The Biennial Report of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) for 1942-1944 tells how the World Association functioned during World War II. It wasn’t easy. Those were difficult times all over the world. Just ask someone who remembers.

WAGGGS was established in 1928. WAGGGS was only 14-years-old when WWII began. Its headquarters was in London, in the midst of war time activity. Many refugees made their way to England from across the continent of Europe, including many girls and women who were members of Girl Guides in their home countries. The World Center in London, Our Ark, (predecessor of Pax Lodge) welcomed members from war torn countries.

The report told of the recent death of Helen Storrow, donor of the World Center in Switzerland, Our Chalet. Lady Baden-

Our Ark World Center was used to house World Guide members who had to flee their country during World War II.

Powell had just returned to England from Kenya after the death of her husband, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouting movement

Dame Katherine Furse, advisor to the World Committee, wrote of the challenge ahead to continue bringing young people together in peace. She wrote of the training that would be needed for WAGGGS to move forward and help bring a life of faith and trust back to children.

An interim committee was organized that had the authority to take action which would be ratified later when the World Committee could meet again.

The director wrote about other committees that were able to function. The Western Hemisphere committee was quite active. South Americans translated several publications into Spanish. There had been a conference with Boy Scouts discussing how the two organizations would move forward after peace was restored. WAGGGS and the International Boy Scouts decided to jointly publish a leaflet explaining the Scouting Movement as conceived by the founder. Plans for the future, training, and recruiting were made.

The Finance and Training committees work was ongoing. The committees for the World Centers, Our Ark, and Our Chalet, continued. The Council Fire continued to be published despite the paper shortage.

When Lady Baden-Powell returned to England she was given a grace and favor apartment at Hampton Court by King George VI. The home where the Baden-Powells had lived for 20 years had been requisitioned by the military during the war. The grace and favor apartments were given at the King’s discretion to wives or daughters of men who had given distinguished service to England during their lifetime.

At this time there were many girls and women in England from other countries in Europe who had been members in their home country. They were thought of by WAGGGS as friends and guests rather than as refugees. They were dubbed “Golondrinas,” a Spanish word for swallows. They were considered to have only short-term homes in England. There were more Polish Golondrinas than any other nationality. Generally each national group established a community with schools for their children. Girl Guide companies were organized for the girls. Besides the Polish there were also French, Belgian, Czech, Hungarian, Norwegian, and others. During the time of this report there had been two successful international encampments in the United Kingdom for WAGGGS members.

Plans for the future included “being prepared.” It was noted that camping made the best use of whatever material was available. WAGGGS planned to “play a part in the healing process after the fighting has come to an end.”

Fourteen member countries had submitted reports. It was interesting to note that Canada had begun day camps which had been so successful in the United States. Egypt had a large colony of Greeks who had fled their occupied homeland. Guides in Great Britain had started training for post war work in countries that had been occupied. Other volunteer organizations which were sending workers into the occupied countries sent their volunteers to the Guide trainings.