The Life Boys

Although The Boys' Brigade catered for teenage boys, during the early part of the 20th century there had been unauthorised groups for younger boys below the age of 12 the BB minimum age. Demand had grown for a younger age group organisation as a result of the formation in 1916 of the Wolf Cubs within Scouting.

In January 1917 at a Brigade Executive meeting a proposal was made by the Plymouth Battalion to form a Junior Corps for younger boys, which would legitimise the existing groups and bring order and control of their activities. There was general support for this and F. C. Carey Longmuir Captain of the 1st Warley Company in Essex was requested to report back detailed proposals at the next Executive meeting.

Captain Longmuir's plans for a junior brigade were outlined in the April edition of the BB Gazette and at the May meeting the Executive oversaw the plans produced that were submitted to the Brigade Council in Manchester. Then after discussions the resolution to form "The Boy Reserves" was passed by a large majority.

The object of the Boy Reserves was: - The Advancement of Christ's Kingdom among boys and the training of suitable recruits for The Boy's Brigade

A Life Boy

When originally constituted in 1917 the organisation for the younger boys was called The Boy Reserves. The age limit was set at 9 to 12, which remained unchanged until 1960. The initial uniform for The Boys Reserves was a round flat naval style hat and dark blue jumper. The naval salute was adopted that is palm of the hand facing downwards and so too were naval titles.

All the Staff members were male until 1920 when female staff were allowed as honorary instructors. Boys' Brigade Staff sergeants and NCOs were rated as Petty Officers while serving in the Reserves.

For a time there was a parallel organisation to the Boys' Brigade, The Boys Life Brigade. The BLB members followed on from the formation of their junior organisation The Lifeboys whose uniform was a cloth schoolboy cap.

In 1909 it had been proposed that a union with the Boys Life Brigade should be considered and although discussed it was not until 1926 this amalgamation preceded successfully. Thereafter the young boys in the Reserves became known as The Life Boys.

Whilst naval ranks were dispensed with the naval style flat hats and dark blue jerseys were retained. The uniform remained unchanged until the title Junior Section was adopted when full merger was made with The Boy's Brigade.