SCOUT BADGES
We can estimate the most probable dates for the start of use for each design and most variations, but unfortunately, not all. The following are a best guess based on a number of sources, but are subject to correction.
We have listed the introduction dates, but hesitate to estimate the stop date for any particular variation because, of course, there would be supplies of badges left with stores & groups that would be used until they ran out. So one variation might be around for several years after the design officially changed.
In addition, some badges were produced locally by hand when official supplies were too hard to get, or not available. We have absolutely no way to date these except to say that they fall within a general design type.
Generally for Scouts:
|
Badge Style
|
|
Year Introduced
|
|
|
| Metal badges |
- |
1908 |
| Serge cloth badges |
- |
1909 |
| Felt cloth, no wording |
- |
1910 |
| Felt cloth, Boy Scouts |
- |
1927 |
| Ribbon, unbound, square |
- |
1930 (++ see additional info below) |
| Ribbon, bound |
- |
1935 (** see additional info below) |
| Printed |
- |
1942, until end of war |
| Embroidered on Twill, cut edge |
- |
1946 |
| Melton, Boy Scouts |
- |
1949-51 |
| Smooth tan cloth, cut edge, Boy Scouts |
- |
1957 or 58 |
| Smooth tan cloth, rolled edge, Boy Scouts |
- |
mid 1960's |
| Tan cloth, rolled edge, no words |
- |
1968 |
| Grey cloth, rolled edge, no words |
- |
1994 |
| White cloth, woven, bound edge, no words: green border round badges, red border square badges, green border diamond badges |
- |
2011 |
| ---------- |
| Arctic Region special badges |
- |
1964 |
|
(** Used after war as well. Dating of these is possible from the reverse of the badge. Brown was the 1935-42 era, black during late 1940's to early 1950's, and white for the later 1950's, until the tan cut edge badges are introduced.)
|
The same basic typology works for other sections with minor variations. For example the last Cub proficiency badges, before the new program was introduced in 1965, had a rolled edge; however, the Scout's before 1968 did not.
There are also some odd ball items, such as the early multi-stage badges and the Scout Experimental Scout Program badges which were different and require separate dating.
In most cases it will be reasonably safe to use the beginning of the introduction of a new variety as the end date for the previous one but recognizing that this is not completely accurate. The exception would be the metal badges as both metal and cloth were official for a while.
++ A notice in the January 1931 issue of the The Scout Leader regarding the 1930 square ribbon badges:
"The following statement has been received regarding the change from the round to the square Proficiency Badge now issued by Imperial Headquarters and supplied for Canadian use:
'It was generally agreed after reference to many that the introduction of a silk washable and fadeless badge would meet with universal approval. It was originally decided to have a selvidge edge top and bottom, but it was thought that this would lead to some not using it turned in, and consequently every other badge would be of a different size. This class of badge could not be made circular without fraying, and being square and laid flat on the garment, need never be removed for washing purposes.' "
