baden powell, boer war, relief of mafeking, history of warrnambool

Robert Baden-Powell was born in 1857. After school he joined the British Army as an officer and was posted to India. In the early 1880s he served in the Natal province of South Africa amidst the Zulu He learnt advanced scouting skills during his time in South Africa where knowledge of countryside was vital for gaining information. In 1896 he returned to Africa and served in the Second Matabele War in the expedition to relieve British South Africa Company personnel under siege in Bulawayo. From 1899 to 1900, Baden-Powell commanded the garrison at Mafeking during the Second Boer War. The siege of Mafeking lasted 217 days and the successful defence of the town raised his national profile. In 1900 Baden-Powell was promoted to Major General. In 1901 he was invested as Companion of the Order of Bath by King Edward VII. After some controversies he retired from the Army in 1910. At the beginning of the First World War he put himself at the disposal of the War Office but no command was given to him. Awards obtained include Ashanti Star (1895), British South Africa Company Medal (1896), Queen's South Africa Medal (1899), King's South Africa Medal (1902), Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, plus numerous Scouting Medals. Baden-Powell married in 1912 at the age of 55. He and Olave had three children. Baden-Powell died in 1941 and buried in St Peter's Cemetery, Nyeri, Kenya. Olave died in 1977 and her ashes were sent to Kenya to be interred beside her husband.Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards. See 09350.baden-powell, british army, natal, south africa, zulu, india, officer, scouting, second matabele war, british south africa company, bulawayo, mafeking, second boer war, major general, companion of the order of bath, ashant star, british south africa company medal, queen's south africa medal, king's south africa medal, knight grand cross of the order of st michael and st george, knight grand cross of the royal victorian order, knight commander of the order of the bath