It is a curious fact that the Boy who will groan at the very thought of school tests and exams will compete eagerly for awards that mark him out as a smart member of The Boys' Brigade!

The very first emblem of the B. B. was the red rosette patiently sewn by Mrs William A. Smith, wife of the Founder, and worn on the jacket lapel of the captain and his first two lieutenants. The boys themselves, in 1883, were plain as plain could be in their drab Victorian workaday clothes.

Today there are awards and achievements to be aimed at the moment a Boy enrols in the Brigade. The 6 year-old Robin or Anchor Boy of the Pre-Junior Section begins with a cloth badge of the movement on his red jersey. By the time he is in the Juniors at the age of 8 he starts with basic achievements and goes on to the glory of white, green, purple, blue, red and gold awards for an amazing variety of activities. How surprised some parents must be to hear of them! Among 136 'achievements' he may be able to tell the story of a Bible parable, sew on a button, set a table, solve a crossword puzzle, keep his bicycle in a roadworthy state, know his road signs from the Highway Code, name and use simple tools, take part in Kim's Game, run and swim and throw and catch, keep his footing on the ski-slopes, read a compass, identify aircraft and their markings, play a musical instrument, make a good cup of tea, understand a map, and plan a cross-country expedition.There is a place in the Achievement Scheme for the handicapped Boy as for the quickest, each giving of his best.

The teenager in the Company Section takes his awards very seriously. Each Company has its own well-planned programme of activities, physical, educational and spiritual, for every season of the year. The Boy begins with a Target Award to show that he knows what the B.B. is all about.Then the wide world of skill and enthusiasm is open to him: Arts, Crafts and Hobbies Badges, the Camping, Canoeing, Christian Education, and Communications Badges, the Drill Badge, whose device is the chess king, the only piece that can move in any direction one pace at a time! There is an Expedition Badge, a First Aid Badge (the oldest award of the lot, if one remembers the ambulance classes of the early B.B. Companies), an International Badge, Life-Sav ing Badge, Naturalist's Badge, Physical Recreation Badge, Safety Badge, Sailing Badge, Seamanship Badge, Swimming Badge, and Sportsman's Colours for skill in any activity from Archery to Table Tennis, summed up in the badge bearing the device of the laurel wreath to depict the all-rounder.

The older Boy knows that the President's Badge is a special award for which he must be specially recommended by his Company Captain after gaining a number of other awards.And highest of all, and greatly to be coveted, is the Queen's Badge for Boys who have shown knowledge and understanding of The Boys' Brigade at every level, practical leadership in the Company, and who commit themselves to some service for others in the community.

So the final glory of a Senior Boy will be an immaculate turn-out of cap, belt and haversack, buttonhole badge of membership, and his hard-won badges on armlets worn thus:

Left Arm: top row : Queen's Badge

centre row : President's Badge

bottom row : Gold Achievement Badge,Brigade Service Badge.

Right Arm: top row : Target Award

additional rows : specialized awards, worn in alphabetical order, not more than seven in a row.

Such a Boy, in full parade uniform, has made the most of his years and service in The Boys' Brigade.

There was a time when he would have been well aware of the weight of glory and responsibility, especially on his right arm. Until recently, badges were made of frosty-silver nickel and each weighed 6 grams.Today, in high impact polystyrene they are brighter than ever, and much lighter at 2 grams apiece.

Sir William Smith described promotion to NCO as the greatest honour for a B.B. Boy. The NCO is the best-disciplined Boy on parade, trained in the ceremonial of Colour parties, competent as instructor, squad commander and leader, friend and example to the younger Boys. The Founder's basic rule was that the NCO should know the Brigade from A to Z and should be its finest representative of true Christian manliness.

The awards, achievements and badges of The Boys' Brigade have changed considerably in design and appearance through the century. Some lie about in tins and boxes, the proud souvenirs of members of days gone by. They may well become a collector's treasure-trove. Who, for example, remembers and possesses the Old Boys' Union Badge, engraved on the back with name, Company, and years of service, and intended to be worn on the watch chain? Or the five pointed star? Or the Service Badges of both World Wars? And what of the Jubilee Badge of 1933 and the special buttonhole badge issued only to Boys who attended the Dechmont Camp? There is also the Founder's Camp Badge of 1954, as well as special badges for the Coronation of King George VI and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the Investiture of the Prince of Wales, and the Queen's Silver Jubilee.These, and many like them, are keepsakes for days to come.

One high award of recent years has still to be mentioned.It is the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, introduced in 1956 by His Royal Highness Prince Philip himself, 'to encourage and stimulate the enthusiasms and energies of young people between the ages of 14 and 25 in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth'. The Boys' Brigade, as the senior of all youth organizations, had the honour to be asked to be a pilot organization when the Award was instituted, since when it has become the premier achievement in all that is finest in citizenship, adventure and service.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award may be gained in Bronze, Silver or Gold, and all young people who take part have to meet the strict requirements of four sections: Service, Expeditions, Skills, and Physical Recreation. The Award is not competitive. For the member of the B.B. it is a challenge to be the very best a Boy can be.

The one rare distinction that remains is the Cross for Heroism which was introduced in 1902 and is given only for an act of bravery where a Boy puts his own life at risk for others, or who has displayed marked courage in face of danger. It is the V.C. of Brigade Awards. Since it was first instituted 191 Crosses have been gained. Five of them were awarded to Boys whose heroism cost them their young lives.

Written examinations for awards are a serious matter.In the examination for the Camper's Badge one Boy wrote: 'There should be a pit dug for the cook, about six feet long, three feet deep.'

The Colour Party

London Boys set out for international camp, Kingston Jamaica, 1958. The breast badge was specially designed for this camp.

Simon Herriot, aged 9, winner of the Boys' Brigade Cross for Heroism.

Reviews of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.