He was sent to Transval in South Africa where he had to fight against the Boers. B.P. was in town Mafeking with about a thousand soldiers and eight thousand natives. It was a saying in Africa - who holds Mafeking holds the reins of South Africa. It was a natural centre of trade. The Boer had excellent arms and ammunitions while Mafeking was badly armed with very few and old arms. Mafeking was besieged. B.P. invented some stunts. He ordered to make dummy dynamite, search lights. It was here that B.P. first got the idea of Boy Scouts. His staff officer Lord Edward Cecil got together young native boys of Mafeking and trained them into cadet corps. They were taught to work as orderlies - carrying messages. Many of them road bicycles. B.P. knew from this experiment that even small boys respond rightly when they are given responsibilities. At last Mafeking was relieved. B.P. had consolidated the British position. He returned to England. He was received as the "Hero of Mafeking" in his country. He was promoted to the rank of 'Major General' in the army.

He became very popular in the whole country as his book "Aids to Scouting" was being used as a text book in schools.

B.P. attended Boys Brigade Parade at Glasgow. It was the biggest Boys movement in England. He realised that this was the greatest opportunity to help the boys grow as strong and useful citizens of the Nation. He had discussions with Sir William smith, the founder of the Brigade. B.P.'s friends also suggested him to rewrite 'Aids to Scouting' for the boys. B.P. had long experience with training in India and Africa. He wanted to make an experiment in training boys.