Unveiling the Mystery of the Boys Brigade and Scouts!

[@andrewcannon8670]

I grew up in the Boys' Brigade. Started in Anchor Boys at age 6 and went all the way through to become Acting Captain of our Company after the Captain died suddenly. Over 25 years service. Unfortunately I moved away to an area with no BB company, so I had to leave. Like Scouting does for YP today, it made me what I am today. I would say that BB was a little more classroom based than Scouts when I was a member, but we still did camps, expeditions and outdoorsy stuff. I have been in Scouting now for 10 years and there are few differences that I can see. Less emphasis on drill and smartness (although as a new SL, I have expectations and the Scouts actually like being smart!) and more on #skillsforlife. One thing that you didn't mention is that BP was a Brigade Vice President and a personal friend of Sir William Smith. It shows the connections between the two organisations, that Scouting For Boys was a BB publication and many of the first Scout Troops were attached to BB Companies as Scout Platoons. I think the friendly rivalry started then :)

[@generalbutsatisfied0317]

I had to move too and to an area with no BB company.

[@scoutydad8472]

...and Army Cadets was founded in 1859! Seriously though, it's great that young people in the UK have so many opportunities to do fun things in their spare time while learning skills for life

[@mjspice100]

Yes, formed almost as a reserve army when a lot of the regular army was committed in India to suppress the Indian mutiny. One of the big driving forces was (unusually for the time) a woman, Octavia Hill who was concerned by youth behaviour (familiar story?) I was a Scout Leader and worked for a time as a CFAV with the ACF. I really believe there should be a freer interchange of adult leadership within these organisations to broaden horizons..

[@AtoZbyLocalBus]

In the Boys' Brigade, we also do sport and games with the boys across the section. As well as doing arts and crafts more with the Anchors and Junior sections. Most companies do Figure Marching with the Junior Section, and drill with company section. So companies also do some gymnastics with the boys, like forward rolls, trampet, horse and paralle bars. Also, back in the 80s, the Boys' Brigade did have Sir Cliff Richard as President of the Boys' Brigade. Also, some celebrities like Sir Alex Ferguson and Bradley Walsh were members of a Boys' Brigade Company in the past.

[@bigmaninthewoods]

Ah I never knew Sir Cliff Richard was connected 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Rob-bz5nn]

Hi. Good video. Just to be clear, the BB is open to everyone of all faiths and none. I’be been a member for 17 years and in my Company we have a real mix. Not just for those who follow Christianity.

[@bigmaninthewoods]

ah I got the details from the Boys Brigade website

[@The_Gospel_Ben]

Really? Well, I'm a member of the BB and our organisation is really based on the christian faith. Our motto comes from Hebrews 6 vs 19. "This hope we have as an Anchor of the soul, both SURE & STEADFAST and that which enters the presence within the veil. We're a Voluntary Uniformed Youth Christian Organisation

[@Rob-bz5nn]

@@The_Gospel_Ben Absolutely really. 100% a Christian organisation. And proud of it. But open to everyone.

[@ScottyBugler2005]

@@The_Gospel_Benit’s true. You can have a wide variety of faiths within the BB in some companies across the UK. I’m an instructor in the 5th Manchester BB and former officer of the 5th Manchester. 2nd Altrincham and 1st Sale. And have been involved with the BB since 1987 when I was just 6 years old. I’ve always loved my time within the BB.

[@harrybuik9763]

Baden powell and william smith were great friends both cavalary officers , scouting for boys was writen for smith b.b. and lord kinaird president y.mca , he was also president football association , scouting for boys published b.b. gazette 1906 , 1st scout camp half of the boys came from b.b. they are on record , its a long time a go 😊😊

[@bigmaninthewoods]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@chucklefun487]

I was in the boys brigade did all my years and got my queens badge which is the highest badge you can get i enjoyed it. One of myself friends was in the scouts for a few years and he enjoyed it.

[@bigmaninthewoods]

Ah that’s great to hear 👍🏻 well done for achieving your Queens Badge

[@aviation37.]

Am I the only member of the boys brigade 33 Vic boronia here? In Australia there is no company

[@lemonakiki5247]

Well the BB also have different ranking from recruit to staff surgant

[@tokhowong1770]

BB shake hands with their right hands while Scouts their left hands, both with interlocking pinkies.

[@bigmaninthewoods]

I’ve never heard about “interlocking pinkies” we don’t do that here in England

[@Bmthgooner]

I was District Bugler for BB at Centenerary camp in New Zealand 1983

[@bigmaninthewoods]

Was you any good at playing it?

[@Bmthgooner]

@@bigmaninthewoods maybe back then

[@generalbutsatisfied0317]

My memory was mostly drills and fun when camping.

[@bigmaninthewoods]

Did you enjoy it?

[@generalbutsatisfied0317]

yeah, kinda did, I like doing military drills and liked the company I was in( sorry for not stating which group but it the boys' brigade). Good people.@@bigmaninthewoods

[@bigmaninthewoods]

@generalbutsatisfied0317 awesome 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@GraysOutdoors]

Interesting facts. Thanks for sharing

[@id70b40]

I was both in the scouts and then the boys brigade during the 1980s. Scouts was secular and BB had a strong Christian focus. Activities were similar between the two. That said, from my experience, the BB was more disciplined and organised. The BB had a “military-esque” history ie drill and marching band. Happy days :)

[@bigmaninthewoods]

Which did you prefer?

[@id70b40]

Honestly, BB because it was more organised.

[@bigmaninthewoods]

@id70b40 when you say more organised? Are you referring to more organised locally or nationally?

[@JamesMears76]

Interesting thanks

[@bigmaninthewoods]

Thanks for watching!

[@AdventurewithDave]

This was really helpful, thank you!

[@bigmaninthewoods]

I’m glad you found it useful Dave 👍🏻👍🏻

[@dasy2k1]

They are as much scouting as the UK navigators and the woodcraft folk are. Just in a slightly different direction.... BB and BBS/BGS focus most on religion (both explicitly Christian) BPSA on tradition (pre 1968 scouting) TSA on life skills Woodcraft folk on Socal issues (explicitly linked to the trade union movement) Navigators on environmental issues

[@DaveAinsworth-y8h]

The creater of scouts was a captain in Boy's brigade

[@Steadfastcontingencygroup]

Brilliant video. Thanks for the content.

[@bigmaninthewoods]

Ah your more than welcome my friend ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

[@chuencainseow5786]

I joined the cadet scouts as a young kid and then the BB as a teenager till adulthood in the 80s & 90s. I see the key difference as (1) BB's anchor to Christian faith and values (2) the diversities of BB activities. For point (1), BB's original mission in the handbook was "the advancement of Christ's kingdom among Boys..." but many local country BB orgs has rephrased it to be more neutral although the underlying foundations of church-affiliations and Christian moral values still remain; BB still aims to teach youth the right values in life but the shape it takes need to change. In fact, in some countries, BB was renamed as "Youth Brigade" to enroll girls and optimize adult resources (I don't think Christ will object but some men sure will) For point (2), back then, my local BB org offers badges like camping, first-aid, drill, music, sailing, swimming, gymnastics so it's exciting to chase after them and compare the badges on your right arm with others :D. It's not a bad thing to let young kids explore around; However, that also means that most BB Boys graduated without skills specialization as most badges earned are touch-n-go kind. As long as youth are taught the right values and have fun learning new skills/experience, both BB and Scouts have made the world a better place. Interestingly, Scouts expanded into North America but the BB did not (correct me pls). That may also contribute to the Scout movement being more wide-spread and have much greater publicity than the BB?

[@ScottyBugler2005]

The BB did actually spread to the states, but they took a very over the top military approach and didn’t last as long as it could’ve. There is still remnants of the BB left. The main element as far as I’m aware is one in Neenah Menasha Wisconsin. Not sure whether the one in Boston still exists. They went very much towards just becoming a youth club in the end. From that initial OTT Military chocolate box soldiers look, to something barely recognisable.

[@chuencainseow5786]

@@ScottyBugler2005 Great info, thanks!

[@ScottyBugler2005]

@@chuencainseow5786there’s a whole bunch of books related to the various Brigades that existed and were written by Rob Bolton who was the archivist for a few organisations. He was a fountain of knowledge. The books are Sure and Stedfast a history of the Boys’ Brigade. Boys of the Brigades. Badges of the Brigades. And I’m sure there were lots more. They covered the majority of the different Brigades. I’m not sure whether he also had any links with the Scouts too. The books are still out there. But don’t know how to go about purchasing them. Rob is no longer with us unfortunately

[@aaronkeeble2808]

Different topic are you going to freezer camp this year mark ?

[@bigmaninthewoods]

Freezer camp at Pacaar?

[@aaronkeeble2808]

Absolutely

[@bigmaninthewoods]

Yes I am 😀

[@aaronkeeble2808]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@aaronkeeble2808]

I shall keep an eye out for you 👍🏼👍🏼

[@dasy2k1]

So they are very similar to the BBS/BGS then. They are also very heavily Christian based as well as following a traditional (ie pre 1968).scout programme. One of their highest badges requires being able to perform an emergency baptism and administer the last rights!

[@mjspice100]

Scouting was never a religious organisation as such, although BP suggested that faith was a good thing to have. I did work with a guy once some years ago who was a BB Captain, he was not a pleasant guy at all, a so called born again Christian, he was very rude to me about Scouts to the extent of using bad language. A hypocrite and very poor ambassador for his organisation.

[@ScottyBugler2005]

Sorry to hear that. I’ve been in BB since I was 6 back in 1987. I’ve only ever been BB. Most of my family have also been BB over the years. A lot of bitterness and resentment towards the Scouts from some of us BB members exists I think mainly due to the widespread media coverage that the Scouts get. The BB on the other hand, seems to get ignored or they get their facts about the BB wrong. The BB started 25 years before the Scouts. Yes Brownsea was technically the birth of the movement, but it didn’t gain an acknowledgement as an organisation until the following year. 1908 was actually the correct year that the Scouts gained official recognition. 1907 Brownsea Island was an experimental camp. My Second BB Company..... 2nd Altrincham based at Altrincham Methodist Church actually started in 1899 but didn’t gain recognition from BB Headquarters until 1902. Hence why they celebrated their centenary in 2002 rather than 1999. That captain shouldn’t have been using bad language, so I apologise if you’d been given a poor impression of the typical BB officer. I can assure you that we’re not all like that. I often mix in with Scouts as part of the Corps Of Drums Society. The Church Lads Brigade is another organisation that has reason for resentment too. They’re actually the second oldest out of our three organisations. Having been officially formed in 1891 . I think their founder was a chap named Walter Mallock Gee. The CLB saw great distinction during World War One as part of the cadet movement. They were affiliated to the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. The BB also had some cadet affiliation but it wasn’t as widespread as the CLB. Some BB companies chose to be affiliated, but the vast majority didn’t. The BB had two battalions that I personally know of. The 16th Battalion Highland Light Infantry. And the 13th Battalion Rifle Brigade. Both of which suffered extremely heavy casualties during the Battle Of The Somme. Most were cut down during the initial first charge after the whistle. Most with the rifles still wearing their bolt covers. The bodies having to be thrown into one vast crater. Smith came across as an austere stern disciplinarian. But those who knew him, knew that he was a very caring man. He lost one of his wives on a company camp. I believe she had a brain tumour. Strangely enough, the same thing took Smiths life in 1914. Strange that Smith died in the year WW1 broke out and Powell died in 1941. Powell tried a few times apparently to get William Alexander Smith to merge the BB into the Scouts. Let’s not forget though..... the BB was the senior organisation of the 3. So why would Powell even think that Smith would want to merge. We’d end up losing our identity. And that’s likely what William was afraid might happen.

[@ScottyBugler2005]

Smith wasn’t a self publicist like Powell. We do have people who are celebrities that have been in BB. Sir Alex Ferguson. Alex McLeish. Ally McCoist. Johnathon Ross. Even the Gallagher brothers were in BB when they were younger 🤣 obviously those two didn’t last very long in BB. I heard they were kicked out. They were in a BB company down the road from my current company in Didsbury. Graham Norton. Stormzy. Sir Cliff Richard. Just to name a few people who have had ties with the BB.

[@peters.5600]

me believes there for certain can be differences in how the scout-master/sergeant handles his chargees. in some scout-groups discipline is pretty lax; uniforms seem to be un-heard of; and the standard of grooming is despicable. (just me 2 cents)

[@Jhon_Doe69]

Boys' Brigade Da Goat

[@Jhon_Doe69]

Scout is just average