Figure 1.--Here we see a relsatively new Cub with his red merit badges sewn on to his sleeve. I'm not sure what the light blue bage is.

When a new Cub first gets his green jumper, it is totally bare. Throughout his career as a Cub Scout, the boy has the opportunity to earn many patches, badges, and pins. English Cubs wore quite a variety of badges and paches which tell where the Cub was from, his time in Cubbing, his merit achievements, and his rank and position. There were also many special badges indicating activities or events in which he participasted. Scouting was an achievement-orriented program. The Cub Scout program had many opportunities to recognize the achievements of the Cubs. This page is not even close to a comprehensive list of all the recognitions possible within the Cubbing program. These patches and badges were very important to each boy who earned them.

Shoulder Patch

A shoulder patch consisting of a small, triangular piece of cloth of six colors, sewn firmly at the top of the left sleeve, just below shoulder, point upwards.

Shoulder Badge

A shoulder badge indicating Group, worn on right shoulder or on both, according to the custom of the Group.

Country and Other Emblems

There were also county or other emblems as authorised. We notice shoulder strips.

Position

Two stripes meant a Sixer or Den Leader. A Scouter tells us that the two stripes on the boys sleeves refer to his status in his six (group) He is actually the "Sixer" (similar to a Den Leader). If he had one stripe he would be the "seconder" (assistant to the sixer or in scouts ... assistant patrol leader). Later a patch with stripes replaced the actual stripes.

Merit Badges

Cubs could qualify for badges on being successfully assessed for competence in numerous disciplines such as cooking or orienteering. They were round red badges sewn on to the sleeve.