Guide International Service

The Guide International Service (G.I.S.) was an organisation set up by the Girl Guides Association in Britain in 1942 with the aim of sending teams of adult Girl Guides to do relief work into Europe after World War II.[1][2]

Guide International Relief Service
Founded1942
Membership198
AffiliationGirl Guides Association
 Scouting portal

A total of 198 Guiders and 60 Scouts, drawn from Britain, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Holland, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand and Russia served in teams.[3][4] There were many teams in place in various parts of occupied Europe - perhaps the most notable was at the Bergen-Belsen displaced persons camp - while other teams served in Greece, Holland and Malaya.[5]

Olave Baden-Powell, World Chief Guide, grieving in Kenya after the death of her husband, Robert Baden-Powell, was persuaded to return to Britain:[6] . . . I kept receiving letters from England telling me thrilling stories of the heroism of Scouts and Guides in Britain and in the occupied countries of Europe. Then I had one letter in particular that challenged me. It was from Miss Tennyson, the Editor of The Guider, and she wrote, “Come home and see what Guides are doing in the war. You will never forgive yourself if you don't see it.” ...

Notable volunteers

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Further reading

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  • Brown, Phyllis Stewart All things uncertain: The Story of the G.I.S (1966) Pub. Girl Guides Association
  • Eastick, Nancy Guides can do anything (1996) Pub. Guides Victoria, Australia

References

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  1. ^ "Helping Victims in Occupied Lands. Girl Guides' Service". The Glasgow Herald. Oct 25, 1943.
  2. ^ "Guiding hand took on world Nancy Eastick, 1920-2011". The Sydney Morning Herald. April 2, 2011.
  3. ^ Hampton, Janie (2010). How the Girl Guides Won the War. HarperPress. ISBN 978-0007356324.
  4. ^ Liddell, Alix (1976). Story of the Girl Guides 1938-1975. London: Girl Guides Association. ASIN B000SHTJ52.
  5. ^ Brown, Phyllis Stewart (1966). All Things Uncertain. London: The Girl Guides Association. pp. 5–6.
  6. ^ Window on my Heart. Hoder & Stoughton. 1973. p. 197. ISBN 9780340159446.