United States Boy Scouts: World War I Activities (1917-18)


Figure 1.--This is the best know Liberty Loan campaign poster honoring the Boy Scouts for their effort. It was also use for a 1918 "Saturday Evening Post" cover.

The American Boy Scouts were founded in 1910. Thus they were a very new group at the time of the War. The idea of youth grouops was also quite new and the program just begining to evolve. In fact one of the issues the young organization faced were complaints from pacifists that it was too militaristic and from the more patriotic that it was not sufficently militaristic. The competing American Boy Scouts took a more militaristic approach with a strong emphasis on rivalry. Thus there was no set program for how to support the war effort. We note Scours involved in a range of efforts. t. The BSA after the entry of America in World War I, begins home-front service in 1917 with the "Help win the war". The Scout motto, "Be prepared" was put into action. The Scouts persued many home-front activities. This included agricultural labor and vegetable gardens to hrelp produce food. Scouts planted "war gardens" with the logan, "Every Scout to feed a soldier". Scouts were mobilized to help with agricultural labor. A New York Times (May 3, 1917) article has a fullpage article "ONE MILLION BOYS TO BE MOBILIZED FOR WORK ON FARMS". The article reads, "In accordance with the Government's plans to conserve the Nation's food supply, Secretary of Labor Wilson has undertaken to mobilize 1,000,000 boys for work on farms this Summer. The organization will be known as the United States Boys' Working Reserve, with headquarters in Washington. Boys between 15 and 19nyears will be enrolled and sent where their wrk is most needed. The work of mobilizing boys for farm work already has begun by such organizatins as he Boy Scouts." A photo shows of Boy Scouts "clearing land for a community garden at Scarsdale, NY". Another photo shows "Two thousand Boy Scouts marching to work on 300 acres in East Potomac Park, Washington, D.C. donated by the Government for gardening." Scouts played an important role in the war bond program. They sold over 2 million war bonds. Another project was to collect peach pits which were used to make charcoal for gas masks. These patriotic prjects helped to make the Boy Scouts enormously popular.

Foundation

The American Boy Scouts were founded in 1910. Thus they were a very new group at the time of the War. The idea of youth grouops was also quite new and the program just begining to evolve. The Chief Scout Executive James E. West took over the organization (January 1911) and began tge practical task of creating a stble, well organized group.

Pacifism and Militarism

one of the issues the young organization faced were complaints from pacifists that it was too militaristic and from the more patriotic that it was not sufficently militaristic. The competing American Boy Scouts took a more militaristic approach with a strong emphasis on rivalry.

World War I

World War I broke out in Europe (1914). I'm not sure if the BSA persued iany projects associated with the War at this time. The United States did not enter the War until 3 years later (1917). There was no set program for how to support the war effort, but Scours becme involved in a range of efforts. he BSA after the entry of America in World War I, begins home-front service in 1917 with the "Help win the war". The Scout motto, "Be prepared" was put into action. The Scouts persued many home-front activities. Boy Scouts from their foundation got involved in public service activities, but their most visible work was associate with World War I. >br>

Food Production

This Scouts helped with agricultural labor to help produce food. Scouts planted "war gardens" with the logan, "Every Scout to feed a soldier". Scouts were mobilized to help with agricultural labor. A New York Times (May 3, 1917) article has a fullpage article "ONE MILLION BOYS TO BE MOBILIZED FOR WORK ON FARMS". The article reads, "In accordance with the Government's plans to conserve the Nation's food supply, Secretary of Labor Wilson has undertaken to mobilize 1,000,000 boys for work on farms this Summer. The organization will be known as the United States Boys' Working Reserve, with headquarters in Washington. Boys between 15 and 19nyears will be enrolled and sent where their work is most needed. The work of mobilizing boys for farm work already has begun by such organizatins as he Boy Scouts." A photo shows of Boy Scouts "clearing land for a community garden at Scarsdale, NY". Another photo shows "Two thousand Boy Scouts marching to work on 300 acres in East Potomac Park, Washington, D.C. donated by the Government for gardening."

War Gardens

Many Scouts planted victory gardens. The BSA adopts the slogan "Every Scout to Feed a Soldier." Scouts are rged to plant vegetable gardens. In two plant-growing seasons, 12,000 Scout farms are established. At the same time. The BSA commissioned a garden medal.

Red Cross

The BSA pledges to aid the American Red Cross (1917).

U.S. Navy

The BSA promises cooperation with the U.S. Navy by organizing Scout coastal patrols to watch for enemy ships (1917).

Civic Service

Scouts were often used to assist at events like fais and festivals. Perhaps the most poignent such duties was serving as guides and in other capacities at the Civil War encampments held during the War years. The Civil War veterans by 1915 were most 70 years old are older. Scouts also served in various capacities after the War when the influenza (flu) epedemic hit. After the signing of the Armistice, the BSA adopted a new slogan "The War Is Over, But Our Work Is Not" is adopted. Scouts render nationwide service during the epidemic.

Liberty Bonds

Scouts played an important role in the war bond program. The bonds were called Liberty Bounds. The boys sold over 2.4 million Liberty Loan bonds with a value of nearly $150 million. In addition they sold War Savings Stamps (WSS) totaling $53 million. This was a way to participate in the effort on a more modest level. Scouts during World War II sold savings stamps in schools. I'm not sure where they sold the stamps during World War I. The BSA approved ll kinds of medals and bars to honor the Scouts involved in selling bonds and stamps.

Collections and Drives

The Scouts were involved in helped searches and drives. There was arive for aluminum. They also located black walnut trees for the military. This wood was use for propellors and rifle stocks. Another project was to collect peach pits which were used to make charcoal for gas masks.

Messages

Scouts were involved in delivering messages. We note a BSA Dipatch Bearer identity card.

Morale

Some Scout troops took an interest in helping keepn up the morale od soldiers from the local tpwm or community. We are not sure how common this was or how organized it was on the part bof the BSA. We note Boy Scout troops with service flags, that was flags with a star for former troop members. One Scouter from Iowa wrote to a formner boy in his troop by sending a photo postcard of thev troop. The card was found in the soldier;s World War I album. They were from Casey, Iowa. The Scoutmaster was Rev. E.R. Stroud. The boys are posing on steps with U.S. Flag behind them, and holding a Service Flag with stars. This was sent to a soldier nameds Ray Hager. Thev messagecread, "Dear Ray: I was so glad to receive your picture - I am sending you mine. This is our Service Flag. Your mother placed a star on it for you - Your star is the 2nd one in the 1st row. We always remember you in our prayers. God Bless you my Boy- write when you can- Your friend - Evan R. Stroud."

Government Publications

Boy Scouts helped distribute government literature. We notice councils printing up Presidents addresses in commemorative editiins for distribution. They distribute Over 300 million pieces of government literature.

Impact

These patriotic prjects helped to make the Boy Scouts enormously popular. Before the War the idea of a uniformed youth group was still novel with some doubters. After the War the Boy Scouts were on of the most respected institutions in the country.

Sources

New York Times Mid-Week Pictorial, May 3, 1917. The New York Times Mid-Week Pictorial was arguably one of the finest and most prolific publishers of contemporary World War WI photographs of any American periodical in circulation during War. These magazines are the World War I equivalent of what Harper's Weekly was for the Civil War.





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Created: 1:22 AM 8/17/2007
Last updated: 6:52 AM 3/8/2011