Roland Philipps

Roland Erasmus Philipps (27 February 1890 - 7 July 1916) was a writer and a leading Scout. He was the second son of John Philipps, 1st Viscount St Davids and his wife, Leonora Gerstenberg. He was educated at Twyford School, Winchester College and New College, Oxford.

In July 1912 he was appointed Assistant District Commissioner for East London. In 1913 he was appointed Commissioner for northeast London, and in November 1913 he was made responsible for all of East London. In 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross. He was killed on 7 July 1916 leading his men into action on the Western Front.

Towards the end of 1912 and into 1913 he and Stanley Ince established the Hackney Lectures on Scout Law.

Roland House, in the East End of London, which he left in his will to the Scouts of East London, was an important part of Scouting in London and more widely in Scouting in the United Kingdom. The House on the Green, as it was known, became a memorial to him. It was a home to several Scout Leaders from Groups in East London, a hostel for visitors, the headquarters of a Rover Scout Crew and a Scout Shop.

A Scout Group in Mexico is named after him, and has recorded his biography in detail.

Although Roland & his only sibling Colwyn (his elder brother) were both killed in World War I, their father (1st Viscount St Davids) re-married in April 1916 to Lady Elizabeth Frances Abney-Hastings (Source). They had two children, Jestyn Philipps, 2nd Viscount St Davids and Lelgarde De Clare Elizabeth Philipps; the Viscountcy hence continued. The current Viscount is Rhodri Philipps, 4th Viscount St Davids and his younger brother (the current heir presumptive to the title) was named after his scouting ancestor Roland Erasmus: The Hon. Roland Augusto Jestyn Estanislao Philipps (better known as blues musician Todd Sharpville).

Partial bibliography

• The Patrol System, 1917
• Letters to a Patrol Leader, 1917