Scouting in the 70th 1932-1968
3. The Boy Scout Troop
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3.1 Organisation within the Troop
The Boy Scout Troop consisted of various Patrols named after birds or animals - a deliberate policy since Scouts were expected to be knowledgable about common fauna and flora. Indeed, Scouts in a particular patrol used to make the call of the animal or bird as a rallying call. Coloured patrol flashes made from cloth with frayed ends indicated which patrol each Scout belonged to. For example, a member of the Fox patrol sported green and yellow shoulder flashes (Fig. 1.8).
Figure 8
Patrol flashes for the Fox Patrol
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Figure 9
Patrol Leader stripes
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Figure 10
Patrol Leader's Hat Badge
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The Patrol Leader (P.L.) in charge of a patrol wore two vertical white stripes on his shirt pocket, (Fig. 9) and a silver metal P.L.s badge on the traditional Scout broad-rimmed hat (Fig. 10). These insignia were bigger than the comparable badges meted out to P.L.s after 1968, and made it clear who the 'top dogs' were in a particular Troop! Patrol Leaders were typically aged 15-17 and so there could be a massive age gap between the P.L. and his youngest Scout. It is not surprising that younger Scouts were often in awe of their P.L.s and could even hero worship them. Scouts were expected to follow their P.L.’s instructions without question, while the P.L.s were expected to show due care and concern for their Scouts. Generally this was the case, and the patrol system gave boys aged 15-17 the opportunity to gain maturity and responsibility in leading their patrols, particularly during hikes and camps. The patrol’s second in command was called the Second Patrol Leader (S.P.L.) or the 'Second' (Sec), and wore a single white vertical stripe on his shirt pocket.
The Troop Leader (T.L.) sported 3 white stripes (Fig. 11) and was usually one of the most experienced Patrol Leaders in the Troop. A Troop Leader could remain in charge of a patrol, but most T.L.s in the thirties and forties did not, since a T.L.'s role was much like a 'Sergeant Major' in the army. The T.L. often gave instructions to the patrols and brought the troop to alert prior to inspections. There was also a recognised communication system whereby leaders relayed messages or instructions to the T.L., who then informed the P.L.s, who then informed their Scouts. Presumably, information could flow the other way to keep the leaders in touch with what the Scouts were thinking! The T.L. may also have chaired the Court of Honour (see later).
Figure 11 Robin Crawford - Troop Leader during the sixties.
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There roles that the T.L. carried out may well have varied at different periods, and it is possible that the T.L. played a more important role in running of the Troop during the thirties than in later years. For example, Kenneth Conway was Troop Leader from 1959-60 and considered it more of an honorary role at that time.
In 1946, there were national discussions about having a Senior Scout section. Although this proposal was rejected, older Scouts were recognised more formally as Senior Scouts and were able to earn distinctive proficiency badges reserved for their age range.
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The Scout Master (S.M.) ran the Troop and was assisted by Assistant Scout Masters (A.S.M.s). There were age limits for both roles. A.S.M.s had to be at least 18, whereas the age limit for Scout Master appeared to change with time. For example, some people recall the mimimum age being set at 25 after the Second World War, whereas it appeared to be 21 during the period 1933-1945.
In the fifties and sixties, any 18-year old Scout joining the 70th’s leader team was referred to as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster (J.A.S.M.), although it's not clear whether this was an official term or not. In some of the 70th Troop logs, the scribe identifies individuals by the ‘rank’ of V.J.A.S.M. (Very Junior Assistant Scoutmaster).
In 1968, the term 'Scout Master' was replaced with 'Scout Leader'. The term ‘Patrol Leader’ was retained, but changes in section age ranges meant that P.L.s were typically 15 or 16 years old. The system still worked, but further age range changes mean that today's patrol leaders are typically 13 years old. Consequently, the status of the Patrol Leader has diminished significantly compared with the period before 1968.
3.2 The Boy Scout Uniform
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The original Boy Scout uniform (Fig. 12) consisted of a peaked broad-rimmed hat, neckerchief and woggle, a long- or short-sleeved shirt with two pockets and two epaulettes, Scout belt, shorts, long socks, garter tabs and shoes. The uniform was identical for Boy Scouts, Rover Scouts and Scoutmasters. Scottish Scouts were rather unique in World Scouting since Baden Powell permitted them to wear the kilt instead of shorts. However, he drew the line at the wearing of Glengarries instead of the 'lemon squeezer' hat. In the 1950s, Scottish Scouts were eventually allowed to wear a 'tourie bunnet' rather than the traditional Scout hat.
Figure 12 The original Boy Scout Uniform.
The Scout uniform prior to 1968 was robust and virtually identical for all Scouts world-wide. During the thirties and forties, 70th Scouts wore full uniform on all Scout activities including hikes, cycle trips, backpacking expeditions, camps, parades, waste paper collections, and games (Figs. 13 & 14). 'Changing out of uniform' at Scout meetings merely meant removing the hat and the neckerchief when engaging in particularly violent games like British Bulldog. There was some relaxation of the uniform rules during the fifties and sixties when Scouts generally changed into camp clothes for weekend and summer camps, but the principle of wearing uniform for all Scout activities continued until 1968.
Figure 13 Albert Runcie and Ronald Russell on their 1st Class Hike.
The practical advantages of the uniform for outdoor activities were heavily emphasised to Scouts. For example, the neckerchief kept the neck warm when it was cold, and protected the neck against the sun when it was hot. It could be dipped in a stream and worn wet to keep cool during hikes, and it was readily available as a bandage or sling if first aid was required. The broad-rimmed hat could be used as a water carrier at camp, and the broad rim was designed to protect the wearer from both sun and rain. It was certainly very effective at both, although it could be sweaty when warm, and difficult to 'control' in strong winds. The Scout belt was useful for opening bottles, and for attaching all sorts of useful implements such as sheath knifes, which were permitted in those days.
Figure 14 Pioneering during a 'Right of Way Hike during the early 1940s
By 1967, the traditional scout uniform was considered antiquated and it was replaced with a dress uniform which proved useless for anything other than parades and formal occasions. As a result, Scouts seemed to 'disappear from public view' after 1968. It is interesting to compare Scouting in the USA, Australia and South Africa. In those countries, the uniform was modernised, but the fundamental idea of having a practical uniform which could be used on all Scout activities remained.