| Baden-Powell grave | |
|---|---|
 Baden-Powell grave | |
 Interactive map of Baden-Powell grave | |
| Details | |
| Established | 1941 |
| Location | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Coordinates | 0°25′08″S36°57′00″E / 0.418968°S 36.950117°E /-0.418968; 36.950117 |
| Owned by | St. Peter's Cemetery |
The graves ofLieutenant-GeneralThe 1st Baron Baden-Powell and his wife,Olave, Baroness Baden-Powell,G.B.E., are inNyeri,Nyeri County,Kenya, nearMount Kenya. Lord Baden-Powell died on 8 January 1941, and is buried in St. Peter's Cemetery in theWajee Nature Park. When his wife Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, died, her ashes were sent to Kenya and interred beside her husband. Kenya has declared Baden-Powell's grave a national monument. Scouts consider the grave, "one of the most revered shrines and pilgrimage sites in the world."
Baden-Powell, who knew and liked Kenya, decided to start wintering in Nyeri at theOutspan Hotel of his friend, Eric Sherbrooke Walker.[1] He chose Kenya as his last home because of favorable climate and the political situation in Europe.[2] Baden-Powell knew his health was failing and planned accordingly. He said, "I'd rather die in Africa, where my heart is, than anywhere".[3] His will stipulated that he was to be buried in Nyeri, eschewing the tomb allotted to him in Westminster Abbey. He left final letters for Scouts and Scouters, and made plans for his burial.[4]
His death was world-wide news.[3][5] Speaking for Canada, Prime MinisterMacKenzie King called it, "a loss which will be felt throughout the civilized world". He also said, "The Boy Scout movement will in itself be his enduring memorial".[6] Baden-Powell was given amilitary funeral with a procession.[7][8] He was buried in St. Peter's Cemetery in theWajee Nature Park.[9]
When Baden-Powell's wife, Olave, died on 25 June 1977, she was cremated and her ashes taken to Kenya for interment at the Baden-Powell gravesite.[10] A memorial service was subsequently held for them inWestminster Abbey.[11] The memorial stone is in the south aisle of the nave of Westminster Abbey, against the screen of St George’s chapel and was unveiled on 12 February 1981.[11]
Robert Baden PowellChief Scout of the World
ʘ
22nd February 1857
8th January 1941
Olave Baden Powell
World Chief Guide
22nd February 1889
25th June 1977
His gravestone bears a circle with a dot in the center, "ʘ", which is thetrail sign for "Going home", or "I have gone home".[12]
Kenya has declared Baden-Powell's grave a national monument.[13] The nation's largest newspaper, theDaily Nation, has called the Scouting founder's final resting place "one of the most revered shrines and pilgrimage sites in the world",[14][12] with as many as 50,000 people visiting the site each year.[13] Each year on 22 February, members of theKenya Scouts Association andKenya Girl Guides Association celebrateFounders' Day at the grave.[14] The British government employs staff to maintain the site.[15]
Funeral procession of Robert Baden-Powell, head of the scouting movement for boys, in Kenya
The scene at the graveside during the military funeral of Lord Baden-Powell at Nyeri, Kenya. According to the original caption, the church at Nyeri is too small for such a large congregation, so the service is held beside the grave. Brigadier General SirGodfrey Rhodes can be seen beyond the coffin, wearing the uniform of the Scout Commissioner of Kenya.
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Travel information from Wikivoyage
Data from Wikidata