Figure 1.-- We also notice Latvian Scouts wearing an unusual cap. Other wise the uniform seems quite standard for the time. The portrait is undated, but looks to have been taken in the 1930s before the Soviet invasion.

We have very limited information on Latvian Scouting and uniforms. The photographic record provides a good bit of information. An early photograph of Latvian Scouts on a previous page shows them wearing very traditional uniforms, little different than early British uniforms. The one unusual rather unusuaal aspect of the photographs we have seen is that quite a few boys wear long over the knee stockings rather than knee socks which were much more common for Scouting. This is something you rarely see with Scouts, but presumably relates to the northerly lattitude and the fact that long stockings were very commonly worn by Latvian children. We have noted Scouts wearing long pants, short pants and knee socks, or short pants and short socks, but rarely the long over the knee stockings. Long stockings were extensively worn by German, Polish, and Scandinavian boys so it is likely that some Scouts did wear them. We also notice Latvian Scouts wearing an unusual cap (figure 1), but thisi probably just because he did not have the proper uniform hat. Other wise the uniform seems quite standard for the time. The portrait here is undated, but must have been taken in the 1930s before the Soviet invasion. Also notice the boy's knife. Scout knivers were very important to early Scouts.

Style

We have very limited information on Latvian Scouting and uniforms. The photographic record provides a good bit of information. An early photograph of Latvian Scouts on a previous page shows them wearing very traditional uniforms, little different than early British uniforms which essentially set the style for early Scouting in most other countries. Gradually after the Scouting movement developed, national groups developed more destinctive national styles. The Latvian Scout movement, however, was truncated by the Soviet invasion (1940).

Garments

Latvian Scouts wore hats, shirts, neckerchiefs, and pants similar to the original Bfritish Scout uniform. The one unusual rather unusuaal aspect of the photographs we have seen is that quite a few boys wear long over the knee stockings rather than knee socks which were much more common for Scouting. This is something you rarely see with Scouts, but presumably relates to the northerly lattitude and the fact that long stockings were very commonly worn by Latvian children. We have noted Scouts wearing long pants, short pants and knee socks, or short pants and short socks, but rarely the long over the knee stockings. Long stockings were extensively worn by German, Polish, and Scandinavian boys so it is likely that some Scouts did wear them. We also notice Latvian Scouts wearing an unusual cap (figure 1), but thisi probably just because he did not have the proper uniform hat. Other wise the uniform seems quite standard for the time. The portrait here is undated, but must have been taken in the 1930s before the Soviet invasion. Also notice the boy's knife. Scout knivers were very important to early Scouts.

Colors

We are not sure about the colors as almost all of our information comes from black and white photographs. The colors are all dark including the neckerchiefs. The Latvian flag was maroon and white so we think the neckerchief may have been maroon.