Over the course of Covid, I started a few different guiding collections, one is my Girl Guide of Canada’s First Day Covers (which I’m still losing my mind over trying to finish) and another is Guiding postcards from around the world. Living in a small apartment, I love collections that I’m able to store in binders on my bookshelf. A few months ago I found online a postcard of an old English flag with a Trefoil and as always, I was excited to learn more.
I quickly learned that my postcard showed a ‘Standard’, which is a special flag used in the United Kingdom and is a family's banner of arms. The Queen herself, a former Girl Guide, has a few Royal Standers that she has used throughout her life. Usually, these flags are very symbolic and carry a lot of meaning. The one on the postcard shows a knight on a horse which is St. George, the patron saint of England. One of his legends tells the tale of how he slew a dragon and his cross (Red on a white background) is used on the Flag of England and the Union Jack. The two quotes, ‘be prepared’ is the motto of the Girl Guides and ‘Perseveres’ was the motto of Mrs. Percy who was the chief commission at the time of the card’s printing. The blue of the sky represents the blue of the Guide’s uniform and the imagery is depicted outside due to the important role of outdoor programming in guiding. The crest close to the end of the flag belongs to the Baden-Powell family and Gold Trefoils can be seen on the flag as well.
I’m not totally sure how long the tradition of a Girl Guide Standard was used but according to the postcard’s back, this one was used in Great Britain by the Girl Guide Association in 1951. I posted on the UK Facebook group “I love GirlGuiding history’ and one UK Guider remembered this Standard was a shared one which was carried for the UK Chief Commissioners and until each region or country had its own. It would travel out from London by rail and then be met at stations by different guide groups. Another Guider remembers it being called The George Standard and another just remembers how much of a best it was to carry.
While researching for this blog I did find an article on Guiding flags in the October 1961 issue of the Canadian Guider magazine. The article explores the history of the World Flag used in Guiding that was designed by Froken Kari Aas of Norway for the sixth world conference in 1930. Midway through it brings up the story behind the personal standard of Lady Baden-Powell that was created in 1922 by Girl Guide Commissioners from around the world who wanted to make this Standard as a token of their loyalty and regard for the World Chief Guide. The article includes a photo of it but sadly admits that since it is now over 35 years, it is too delicate to travel so that most Canadian Guides will never have a chance to see it.
The ‘Chief Guides Standard’, as the article calls it is jam-packed with symbolic meaning,
The Gold Trefoil on blue is for the three-part promise and the blue sea with its silver waves and dolphins holds three ships that are sailing around the world sharing the Guiding Movement. The sea has a ‘Gold’ fish which was awarded to Lady Baden-Powell in 1918 by the Boy Scouts Association and worn only by her. Around the middle of the flag there is a camping scene that shows the two family crests of the Baden-Powell, as well as their family motto of “Ar Nyd Yw Pwyll Pyd Yw” in Welsh or “Where there is a Powell, there is safety” in England. (Powell was the family name prior to the late 1860s, and the change probably wasn’t a popular choice with Lord Baden-Powell’s younger brother, Baden Baden-Powell). The other motto is the Guiding one of ‘be prepared. In 1930, two hemispheres were added to show lady Baden-Powell appointed to World Chief Guide
I haven't come across much information on Standards being used in Canada but before finding this postcard I never knew to look out for them in photos or in people's accounts. The article in the Canadian Guider does mention that some provinces did have their own but doesn't elaborate. If anyone has information or remembers any Canadian Standards I would love to learn more and follow this blog up with an update!
Thanks for Reading - Em