Figure 1.--Here we see a group of Italian boys with drums and dressed up in uniforms for some kind of patriotic display as Italy entered World War I in 1915. Notice the soldiers behind the boys. The caption read, "A Call to Arms in Rome: The Italian BoyScouts if the young Garibaldians add to the military now going on throughout Italy." The boys are of Cub age, but they may not atually be part of an actual youth organization.

The overiding event during the 1910s was World War I (1914-18). It was the greatest war in histotry and dominted the decade. With the surge of patriotism surrounding the War effort, support and membership in the Scouts grew in most countries. World War I was the first major war since the founding of youth groups and the first opportunity for these groups to organize young people on the home front to support the war effort. World war I was totl waras never before expereienced In Europe. And the Hme Front became an important part of the War. The Boy Scouts and other youth groups in combatent countries were mobilized during World War I to suport the war effort. This varied from country to country. The British Scout and Guide movement was esoeciallyactive. The couts were less important in Germany. France had a very ctive Scouting movement. We do not yet extensive information on the effort in individual countries. The United States finally entered the War (April 1917). The Boy Scouts of America after the entry of America in World War I, began 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. Scouts planted "war gardens" with the slogan, "Every Scout to feed a soldier". 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.

Boy Scouts

With the surge of patriotism surrounding the War effort, support and membership in the Scouts grew in most countries. World War I was the first major war since the founding of youth groups and the first opportunity for these groups to organize young people on the home front to support the war effort. World war I was totl waras never before expereienced In Europe. And the Hme Front became an important part of the War. The Boy Scouts and other youth groups in combatent countries were mobilized during World War I to suport the war effort. This varied from country to country. The British Scout and Guide movement was esoeciallyactive. The couts were less important in Germany. France had a very ctive Scouting movement. We do not yet extensive information on the effort in individual countries. The United States finally entered the War (April 1917). The Boy Scouts of America after the entry of America in World War I, began 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. Scouts planted "war gardens" with the slogan, "Every Scout to feed a soldier". 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.

American Boy Scouts

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.

English Boy Scouts

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."

French Boy Scouts

Boys' Brigade

Girl Guides/Scouts

Wandervogel