Boys' Brigade

The Boys' Brigade is an international non-denominational Christian youth organization. The object of the Boys' Brigade is: "The advancement of Christ's kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness."
The Brigade was set up by Sir William Alexander Smith on October 4, 1883 at Free Church Mission Hall, North Woodside Road, Glasgow. From the establishment of the 1st Glasgow company, in the following years other companies were rapidly formed throughout Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom over the coming years into a movement of thousands. Each company is normally affiliated to a Battalion encompassing a group nearby companies, which in turn are organized at a district and then national level. Being the earliest of all youth organizations, a simple rosette was worn as an identifying uniform, shortly being replaced by the simple use of a belt, haversack and pillbox cap (a popular military cap of the day) worn over the boys' everyday clothing. The pillbox cap was used into the nineteen sixties, long after it had fallen out of use in the British Army, when it was replaced with a field cap. The movement also pioneered camping for leisure, previously rarely used outside the military. Early admirers of the Brigade included Baden-Powell who as Vice President of the Boy's Brigade used it alongside initiatives in schools, particularly Eton, to promote the idea of scouting and outdoor pursuits based on those of the military for boys; not originally intending that any individual organization would later arise from this aim in the form of the various Boy Scouts movements. Early examples of scouting were seen in Boys' Brigade scouting awards and even specialized Boys' Brigade Scout sections who wore a blue uniform with shorts and the distinctive Smokey Bear hat traditionally identified with scouts and still worn today by drill sergeants in the United States Army

The Boys' Brigade motto is "Sure and Steadfast" and the logo is an anchor placed over a Greek Cross. The anchor comes from a phrase in The Bible, from the Epistle to the Hebrews, Chapter 6, Verse 19: 'Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast'. The Greek cross, sometimes referred to as the Geneva cross in the style of that used by the Red Cross, was added when the Brigade merged with the Boys' Life Brigade in the nineteen twenties. The latter was one of many similar movements formed by the Boys' Brigade's influence, sometimes along denominational or religious lines, including the Church Lads' Brigade and Jewish Lads' Brigade. The merger also prompted the abandonment of dummy drill rifles that had been used in the Boy's Brigade, due to the Life Brigade's objection to use of weapons or their representations. For some time after the younger section of the merged Brigade, covering members from the age of eight to a maximum age of twelve, were known as Life Boys, before being restyled as the Junior section (see below). <P>There are four different age groups within the organisation:
Anchors - 5 to 8 years
Juniors - 8 to 11 years (Section 1 in Australia)
Company - 11 to 15 years (Section 2 in Australia)
Seniors - 15 to 18 years (Section 2 in Australia) <P>Each age group has awards that can be gained by fulfilling achievements. The Anchors' can gain awards for Project, Sports and Scrapbook, among others. The Juniors can gain White, Green, Purple, Blue, Red and Gold awards (White and Green require five achievements each, all the others need 10). The Company Section can gain two Target badges first, then five other badges (Interests, Adventure, Leadership, Physical and Community) with red and blue flashes around them. Only once all these badges and flashes have been received can you go for the President's Badge and then the highest honour - the Queen's Badge. Boys in the company and seniors are assigned leadership roles through ranks based on the British Army from Lance Corporal up to Staff Sergeant. The rank insignia is style on that of the current British Army equivalents on the upper right arm, except that of staff sergeant which still uses the pre World War I insignia of four chevrons worn point up on the lower right sleeve. In keeping with military traditions the latter used to carry batons, although this is being phased out with the introduction of new uniforms. Leaders are designated as Warrant Officers attaining the rank of Lieutenant only when having completed additional formal training in youth leadership (during which they are Officer Cadets). To avoid unnecessary leader hierarchy, all qualified officers are lieutenants. The post of Captain of a company is a brevet rank with those in the position reverting to Lieutenant when they cease to be in the position; similarly other positions such as the company Adjutant (second to the captain) are considered appointments rather than substantive ranks.

See also

• Girls' Brigade

External links

• Boys' Brigade Homepage (http://www.boys-brigade.org.uk/)
• Boys' Brigade Australia (http://www.boys-brigade.org.au/)
• The Boys' Brigade in Malaysia - Official Site (http://www.bbmalaysia.org/)
• The Boys' Brigade in Malaysia - National Non-formal Site (http://www.mybbkul.org/)
• 38th Hong Kong Boys' Brigade Website (http://hk.geocities.com/bb38hongkong/)
• 1st Bletchley Boys' Brigade, UK (http://www.1bbb.org.uk/)
• 1st Morecambe Boys' Brigade Homepage (http://www.1stmorecambe.net/)
• Boys' Brigade Badge Gallery (http://bbbadge.co.nr/)
• Official 31st Singapore Boys Brigade Company Website (http://www.bb31.com/)