Figure 1.--The March 1942 press photo was taken in Canada and captioned, "English Scouts to Tour Canada. Four of this group of King's Scouts will be selected to make a tour of Canada demonstrating the part Boy Scouts have played in the civil defense of Britain." These boys are older Scouts only a few years away from military conscription age. Some are weaking kilts meaning that they include Scottish Scouts.

The 1940s were dominated by World War II. World War II broke out (September 1939). The Boy Scouts as in World War I mobilized to support the war effort. We think that they were involved in a range of home front activities. This time after the fall of France, the Home Front becme the front line with the Bttle of Britain. We have been unable to find much information on the various activities the Scouts engaged in during the War. We know they were involved in civil defense and helping with the evacuations in various ways. Hopefully HBU readers will have some information on this. The Scout programs were impaired by both the call ups for military service which look many experienced Scouters and youth lreaders out of the program. The ecacuations from the cities also disrupted many Scout troops. Presumably the boys joined troops in the areas to which they were evacuated. This is also something we have been unable to find information about. The War ended with the NAZI surrender (May 1945) and the Japanese surrender (August 1945). We are not sure how this affected the Scout movement, but one impact was that many de-mobilized Scouters and former Scouts could now contribute to the movement. Britain was severely weakened by the War and war-time austerity continued after the War.

World War II (1939-45)

The 1940s were dominated by World War II. World War II broke out (September 1939). The Boy Scouts as in World War I mobilized to support the war effort. We think that they were involved in a range of home front activities. This time after the fall of France, the Home Front becme the front line with the Bttle of Britain. We have been unable to find much information on the various activities the Scouts engaged in during the War. We know they were involved in civil defense and helping with the evacuations in various ways. Hopefully HBU readers will have some information on this. The Scout programs were impaired by both the call ups for military service which look many experienced Scouters and youth lreaders out of the program. The ecacuations from the cities also disrupted many Scout troops. Presumably the boys joined troops in the areas to which they were evacuated. This is also something we have been unable to find information about. The Scouts have established programs to support the War effort. This sharply changed, however, when France fell (June 1940) and the British home front suddenly became the front line in World War II. And in the Blitz the Scouts stepped into all kinds of emergency situations. They pitched in with plane spotting, firecting traffic, evacuating hospitals, and much more. The Blitz streasched the emergency services to the limits. And thus the Scouts filled a critical need. The boys eaned the name Blitz Scouts.

Post-War Era (1945-49)

The War ended with the NAZI surrender (May 1945) and the Japanese surrender (August 1945). We are not sure how this affected the Scout movement, but one impact was that many de-mobilized Scouters and former Scouts could now contribute to the movement. Britain was severely weakened by the War and war-time austerity continued after the War.