Scouting in the 70th (1932-1968)

3.3 The Scout Laws and Promise

Prior to 1968, the Scout Laws and Promise were taken extremely seriously by both Scouts and Leaders. Apart from understanding the Laws, Scouts were expected to memorise them before they could be invested. Instead of today's seven laws, there were ten and many of these were quite wordy! Several Scouts from the pre-1968 era can still reel off all ten Laws and the Promise.

The promise in 1935 was as follows;

"On my honour, I promise that I will do my best –

To do my duty to God and the King/Queen,

To help other people at all times,

To obey the Scout Law."

The Scout Laws in 1935 were;

1. A Scout's honour is to be trusted

2. A Scout is loyal to the King, his country, his officers, his parents, his employers and those under him

3. A Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others

4. A Scout is a friend to all, and a brother to every other scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs

5. A Scout is courteous

6. A Scout is a friend to animals

7. A Scout obeys orders of his parents, patrol leader, or scoutmaster without question

8. A Scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties

9. A Scout is thrifty

10. A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.

Memorising Laws 2 and 4 was particularly challenging!

There was an unintended ambiguity in the wording of Law 4, as 'every other Scout' could be interpreted as meaning every second Scout you met! It was also a bit of a challenge to 'smile and whistle' at the same time! At some point between 1935 and 1947, the wording of the second law was altered to replace 'officers' with 'Scouters', but other than that, the wording remained the same until 1968.

3.4 Boy Scout Salutes

The Scout Salute was the same as it is now – the three fingers representing the three parts of the promise (Fig. 15). The full salute was made regardless of whether a hat was worn or not. If a Scout was holding a staff (which was pretty common in the early years of Scouting), he would hold the staff in the right hand and salute horizontally using the left hand (Fig. 16). The Scout Sign was used for investitures and taking the promise (Fig. 17). The Cub version of the Scout sign is shown in Figure 2.03.

Figure 15 The Full Salute.

Figure 16 Salutes when holding a Scout Staff

3.5 The Boy Scout Progressive Training Scheme

The progressive training scheme in Scouting was fundamental to programme planning and Scout activities. From 1911-1968, it involved progression through the Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class and King's/Queen’s Scout badges. The training provided Scouts with skills in campcraft, bushcraft, leadership, first aid and community service to name but a few. Patrol Leaders were often involved in the training process, but the assessments were carried out by the Scout Master, A.S.Ms or external examiners. There were particular rules about this. For example, the First Class hike was assessed by an external examiner, and there are suggestions that all First Class tests were assessed by external examiners during the thirties.

Figure 17 The Scout Sign

No boy could be invested as a Boy Scout until he had passed the Tenderfoot badge. This involved learning the law and promise off by heart and knowing what they meant. In the sixties, it also meant tying six knots (clove hitch, bowline, reef knot, round turn and two half hitches, sheet bend and sheep shank), demonstrating the various Scout salutes, folding the flag for flagbreak, cleaning a wound, recognising basic woodcraft signs (Fig. 18), and doing a simple whipping (Fig. 19). This could take up to 6 months to complete.

Figure 18 Woodcraft Signs

Figure 12 The original Boy Scout Uniform.

Figure 19 Whipping

Following the Tenderfoot Badge came the Second Class badge (Figs. 8 & 20). In the 1960s, the tests were;

Minor accidents, Rules of health, Observation, Recognise 6 common trees, Knots, Lashings

Hand axe and knife, Fire lighting, Cooking, Highway Code, Care of a cycle, 8 mile journey - a simple day hike on country roads, 3 months service - attendance at Scout meetings. Re-assessment of Tenderfoot tests.

Figure 20 Second Class Badge

A Scout was meant to gain the Second Class Badge in about a year (Fig. 9), then start on the First Class badge (Fig. 21). Baden Powell stated that boys could only consider themselves proper Scouts once they had gained the First Class badge. In truth, most Scouts gained their Second Class badge, but relatively few achieved the First Class badge. For example, in 1933, there were only 8 First Class Scouts in Greenock representing only 1.8% of total Scouts. This certainly improved over the next decade, but it was always the case that First Class Scouts were in the minority. In 1911, there were ten tests, which increased to the following 12 tests in the 1960s;

Ten camping nights, Emergencies, First Aid, Swim 50 yards, Read a track, Recognise 12 common trees, Recognise 6 common birds, Estimation, Knots and splicing, Use of a felling axe, Map and compass, Re-assessment of Second Class tests, Two-day backpacking expedition of about 15 miles.

Figure 21 First Class Badge

The tests involved in these badges were well defined and, although some new tests were introduced in 1944, they remained pretty consistent until 1968. All the skills involved were viewed as important in Scoutcraft or survival. One downside was the lack of choice, which resulted in some criticism during the 1960s. For example, Scouts who were poor swimmers found it difficult to pass their swimming test, and it was claimed that this put some boys off Scouting (Fig. 22). However, most Scout Masters with any savvy found a way round this problem. The two-day expedition was a major part of the award. Typically, a Scout completed this hike with one other Scout, cooking meals over a wood fire. An external examiner set the route which would usually be on roads and tracks. The Scouts had to complete a detailed log book of the expedition including any projects that the examiner had set. The standards were demanding!

Figure 22 Stuart Tosh and John Ellis doing their First Class Swimming test at Everton 1942.

After a Scout gained his First Class badge, he could work towards his King's/Queen’s Scout Badge (Fig. 23). This Badge was introduced in 1911 and required a Scout to pass the First Class badge, the Pathfinder proficiency badge, then three other proficiency badges from the following; Ambulance, Marksman, Bugler, Seaman, Cyclist or Signaller. In 1947, the requirements were changed such that the Scout had to gain the Bushman's thong, the Ambulance proficiency badge, and three other proficiency badges that focussed on public service. By the 1960s, both the Ambulance and Swimmers proficiency badges had become compulsory and a further four proficiency badges were required from an approved list since gaining the First Class Badge. Finally, the Scout had to complete a longer, more demanding two-day backpacking hike than the one he had completed for the First Class Badge.

Figure 23 The King's/Queen's Scout Badge.