in january 1912, olave met second boer war hero and founder of the scouts, robert baden-powell, on an ocean liner (rmsp "arcadian") on the way via the caribbean to new york to start a lecture tour. she was 23, he was 55, and they shared the same birthday. they became engaged in september of the same year, causing a media sensation. they married on 30 october 1912 in a very private ceremony, in st. peter's church, parkstone, her parish church. she was given away by her father; apart from clergy, the only other people present were his brother and sister and robert kekewich, a close friend of his, her mother & brother, her brother-in-law and miss sie bower, a close friend of hers.