English Boys' Brigade: Chronology--The 1890s

Figure 1.--This cabinet card portrait shows two unidentified brothers who were members Boys' Brigade unit 24. The dealer thought that they were in the anglicam Church Lads Brigade. we can not make out the badge well enough to decide. We date the portrait to the 1890s ased on similar pinled cabinet cards in america. But if the portrait dates to the 1900s, it could be the Church Lads rather than the Boys' Brigade. The older boy was an officer. Notoce the badge and bugle. The studio was Hanmett in either Bolton or Birmingham.

We continue to see the basic approach to uniform, just a cap and white shoulder strap. We note a portrait of two unidentified brothers wearing suits and ties with the pill box caps worn at an angle, white shoulder straps and white belt pouch, and belts with the Brigade buckle. The portrait was a cabinet card. The older brother was an officer with an extra shoulder strap and round badge. The boys look to be about 11-15 years old. The portrait is undated but the pinking suggests the portrait was taken in the early-1890s. Here we are using American conventions. English dating convenions may be different. Very commonly the boys wore suits not any kind of practical activity unifirm like the Boy Scouts would adopt. This reflcted the activity program of the two groups. The Brigade at the time had a much less extensive activity program with no emphasis on outdoor activuties and camping. The scouts woukd grow out of he Brigade with less emphasis on religion and a more active outdoor program.

Created: 2:15 AM 5/21/2016
Last updated: 2:16 AM 5/21/2016