The Boy Scouts Association of the UK was just seven years old when war
broke out in 1914. With its members brought up with a strong ethos of
duty and loyalty, it was no surprise that many wanted to play the best
role possible in the nation's war effort.
Many members were amongst those who rallied to the colors and enlisted
in the heady days of the first weeks and months of the war. Some already
belonged to either the Reserves or the Territorials and so found
themselves immediately thrust into the front lines and casualty rates
were high. Several of those who fought were decorated for their service,
with a number even wining the Victoria Cross.
On the Home Front, Boy Scouts served as messengers, printers, dispatch
riders etc. in the War Office and other government offices, both locally
and nationally. Scouts helped gather in the harvest, hunted for spies,
aided the civil and military authorities, maintained watch during air
raids, helped various wartime charities and sold old bottles to raise
funds for recreational huts and ambulances for the front. Others found
themselves mounting guard on the coasts and on vulnerable points such as
the railway network, or aiding recruitment efforts across the country.
The Boy Scout became a trusted and common sight on the streets of the
country and the contribution they made was great indeed.
