Timeline of Scout Organisation in the Western Cape

1908	The first Scout Troops are formed in South Africa. The Claremont Troop (now 1st Claremont) was formed on 3 March 1908 at Claremont Public School in Cape Town. The first Scoutmaster of the first Scout Troop in South Africa was George French, the headmaster at the Claremont Public School.
1909	To ensure some standard Policy, the Imperial Scout Headquarters in London appointed Major J.C. Hanna as the first Commissioner to take charge of the newly registered Cape Colony, with its Headquarters in Cape Town.
1910	Viscount Gladstone appointed Chief Scout of South Africa. Scouting in South Africa developed separately in each province until 1923, although as early as 1910, when the Union government came about, Lord Herbert John Gladstone (1854 to 1930) the first Governor General 1910 to 1914, accepted the office of the first Chief Scout for South Africa at the invitation of the Imperial Headquarters in London.
1912	Major JP Edwards takes over as Commissioner, Chairman of the Scoutmasters Association and Executive Officer. (The Cub Edward Shield is later named after Major Ed wards in 1918 in his honour). Provincial Council formed for Western Cape Scouts and this was affiliated to the Imperial Headquarters in London. Lord Robert Baden - Powell visits Cape Scouting with a rally of 350 Scouts at Rhodes Memorial - this establish es Scouting firmly in the Cape. During BP's visit, he recommends that because the Cape Province is so large, a Chief Scout for the Cape Province be appointed. Sir Frederick de Waal (1853 to 1932) takes up this post until 1926 when the Province is spilt into three Divisions. Chapman's Peak Drive was the brain child of Sir Frederic de Waal, the first administrator of the Cape Province 1910 to 1925. De Waal Drive in Cape Town was named after him when officially opened in 1922.
1914	Viscount Buxton appointed Chief Scout of South Africa. Sydney Charles Buxton (1853 to 1934 ) was appointed Governor - General of the Union of South Africa in February 1914 to 1920.
1915	Mrs M.L.E. White was the First Cub Master in South Africa to establish the first Cub Pack 7th Cape Town (Gardens) in 1915. Cubbing officially started World wide in 1916, thus this makes 7th Cape Town Cub Pack the oldest in the World.
1917	Provincial Council constitution changed to create four Divisional Councils – Western, Border, Midlands and Northern Cape.
1919	Lewis Mansergh is appointed the first Provincial Commissioner.
1920	Prince Arthur of Connaught appointed Chief Scout of South Africa. Arthur Frederick Patrick Albert (1883 to 1938) was Governor - General of the Union of South Africa from 1920 to 1923.
1923	During the period 1908 to 1922 each Province had direct affiliation to the Imperial Headquarters in London. In 1923 the Union Scout Council was formed as an umbrella body joining the existing provinces, but only as an advisory body.
1924	The Earl of Athlone is appointed Chief Scout of South Africa. Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George Cambridge or simply Lord Athlone (1874 to 1957) appointed Governor - General of the Union of South Africa 1924 to 1931, in succession to his cousin, HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught. Athlone , a suburb of Cape Town , was named after him.
1926	First 'Gilwell Park' in the Cape known as 'Gilcape' is established for Adult Leader Training. This site was a piece of land belonging to Carl 'Serpent' and Doris 'Gilkela' Rayner behind their house in Diep River.
1927	Major J H Smithers is appointed acting Provincial Commissioner during the change over from Provincial to Divisional structure.
	Cedric G Withinshaw is appointed as the first Divisional Commissioner.
	The Union Scout Council extends its powers and creates a new constitution with full authority to perform those functions and duties of the Imperial Headquarters that pertain to South Africa.
1930	The Imperial Scout Headquarters in London grants complete independence to the Scout Movement in South Africa triggering the creation of yet another constitution.
1931	The Earl of Clarendon is appointed Chief Scout of South Africa. George Herbert Hyde Villiers the 6th Earl of Clarendon (1877 to 1955) served as Governor - General of the Union of South Africa from 1931 to 1937.
1934	Pathfinder (Coloured) Council of the Cape Division formed, the Cape Western Division having a Bokmakierie bird emblem, while the National Symbol was an Arrow head used along with the Standard Fleur-de-lis Scout Emblem. Note: In many of the British Colonies where Scouting was established, it was at first segregated by race, and South Africa was no exception. The Pathfinder Council served the Coloured community as the Boy Scouts Association of the Union of SA was confined to members of European descent.
	Captain Piffy F.F. White is the Founder and appointed first Divisional Commissioner of the Coloured (Pathfinder) Section.
1936	The new constitution of the Boy Scouts Association of the Union of SA, adopted in 1936 was signed on 18 January 1937 by Lord Clarendon as Chief Scout. It provided for the creating of three parallel autonomous constitutions* for African, Coloured and Indian Scout Associations under the leadership of a Chief Scouts Commissioner. Pathfinder (Coloured) Council of the Cape Division is recognised. *Under these constitutions autonomy was granted, save that powers of restraint were reserved to the European Council in the case of acts or resolutions deemed to be to detrimental to the Boy Scout movement in South Africa. The Chief Scout of South Africa however, held this position in relation to all four movements.
1937	Sir Patrick Duncan appointed Chief Scout of South Africa. Sir Patrick Duncan ( 1870 to 1943 ) was Governor - General of the Union of South Africa , from 1937 to 1943. Sir Patrick died in office, in 1943. His ashes were interred in a monument at the Duncan Dock in Cape Town harbour, which was named after him.
	Rev S.J. Fort appointed Divisional Commissioner of the Coloured Section.
	South Africa is granted membership to the International Bureau, the body controlling World Scouting.
1940	Dr Frederick H Dommisse appointed Divisional Commissioner.
	A new bigger Gilcape (opposite the Rayner's house in Diep River) is bought by Mrs Withinshaw of Wynberg, and given to the Boy Scouts. Shortly after adjoining land is purchased by the Division, with the Main Road and Diep River as boundaries.
1943	The RT Hon. H J De Wet appointed Chief Scout of South Africa. Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet ( 1873 to 1960 ) was Chief Justice of South Africa declined the title of, but acted out the post of Governor - General of the Union of South Africa from 1943 to 1945.
1945	The Coloured Boy Scout Association is formed on the 12 January 1945.
	Dommisse Hut (named after the Divisional Commissioner - today Ash Valley Hut) on Table Mountain is given to Western Cape Divisional Scouting by the Cape Town Municipality.
	Right Honourable Gideon Brand van Zyl appointed Chief Scout. Gideon Brand van Zyl (1873 - 1956) was Governor - General of the Union of South Africa from 1945 to 1951. He was the first South African - born holder of the office.
1949	Mr Jack H Allies appointed the 1st Chief Scouts Commissioner for the Coloured Section.
1950	Visit by the Chief Scout of the UK and Dependant Territories Lord Rowallan and associated Rally held at the Rosebank Show grounds.
	Gilcape Diep River sold (purchaser builds the Three Arts Theatre on the grounds) and a new Gilcape at Eersterivier is bought by the Division for Western Cape Scouting.
1951	Sir Herbert Stanley appointed Chief Scout of South Africa. (Sir Herbert was a retired governor 1935 - 1942 of Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe).
	Scout Mountain Club of SA (SMC of SA) is established and holds the first inaugural meeting on 29 July 1951 at the Dommisse Hut on Table Mountain.
1953	E Percy Fo wle appointed Chief Scout of South Africa. The first official Divisional Jamborally was held in Stellenbosch and attended by 400 boys.
1955	Dr Arnold Hugh Tonkin appointed Divisional Commissioner. (The Tonkin Trophy is named after Dr Tonkin in his honour).
1958	Alex Harold 'Silver Fox' Maspero appointed Divisional Commissioner.
	Lt Col AH Johnstone appointed Chief Scout of South Africa.
	Mr Charles Thebus appointed Chief Scouts Commissioner of the Coloured Section.
	Gilray Officially opening by the Cape Town Mayor Mrs Joyce Newton - Thompson.
1960	Cape Western Divisional Headquarters moves to 86 Bree Street Cape Town, buying the property at a cost of £10 750. Headquarters remains there for 40 years until the end of 2000 when it moves to Goodwood.
	Alex 'Jakala' Philander is appointed Divisional Commissioner or the Coloured Section.
1963	Frank Oliver "Kudu" Quinn takes over leadership of the African section of the Cape Western Provincial Division as their Divisional Commissioner.
1965	Dommisse Hut (due to constant vandalism and theft) exchanged for the present SMC (Scout Mountain Club) hut on Table Mountain, near the Woodhead Reservoir.
1966	During 1966 a new South African Scout Logo was introduced. Boy Scouts of South Africa Logo 1966 Boy Scouts of South Africa Logo Prior to 1966 Boy Scouts of South Africa Logo Prior to 1956
1968	Aaron Domingo appointed Chief Scout Com Coloured Section.
	Colin James Inglis appointed Divisional Commissioner.
	Carveth Geach appointed Chief Scout of South Africa.
1969	First Senior Scout Cederberg Adventure held in December with 141 Scouts. The driving force behind creating the Adventure was Colin Inglis. He was also the organiser for many years and the Adventure was seen as the "cherry on top" of the Scout's career.
1970	Sandvlei Sea Scout base opened on 28th November by Admiral Bierman.
1973	Charles Martin appointed Chief Scout of South Africa.
1977	Garnet De La Hunt appointed Divisional Commissioner.
	Colin James Inglis appointed Chief Scout of South Africa.
	At a conference known as Quo Vadis a new constitution was adopted which integrated all four associations into an organisation called Boy Scouts of South Africa.
1978	Frank Oliver "Kudu" Quinn appointed first Western Cape Area Commissioner by the Chief Scout of SA. "Kudu" Quinn was Editor of The Cape Western Scouter for many years. (The Quinn Trophy is named after "Kudu" Quinn in his honour).
	Mr William van Graan resigned as Divisional Commissioner of Athlone Division and his place temporary filled by John Thomas the Assistant Chief Scout.
1979	The first National Scout Council of the four combined Associations was held in the Athlone Scout Centre with Colin Inglis as the new Chief Scout of the united Boy Scouts of South Africa.
	Garnet De La Hunt appointed Area Commissioner from 1st May 1979.
1985	Norman John Osburn appointed Area Commissioner on 1 st July 1985.
	Garnet De La Hunt appointed Chief Scout of South Africa on 1st July 1985.
1986	Hawequas Scout Ranch near Wellington is bought for Western Cape Scouting. Gilcape in Eersterivier was sold (due to urban sprawl and constant thefts from / on the property). Scouting loses developments at Gilcape like the Clifford Harris Climbing Wall, Mount Inglisberg and Lake Bennington.
1990	Brian De Lacey Figaji appointed Area Commissioner on 1st September 1990.
1995	Nkwenkwe Nkomo appointed Chief Scout of South Africa.
1997	Peter Foster appointed Area Commissioner.
1998	André Bredenkamp appointed Area Commissioner.
2000	After 40 years at 86 Bree Street, Cape Town, the Cape Western Divisional (now Area) Headquarters moves to Milton Road, Goodwood.
2001	The South African Scout Association now allows girls to join Cubs and Scouts
2002	Brian February appointed Area Commissioner on 1st September 2002.
2005	Vukile Mehana appointed Chief Scout of South Africa.
2008	Llewellyn James Van Aarde appointed Provincial Commissioner (Area renamed Province). Cub entry age changed to 7 years old.
2013	Paddy Milner appointed Provincial Commissioner on 1st May 2013.