Figure 1.--A HBU reader has submitted this Scout Shop advertisement showing uniform short trousers available for Scouting. It is undated, but he dates it to the 1930s. They were available in navy melton, khaki cotton drill, and navy and fawn corduroy in sizes 26 to 40 inch waists. These sizes for some reason are quite large and seem more like youth to adult sizes for short trousers. The larger sizes are clearly for Scout leaders, but we do not understand why there are not smaller sizes for boys.

We note letters from the Briish Scout magazine, The Scouter during the 1930s discussing the Scout uniform. We also have a Scout Shop advertisement showing uniform items available for Scouting in the 1930s.

Pride in the Uniform

Thr town Scouter should think a little scout the point of view of the country Scouter. The average boy in the country Troop has never been 20 miles beyond his home, and relies for his knowledge of what Scouting is on what his officers tell him of Scout Troops outside his district. Then comes a Troop from elsewhere and sets a really bad example; we had one this year that has done serious harm to local Scouting. My own Troop was disgusted with their behaviour; they were never in uniform until our A.D.C. made it quite plain to their Scouter that regulations must be kept.

I would suggest that when a Scouter takes his boys from camp to the sea, he forms a bathing party. There are generally one or two Scouts who do not want to bathe; they can go down with the bathing party in full uniform, and get anything from the shops that the others want. Please remember always that you are only down for a week or two, but the other Scout is there for 52 weeks.

WALTER R. COATE, G.S.1S~. Ist Budleigh Salterton.

The letter ironically I published under this heading last month is refreshing in that it shows a man with the " intestinal fortitude " to obey rules he doesn't like. The Brotherhood of Scouts is held together by common loyalty to one Chief, one Law, and one Promise: these things are very real but they are intangible. There must be some visible thing to cement us tog-ether. That thing is our uniform. Does P. Hilton seriously contend that a shirt with short sleeves and Open-neck, and a cotton scarf worn loosely are stuffy? And that hat! Once boys realise that it is worn by the cowboys, the "Mounties" and the legion of Frontiersmen, they become prouder of it than of any other part of the uniform. Nowadays it is what the public knows us by, as our bare knees and khaki shirts are no longer unique. But what is the good of having this uniform if it is not worn? Before last summer camp, unprecedented efforts were made to get Scouters to play the game; the Chief even made an appeal to our personal loyalty to him. In spite of this, things seemed worse than ever.

I camped in Dorset; there were scores of Scout camps round the town, and yet it was seldom that a Scout in uniform was to be seen. The place swarmed with little boys in tennis shirts and funny huts, wearing tell tale garter tabs round their legs. There was a London Troop close to us composed exclusively of secondary schoolboys; it took nearly a week to find out that they were Scouts, since they always wore school blazers and berets!

Cannot each Local Association make a ruling that binds its members to proper dress outside the camp area ! Once the boys get to their bathing-place they can change to their costumes and play and paddle on the beach; but between it and camp, and on roads--uniforms please.

R. F. A.

Source: Scouter, December 1931.