Boys' Brigade Uniforms: Leadership

Figure 1.--This English Boys Brigade group has leaders wearing two styles of caps. The boys wear the pillbox caps. The men on each end wear military-styled peaked caps. Bothalso hold instruments. Note the older man in the back wearing a kepi, styled just like the pillbox caps that the boys are wearing.

From the early years, the leaders of the companies had come together to form the Council of the Boys' Brigade, providing the machinery for the administration of the movement. In 1887 William Smith was appointed as the first full-time Brigade Secretary, and he dedicated his time to the organisation. He brought many influential people into the organisation to promote its growth. This included the Duke of York (future George VI), who filled the position of Patron as prince and King for 40 years. As Duke of York he had promoted a camping scheme bringing together boys of a wide range of social backgrounds, a novel idea at the time. The Boys' Brigade leaders interestingly tended to wear destinctive uniforms from the boys. This was differet from the Boy Scouts wear adult leadrers tended to wear similar uniforms. Adult Scout leaders, for example have never worn different style caps.

Boy's Brigade Council

From the early years, the leaders of the companies had come together to form the Council of the Boys' Brigade, providing the machinery for the administration of the movement. In 1887 William Smith was appointed as the first full-time Brigade Secretary, and he dedicated his time to the organisation. He brought many influential people into the organisation to promote its growth.

Patrons

One of the most important individuals who has served as the Brigade patron has been King George V. He served as patron for 40 years while he was Duke of York, Prince of Wales, and King until his death in 1936. I believe King George VI also served as patron, but am not positive. While Duke of York he had promoted a camping scheme bringing together boys of a wide range of social backgrounds, a novel idea at the time. When her father died in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II became the Brigade sponsor.

Destinctive Leadership Uniforms

The Boys' Brigade leaders interestingly tended to wear destinctive uniforms from the boys. This was differet from the Boy Scouts wear adult leadrers tended to wear similar uniforms. Adult Scout leaders, for example have never worn different style caps. There are usually adult leaders in the okd photographs of Boys' Brigade units. The fact that theu often have musical instruments when pictured with band units, suggests that they played along with the boys. This still contginues today. One HBC reader writes, "I think the older persons are the Brigade leaders, bandmasters. There were several older members in the bands playong for the Queen's Jubilee in 2002".

A British reader tells us that the two men in peaked caps at each side may not be actual Boys' Brigade leaders (figure 1). He reports, describing the man on the right, "Judging from his cap badge and uniform I'd think he was a driil or band master seconded from a military unit to help train the boys, in other words not a BB officer. Schools at that time also employed part time drill masters to train boys in marching and drill."

The man on the left in a similar uniform with a military peaked cap looks younger (figure 1). We note that he has the same shoulder strap and badge as one of the drummers. Could he have beern a Brigade band member who has since joined the military. Perhaps the medals he wears are ones he won wehile he was still in the Brigade band. Note that some of the boys have similar medals.

Note the elderly gentleman at the back (figure 1). He looks to be wearing a pillbox cap like the boys. In fact he's wearing a cap a bit like the French kepi, with a small peak--NOT a pillbox hat. We believe that he may be the actual Boys Brigade adult leader of this group.