English Boy Scouts: World War I (1914-18)

English boy scouts World War I
Figure 1.--Here we see a family of a Bfritis World War I soldier. I'm nor sure what kind of cap he is wearing. One of his sons is a Boy Scout, the other rather poigently holds a toy cannon. .

The major event during the 1910s was of course World War I. Germany in August 1914 invaded France through Belgium and Britain came to their assistance. One of the thoughts behind the Boy Scouts was the fact that so many British men during the Bohr War were not healty and capable of military service. I'm not sure if the brief period the Scouts operated before the War (1907-13) had any apreciable impact on public health. The Scouts played an active role on the home front. Baden-Powell with his military background at the outbreak of World War I put himself at the disposal of the War Office. No command was offered. Lord Kitchener said that he "could lay his hand on several competent divisional generals but could find no one who could carry on the invaluable work of the Boy Scouts." There were rumors during the War that Baden-Powell was engaged in intelligence work, but I have not found any substantation. Scouts provided assistance to the military in a variety of ways. They became messengers and helped guard coastal areas and stations. George Taylor, aged 15 was buried after the Germans shelled Scarborough. The following Sunday afternoon. His coffin was draped in the Union Jack. The town’s scouts lined the way into the church and attended the service. George was awarded full Scouting honours. He was the only English Boy Scout to die through enemy action in the First World War. Roy Miller was the first Boy Scout to be wounded in World War one. S I have not yet, however, been able to find details. I believe they were involved in agricultural labor as well as many other publis service activities. This is an interesting topic I want to persue, but to date have been unsucessful in finding any actual information. Hopefully our English readers will be able to provide some information. Baden-Powell introduced the Wplf Cub program durung the War (1916) Of course beyond the substantial efforts the boys made in supporting the war effort, another aspect to be considered is the apauling losses on the Western Front and the number of boys left without their fathers after the War. An English reader writes, "I have a little information about Scouts during World War I. Baden-Powell sent telegrams to Scouts who did heroic deeds durng the War. I also have a letter detailing the things the Scouts got up to and am trying to find it."

World War I

The major event during the 1910s was of course World War I. Germany in August 1914 invaded France through Belgium and Britain came to their assistance. Most Europeans had thought Europe was too interconnected economically and develoed for a general war to ever occur. The Europeans were wrong. Most Europeans believed that it would be a short conflict, this also proved wrong. It proved to be the most destructive and costly war in European history that came to be called the Great War. In the end it was settled by the entry of America, something else that few preceived in 1914. The War also laid the foundation for World War II, an even more destructive conflict.

Public Health

One of the thoughts behind the Boy Scouts was the fact that so many British men during the Bohr War were not healty and capable of military service. I'm not sure if the brief period the Scouts operated before the War (1907-13) had any apreciable impact on public health.

Baden-Powell

Baden-Powell with his military background at the outbreak of World War I put himself at the disposal of the War Office. No command was offered. Lord Kitchener said that he "could lay his hand on several competent divisional generals but could find no one who could carry on the invaluable work of the Boy Scouts." There were rumors during the War that Baden-Powell was engaged in intelligence work, but I have not found any substantation. More substantiated was Baden-Powell's activities before Scouting. He used a disguise as a a mad butterfly enthusiast. Baden-Powell before being assigned by the Army to South Africa traveled around Germany, French Tunisia, and Algeria, obstensibly looking for butterflies. He seems to have done some of his butterfly hunting aroud military instalations which he would draw in great detail.

Scout Activities

The Scouts played an active role on the home front. Scouts provided assistance to the military in a variety of ways. They became messengers and helped guard coastal areas and stations. I have not yet, however, been able to find details. I believe they were involved in agricultural labor as well as many other publis service activities. This is an interesting topic I want to persue, but to date have been unsucessful in finding any actual information. Hopefully our English readers will be able to provide some information. An English reader writes, "I have a little information about Scouts during World War I. Baden-Powell sent telegrams to Scouts who did heroic deeds durng the War. I also have a letter detailing the things the Scouts got up to and am trying to find it."

First Scout Casualty

George Taylor, aged 15 was buried after the Germans shelled Scarborough. The following Sunday afternoon. His coffin was draped in the Union Jack. The town’s scouts lined the way into the church and attended the service. George was awarded full Scouting honours. He was the only English Boy Scout to die through enemy action in the First World War. Roy Miller was the first Boy Scout to be wounded in World War one.

Wolf Cubs

Baden Powell announced plans for a Junior Section for Scouting (1914). There was no consensus as to the nature of a Junior Section. Articles apeeared in the Headquarters’ Gazette, a newsletter for Scout leaders, discussing a scheme for the Junior Section. It was basically a simplified Scout program. ThiBaden-Powell had a differnt vision for thevprogram. He thought thevyounger boys should have a movement in its own right, with its own unique identity, program, and uniform. He published an outlines for the Junior Section which he decided to call Wolf Cubbing (1916). It is not precisely known why he chose this term. Wolf was reprtedly one of the names Native Americans gave to their best scouts. Wolf was the name of the cannon made in the railway workshops at Mafeking. So a younger boy not old enough to be a Scout could be a Wolf Cub. He was responding to the great interest among younger boys in Scouting. He had founded the Scouting movement in 1907. The many Scout troops that were fored in England adopted many policies with the younger boys who ckamored to join. Some allowed the younger boys to either join or join unofficialy and tag along. Some set up unofficial Junior or Cadet Scout Troops. These Cadet Troops generally persued a basic form of Scouting, including basic knotting techniques, basic first aid, and simple tracking. Baden Powell's Wolf Cub program provedto becquite a bit different. He approache his friend Rudyard Kipling to obtain permission to use The Jungle Book characters and story as a frame in Cub Scouting. Baden-Powell wrote a the basic book for the movement--The Wolf Cub's Handbook. The junior Scouts officuially became known as Wolf Cubs (1917).

Lost Fathers

Of course beyond the substantial efforts the boys made in supporting the war effort, another aspect to be considered is the apauling losses on the Western Front and the number of boys left without their fathers after the War.







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Created: 5:56 AM 10/12/2007
Last updated: 6:00 PM 10/12/2007