It should be appreciated that Baden Powell in writing and publishing ‘Scouting for Boys’ in January 1908, did not initially intend to form a new youth organisation, The Boys Scouts, but it was intended as a training aid to existing organisations such as the Boys Brigade.

However such was the popularity of the publication that boys formed together into Patrols and then troops. The recruitment of leaders then followed. As a result there was no national headquarters, which did not come into being until 1909 at 116 - 118 Victoria Street London.

Groups were organised by local committees and appointment of leaders was also undertaken at a local level. The East Grinstead Troop when first formed came under the umbrella of Lingfield Surrey Committee under the chairmanship of Captain Labouchere-Hillyer. It was not until 1912 that East Grinstead became part of the North Sussex Committee and later formed its own District Committee.

In September of 1909 a Rally was held at Crystal Palace attended by 11,000 scouts. A patrol under the leadership of Alfred Bingham attended and was selected to form a Guard of Honour. The following press report appeared in the East Grinstead Observer on 11th September 1909;