Figure 1.--Here we see British Boy Scouts serving Air Raid Precautions (ARP) messengers and wardens in 1945. The press caption read. "Boy Scouts in England: The Boy Scouts of England: have backed the war effort from the start. Here in London, tin-helmeted Boy Scouts deliver messages to a Scout on the telephone at an A.R.P. control in obe of the control centers in and round London. Everywhere in the allied countries the Boy Scouts have been the youngest of patriots. In lands invaded by the Axis, they have carried on underground, contributing importantly to the Resistance moverment." The photograph was dated January 15, 1945.

The 1940s were dominated by World War II. World War II broke out (September 1939). The Boy Scouts as in World War I mobilized to support the war effort. We think that they were involved in a range of home front activities. This time after the fall of France, the Home Front becme the front line with the Bttle of Britain. We have been unable to find much information on the various activities the Scouts engaged in during the War. We know they were involved in civil defense and helping with the evacuations in various ways. Hopefully HBU readers will have some information on this. The Scout programs were impaired by both the call ups for military service which look many experienced Scouters and youth lreaders out of the program. The ecacuations from the cities also disrupted many Scout troops. Presumably the boys joined troops in the areas to which they were evacuated. This is also something we have been unable to find information about. The Scouts have established programs to support the War effort. This sharply changed, however, when France fell (June 1940) and the British home front suddenly became the front line in World War II. And in the Blitz the Scouts stepped into all kinds of emergency situations. They pitched in with plane spotting, firecting traffic, evacuating hospitals, and much more. The Blitz streasched the emergency services to the limits. And thus the Scouts filled a critical need. The boys eaned the name Blitz Scouts.

World War II

The 1940s were dominated by World War II. World War II broke out when the Germans invaded Poland (September 1939). Britain declared war and began the evacuation of children from London sand other major cities. The Germans within a few weeks defeated Poland. Britain and France failed to mount an offensive to aid Poland. With Poland defeated, the Germans began preparing for their Western offensive.

Home Front Activities

The Boy Scouts in Britain as in World War I mobilized to support the war effort. We think that they were involved in a range of home front activities. And this time after the fall of France, the Home Front became the front line when the Germans launced the Bttle of Britain. We have been unable to find much information on the various activities the Scouts engaged in during the War. We know they were involved in civil defense and helping with the civilian evacuations in various ways. The Air Raid Precautions (ARP) was the British civil defense organisation. The ARP was established long before World War II and the Battle of Britain. We know that they acted as Air Raid Precautions (ARP) messengers and even wardens. This was especially important during the Blitz (1940). And we see them late in the War as the Germans began hitting Britain with V-1s and V-2s. Th iys ere still serving as ARP workers (1944-45). The image here is a good example (figure 1). Hopefully HBU readers in England will will have some information on Boy Scout efforts during the War.

Call-Ups

The Scout programs were impaired by both the call ups for military service which look many experienced Scouters and youth lreaders out of the program.

Evacuations

The ecacuations from the cities also disrupted many Scout troops. Presumably the boys joined troops in the areas to which they were evacuated. This is also something we have been unable to find information about.

Blitz Scouts

The Scouts have established programs to support the War effort. This sharply changed, however, when France fell (June 1940) and the British home front suddenly became the front line in World War II. And in the Blitz the Scouts stepped into all kinds of emergency situations. They pitched in with plane spotting, firecting traffic, evacuating hospitals, and much more. The Blitz streasched the emergency services to the limits. And thus the Scouts filled a critical need. The boys eaned the name Blitz Scouts. They were boys age 14 until they were mobilized at ge 18 years. One report from Croyden provides a good idea of wehat occurred. Croyden was a heabily bombed Londoin suburb. A Luftwaffe raid hit Croydon heabily, both the airfield an nearby fctories (August 16, 1940). Casualties were rushed to Croydon Mayday Hoispital and Croydon General Hospital, but the staff was not canle to deal with all the casualties. The Hospitals asked local Boy Scout troops to help. The voys were deployed to fight fires that might enbdanger the hospitals and fire spotting (looking for incendiaries from a tower). They also served as messengers to reach the relarives of the injured. They carried newborn babies in whicker baskets into the deep concrete shelter. They visited wards away from the main hoispital and accompied night duty nurses. After the Blitz, London quited down as the British regained air superority. But after D-Day the Germans started pounding London again with V-1s and V-2s ad the Scouts mobilized again (1944). [Perry]

Sources

Perry, Denis E. "The Boy Scout Blitz Volunteers", WW2 People's War (BBC: November 25, 2003) Article ID: A2077652.