The Silver Fish Award is the highest adult award in Girlguiding. It is awarded for outstanding service to Girlguiding combined with service to world Guiding. The award has changed greatly since it first appeared in 1911, initially being awarded to girls on completion of a number of badges, then via numerous stages to the highest award in the Guiding movement worldwide, and then on to its position as a Girlguiding award.
Award criteria The Silver Fish is not earned, but given to those who are nominated and are considered worthy of the award. Recipients must be members of Girlguiding, have done outstanding service to Guiding in more than one capacity and made a contribution to world Guiding. Ideally candidates should be at least 18 months from retirement and have held an appointment within 6 months of the nomination.
History The award of Silver Fish existed from the beginning of the Guiding movement. The choice of the silver fish was as a result of Lord Baden-Powell visiting Japan, where he learnt that when a son was born, parents would hang a small silver fish on their door, signifying the boy would be able to successfully 'swim upstream' through life's challenges. If a daughter was born, a tiny doll was used. This indicated a girl's sole aim was to raise a family. Lord Baden-Powell decided to make a Guide's highest honour a silver fish, to show that girls are just as capable of battling against the odds as boys.
Award for Girl Guides The award is mentioned in the November 1909 edition of the Boy Scout Headquarters Gazette in "The Scheme for 'Girl Guides'". Here a girl must pass seventeen specified efficiency badges. However, in Pamphlet A: Baden-Powell Girl Guides, a Suggestion for Character Training for Girls, also published in 1909, twenty efficiency badges were needed to obtain the Silver Fish. This was later reduced to fifteen and, additionally, good all round work was required. A. M. Irvine published the Girl Guide story Nora, the Girl Guide; or, From Tenderfoot to Silver Fish in 1913.
By 1918 a Silver Fish was awarded by headquarters "on the recommendation of County Commissioners for some very special Service to the Movement". In May 1918 The Girl Guides Gazette reported that the requirements for the Silver Fish would change in order to capture the award's "original character" and that it would become "the highest award that was given and not gained."
Award for Girl Scouts of USA Around the time of the foundation of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912, their handbook listed the Silver Fish as the highest honour in Girl Scouting. However, before anyone could earn it, the Golden Eaglet was introduced.
Five American women were awarded the Silver Fish: Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts USA Anne Hyde Choate, Juliette's goddaughter and the second president of Girl Scouts USA Helen Storrow, donor of Our Chalet Jane Deeter Rippin, National Director of GSUSA Julia Cobb Crowell, Chair of the Committee
Award for adults In October 1917, the award changed to being given for outstanding service to the movement. At this time, the design also changed from a whiting with its tail in its mouth worn on a silver chain, to a swimming fish worn on a dark and light blue striped ribbon. Olave Baden-Powell was presented with a gold Silver Fish in 1918, then the only one of its kind. Percy Everett, one of the "original Brownsea campers" was GGA's Hon. secretary in the early years. He was awarded the Silver Fish in June 1921. In 1995, her daughter Betty Clay was presented with a gold Silver Fish in the form of a brooch. It continues to be awarded within UK GirlGuiding to this day.
Recipients 1911–1919 Recipient Year Notes née Maude (1893–1982)Nesta G. Ashworth: http://www.bc-girlguides.org/welcometoguiding/history/history.html 1911 Awarded old-style Silver Fish in 1911. Also in 1920. One of the girls who showed up at Crystal Palace Rally in 1909 wanting to be Scouts. Instrumental in the establishment of Lone Guides.Lone Guides: (1895–1935)District History: Pre-1950 , Liphook District Guides 1911 Awarded old-style Silver Fish in 1911. One of the girls who showed up at Crystal Palace Rally in 1909 wanting to be a Scout. 1914 1915 1916 1916 GBE (1889–1977) 1918 Chief Guide. She received a special 'Golden Fish' "as a public recognition of her wonderful work" 1918 Patrol leader, 1st Royal Eltham 1918 Patrol leader, 1st Pendleton 1918 First Guide to earn the Silver Fish Award in India (1896–1955) 1918 Captain, 1st Addington 1918 Lieutenant, 2nd Ealing 1918 Lieutenant, 1st Durham 1918 District commissioner, South Manchester 1918 Lieutenant, 1st Pendleton 1918 Patrol leader, 2nd Ealing 1918 Patrol Leader, 1st Kingston 1918 Lieutenant, 1st Claremont 1918 Captain, 4th Woking 1918 Captain, 9th Birkenhead 1919 1st Woking 1919 Lieutenant, 1st Wolverhampton (YWCA) 1919 Patrol leader, 2nd Ealing 1919 (1860–1927) 1919 Founder of Girl Scouts of the USA. She was buried wearing full uniform and her Silver Fish Award. This was one of the first adult awards 1919 Captain, 1st Kidderminster 1919 Lieutenant, 2nd Woking 1919 Patrol leader, 1st Muswell Hill 1919 Lieutenant, 1st South Manchester
1920–1929 Recipient Year Notes 1920 Provincial commissioner, Transvaal (1890–1929) 1920 County commissioner, Hampshire 1921 For saving a young boy's life by pulling him out from under a lorry (1886–1967) 1921 Second president of Girl Scouts USA (1863–1953) 1921 County commissioner, Devon 1921 County commissioner, Dublin 1921 GGA Hon. treasurer 1921 For rescuing someone who was drowning OBE 1921 Division commissioner, Wimbledon Awarded Silver Fish twice (1864–1944) 1921 Deputy chief commissioner, Wales (1857–1924) 1921 First chief commissioner, Girl Guides of Canada (1912–1921) (1864–1944) 1921 Donor of Our Chalet (1863–1946) 1921 County Commissioner, Warwickshire (1871–1959) 1922 Cadet branch, head. County commissioner, Worcestershire 1922 Deputy chief commissioner, Scotland MBE (1886–1967) 1922 First County commissioner (1916) First heraldry advisor (1879–1969) 1922 Deputy chief commissioner, Wales 1923 District commissioner, Clevedon 1923 Chief commissioner, Canada 1924 Great Brown Owl 1924 Chief's diploma, "for excellent service to the movement both at home and abroad" 1924 For good service to the movement in Australia 1925 Imperial council (1897–1965) 1925 Honorary president, Girl Guides Association from 1920 until her death 1925 Head of camping, Scotland 1925 Head of training for Scotland 1925 Assistant county commissioner, Warwickshire 1925 County commissioner, Cheshire 1926 Division commissioner, Kingston 1925 Division commissioner, Bath 1927 OBE (1893–1984) 1928 Chief commissioner, WalesChair, Guide International Service (1942–1954) 1929 Head of Rangers (d. 1989) 1929 Great Brown Owl 1929 Scottish Chief Commissioner 1929 Chief Commissioner
1930–1939 Recipient Year Notes MBE 1930 General secretary, London headquarters 1931 Division commissioner, South-East Victoria, State committee, Victoria, Australia (1885–1958) 1931 Acting State commissioner, New South Wales. First Australian recipient. 1931 Commissioner for Lone Guides, South Africa, Editor, South African Guide magazine 1931 Provincial commissioner, Transvaal, South Africa 1931 Provincial commissioner, Bengal 1931 Outstanding work in connection with the 1927 Dominion Guides camp held in Australia CBE (1896–1981) 1931 State commissioner, Victorian Girl Guides, AustraliaGirl Guides Association chief commissioner (1943–1949) 1931 Chief commissioner, New Zealand 1932 Island commissioner, Jamaica 1932 Commissioner for overseas Guiding (1872–1951) 1932 Chair, All-India executive committee 1933 Deputy chief commissioner, Wales GBE 1933 Chair, committee of the council 1933 State chief commissioner, South Australia 1933 Eagle Owl of Canada (1899–1989) 1934 Cambridgeshire County commissioner. One of the girls who showed up at Crystal Palace Rally in 1909 wanting to be Scouts. 1934 Chief State commissioner, New South Wales, Australia 1933 Commissioner for extensions 1934 Bedfordshire's first County commissioner (1917–1938) 1934 Divisional commissioner, Woking 1934 Excellent service to the movement 1935 South Africa Girl Guides, president 1936 Commissioner, Egypt 1936 Funding London's East End Scouting home, Roland House 1936 Durham County commissionerExecutive committee of the Council at Imperial Headquarters (1932–1935) 1936 County commissioner, Yorkshire (d.1959)1937 Provincial commissioner, Burma (1869–1958) 1937 Ulster chief commissioner 1937 Scottish post and extension branches (1891–1964) 1937 Girl Guide Association, Manitoba, Canada (1893–1945) 1937 County commissioner, Angus and AberdeenshireScottish executive committee member OBE 1937 Deputy chief commissioner, Ireland JP 1937 Assistant County commissioner, Fife OBE 1937 Executive committee, vice-chair 1938 Provincial commissioner, Bengal 1938 Kent County commissioner 1938 Edinburgh County commissioner MVO1938 Council of Girl Guides Association (1927–1961) 1939 Commissioner for extensions (1894–1962) 1939 Imperial commissioner, training (1896–1979) 1939 Scotland's first GuidePresident of Scottish GGA, VP of GGA 1939 Chief commissioner, India 1939 Assistant County commissioner, KentAssistant commissioner, awards 1939 County commissioner, Midlothian 1939 Provincial commissioner, United Provinces, India MBE 1939 Commissioner for Hebrew Guides, Jerusalem (1890–1961) 1939 Dominion secretary, Canada (1920–1941)
1940–1949 Recipient Year Notes 1940 Organising commissioner, Argentina 1940 Hon. secretary, Overseas Association 1940 Island commissioner, Jamaica 1942 District commissioner, Canterbury City Guides. Awarded for gallantry during an air raid 1942 Commissioner, Madras 1942 Hon treasurer, All India 1943 Chief commissioner, Scotland 1943 Chief commissioner, India MBE 1943 1943 Provincial commissioner, Punjab 1944 Chief commissioner, Canada DBE (1888–1972) 1944 Chair of Guiding Association's executive committee for 10 years from 1938 (1881–1950) 1944 Deputy chief commissioner, Ulster OBE 1944 Guider-in-charge, Foxlease 1944 Dundee County commissioner (1903–1985) 1945 Active in New Zealand and as a trainer internationally JP (1883-1966) 1945 County commissioner, Birmingham 1945 Chief commissioner, India DCVO, CBE (1905–1978) 1945 Chief commissioner and chair of British Commonwealth Girl Guides Association (1956–1966)Vice-chair of WAGGGS (1957–1960) MBE (1904–1980) 1945 Chair of Welsh Guide CouncilChief commissioner, Wales (1878–1972) 1945 Chief commissioner, New South Wales, Australia 1945 Division commissioner, S E Hertfordshire (1898–1980 ) 1945 Edinburgh County commissioner (1902–1988) 1946 Chair, All-India training subcommittee 1946 Hertfordshire County commissioner 1947 Imperial commissioner, Brownies OBE 1947 Dominion secretary, New Zealand 1947 Commissioner for training OBE (1886–1948) 1947 Tasmanian state commissioner (1940–1948) OBE 1947 Commissioner for Girl Guides, Western Australia MBE 1947 Chief commissioner and training advisor, Southern Rhodesia 1948 Chief commissioner, Canada (1899–1974) 1948 Chief Commissioner of Guides Australia, Federal Secretary CBE (1889–1993) 1948 Chief commissioner, New Zealand (1934–1961) (1882–1959) 1948 Commissioner, Australia State commissioner, South Australia (1938–1950) 1948 Chair, Scottish public relations committee 1949 Scottish chief commissioner (1946–1950) 1949 Deputy chief commissioner, New Zealand
1950–1959