Towards a True Christian Manliness
A History of The Boys' Brigade Zimbabwe
by
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"The advancement of Christ's Kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian Manliness”
The Object of The Boys' Brigade has remained virtually unchanged since its inception in Scotland in 1883, and it was on this firm foundation of Victorian discipline that the high ideals of the movement changed the ideas of youth work the world over.
Thus begins the story of the world's very first uniformed youth organisation - The Boys' Brigade. The Boy Scouts came on the scene in England 25 years later
This book tells how, a few years after the end of the Second World War, The Boys' Brigade arrived in what was then Southern Rhodesia, courtesy of some of the many immigrants flooding into that British Colony, mostly from the United Kingdom and South Africa. .
The first Company was started in Bulawayo at Main Street Methodist Church, the second at the Methodist Church in the coal mining town of Wankie (now Hwange) and the third in Salisbury (now Harare) as a joint venture of the city Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist Churches.
The organisation grew slowly at first but, as new Companies were started in town and country, it reached a high point of 145 Companies, with over 5000 members, in 1974. Then the country's civil war began to take effect and membership dropped to only 24 Companies and about 500 members in 1981.
Back it bounced again, though, reaching almost 100 Companies and over 2500 members in 1989. But Zimbabwe continued to be afflicted with unrest and troubles and the organisation again declined, with only one Company (the 9
This book charts the organisation's rise and fall and will especially appeal to the many ex-Officers and Boys and their families, now scattered around the globe. It has been meticulously researched by Colin Swinton, whose father, Ken, joined the 1
To set the scene, Colin even charts the early days of the white man arriving in Southern Africa and reports that the first `overseas' Companies of the BB were established around 1888 (only five years after the first Company was started in Glasgow), over 50 Companies being formed in the British Cape and Natal colonies and the two Boer (Afrikaans) Transvaal and Orange Free State colonies between 1889 and 1899.
As this book was being finalised there is news that the BB is again making a comeback in Zimbabwe, mostly as part of the Salvation Army's youth work. That will be another story.
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About the Book
The Boys' Brigade arrived in Southern Rhodesia in 1948, with initial efforts being very localised. Momentum increased with the influx of post war immigrants from Britain and South Africa. By the early 1970s The Boys' Brigade Rhodesia was at its strongest numerically, but the civil war years preceding independence in 1980, decimated the organisation in the rural areas, especially in Victoria province where it was at its strongest. The following years were particularly hard for The Boys' Brigade but, by the late 1980s, membership was on the increase again. The current political and economic situation has severely affected the organisation's ability to continue as it had in the past and the future of uniformed youth work in Zimbabwe remains unknown. The achievements of The Boys' Brigade are recorded in this book, which has been meticulously researched, in consultation with many past and present members. The history book is a formal record of events which took place, including detailed appendices of every known Company, all the Queen's Badge and Founder's Badge awards and includes a photo gallery of past office bearers.
About the Author
Colin Swinton's interest in The Boys' Brigade in Zimbabwe began as a Boy in the Junior Section of the 16th Harare (Hatfield Presbyterian) Company, following in the footsteps of his father, who had joined the 1st Salisbury (Presbyterian) Company as a Boy in the 1950s.
Colin passed through the ranks of the Brigade and even had a stint as Brigade Zimbabwean national Secretary.
A tendency to collect historical items led to a collection of BB badges from around the world. Eventually, other items, including uniform and documents, were added and an archive of material about the organisation in Zimbabwe was born.
Colin's collection was combined with material assembled by others some years earlier and, in anticipation of the 40th birthday of the Brigade in Southern Rhodesia/Zimbabwe in 1988, a start was made at recording the history of the BB in that country.
Much meticulous research was needed throughout the ups and downs of life in that troubled country and now, more than 20 years later, the results of Colin's ongoing research are available in a very readable, well illustrated and interesting book.