Francis George Stevens arrived in Ceylon in 1911 as an Engineer in the Public Works Department. He was transferred from Matale to Colombo in 1914 and then served in the Royal Navy during World War. He Arrived In Ceylon as an British civil Engineer In The Public Works Department After a Brief Period In The Provincial Engineers Office In Matale. Mr. Stevens was born in born Tavistock, Devon, England 2 June 1891, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lambert Stevens of Liverpool. Mr Stevens Who Lived Next Door To Christ Church School, Started The 1st Matale Scout Troop In 1912. This Happened To Be Just Fiver Years After Lord Baden Powell Introduced Scouting To The World at Brownsea Island 1907.
Being a Government Servant Mr. F.G Stevens Was Transferred From Matale To Colombo. Where He Was Founded The 1st Scout Group At Christ Church, Galle Face On 14th June 1914, From Which Point The Actual Growth Of Scouting Took Place.
In 1912, Stevens founded the first recorded Scout troop at Christ Church College, Matale. In 1914 he established the 1st Galle Mahinda Scout Group at Mahinda College, Galle. Following the appointment of Stevens as the colonial commissioner, the British Scout Association Ceylon Branch was recognized in 1914.
Mr. F.G Stevens Had No Previous Experience In Scouting , & There Was Very Little Literature On The Subject. But His Understanding & Interpretation Of The Chief Scout's Principals, Aims & Methods Were Sound . Very Early In His Administrations He Realized The Value Of Leadership & Of The Steady Development Of The Movement On Sound Lines.
Stevens had no previous experience in Scouting, and there was very
little literature on the subject, yet he realized the value of the
program. Stevens was recognized in 1917 when Lord Baden-Powell awarded him the Silver Wolf on the eve of his departure to Egypt on War Service.
The Movement Was By Now Receiving Public Support & Mr Stevens Services Were Recognized In 1917 When The Chief Scout Of The World The Late Lord Baden Powell Awarded To Him Silver Wolf Which He Received On The Eve Of His Departure To Mesopotamia ( Egypt) On War Service.
Mr Stevens Kept In Touch With The Progress Of The Movement In Ceylon (Srilanka) . Scouting Made Very Slow But Steady Progress Mainly Due To The Lack Of Leaders, Many Of Whom Were Serving Abroad On War Service.
In 1919, After a Short Visit To Srilanka Mr Stevens Went On Leave After an Absence Of 9 Years From Home, He Married In The Same Year To Miss Gladys Crockwell & They Returned The Island In 1920.
Mr Stevenson Gave Up His Active Leadership, As He Wanted a Person Resident In Colombo To Take Over The Work. The Needs of the Growing Organization Could Not Be Satisfactorily Carried Out While He Moved From Place To Place Transfer. In 1939 Mr Stevens Was Brought Back Again To Active Scouting & Accepted The Post President & Chairman Of The Local Association. He Was Given The RANK OF HON. CHIEF SCOUT COMMISSIONER.
The Movement Was By Now Receiving Public Support & Mr Stevens Services Were Recognized In 1917 When The Chief Scout Of The World The Late Lord Baden Powell Awarded To Him Silver Wolf Which He Received On The Eve Of His Departure To Mesopotamia ( Egypt) On War Service.
Mr Stevens Kept In Touch With The Progress Of The Movement In Ceylon (Srilanka) . Scouting Made Very Slow But Steady Progress Mainly Due To The Lack Of Leaders, Many Of Whom Were Serving Abroad On War Service.
In 1919, After a Short Visit To Srilanka Mr Stevens Went On Leave After an Absence Of 9 Years From Home, He Married In The Same Year To Miss Gladys Crockwell & They Returned The Island In 1920.
Mr Stevenson Gave Up His Active Leadership, As He Wanted a Person Resident In Colombo To Take Over The Work. The Needs of the Growing Organization Could Not Be Satisfactorily Carried Out While He Moved From Place To Place Transfer. In 1939 Mr Stevens Was Brought Back Again To Active Scouting & Accepted The Post President & Chairman Of The Local Association. He Was Given The RANK OF HON. CHIEF SCOUT COMMISSIONER.
In 1939 he returned to active Scouting and accepted the post of
President and Chairman of the Association. He was given the rank of
Honorary Chief Scout Commissioner.
Mr Stevens Left Srilanka In 1945 To Live In Retirement In England & Prior To Leaving The Island, He Had Written In The 1st Colombo President Own Troop Log Book-
“ I AM VERY PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF RECORDING FALWELL MESSAGE IN THE LOG BOOK OF The 1st TROOP OF SCOUTS WHICH I STARTED IN COLOMBO. IT IS VERY GRATIFYING TO KNOW THAT THE TROOP IS STILL CARRYING ON AND DOING GOOD WORK, I BELIEVE THAT THE BOY SCOUTS WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF CEYLON (SRILANKA) & I HOPE THAT THE 1st COLOMBO WILL TAKE AN ACTIVE PART THEREIN.. TO DO THIS IT IS NECESSARY THAT EVERY SCOUT REALIZE THAT HIS PART IN THE WORK IS IMPORTANT & SEE THAT HE ALWAYS DOES HIS BEST. MY FAREWELL MESSAGE TO THE TROOP WOULD THEREFORE BE THAT IT SHOULD ALWAYS SET BEFORE ITS AIM OF “NOTHING BUT THE BEST"
Mr Stevens Left Srilanka In 1945 To Live In Retirement In England & Prior To Leaving The Island, He Had Written In The 1st Colombo President Own Troop Log Book-
“ I AM VERY PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF RECORDING FALWELL MESSAGE IN THE LOG BOOK OF The 1st TROOP OF SCOUTS WHICH I STARTED IN COLOMBO. IT IS VERY GRATIFYING TO KNOW THAT THE TROOP IS STILL CARRYING ON AND DOING GOOD WORK, I BELIEVE THAT THE BOY SCOUTS WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF CEYLON (SRILANKA) & I HOPE THAT THE 1st COLOMBO WILL TAKE AN ACTIVE PART THEREIN.. TO DO THIS IT IS NECESSARY THAT EVERY SCOUT REALIZE THAT HIS PART IN THE WORK IS IMPORTANT & SEE THAT HE ALWAYS DOES HIS BEST. MY FAREWELL MESSAGE TO THE TROOP WOULD THEREFORE BE THAT IT SHOULD ALWAYS SET BEFORE ITS AIM OF “NOTHING BUT THE BEST"
In Recognition Of His Service To Scouting In Srilanka , The Chief Commissioner Issued an Island wide Directive Placing “ STEVENS DAY” an Event In The Scouting Calendar, To Be Celebrated On Every Second Saturday In The Month Of June.
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