The Boys' Brigade in Singapore is a youth uniformed group and part of the global Boys' Brigade movement which has been present in Singapore since 1930. It currently consists of over 700 officers and 6,300 Boys in over 116 companies. The current Brigade President is Patrick Koh Ley Boon and the Honorary President is Lieutenant-General (Ret) Winston Choo, the former Chief of Defence Force of the Singapore Armed Forces.
The Boys' Brigade's former Campus at 105 Ganges Avenue
The Boys' Brigade was introduced to Singapore by James Milner Fraser, an architect from Britain. He was a former member of the 23rd Aberdeen and the 23rd London Companies.
On 12 January 1930, Fraser started the 1st Singapore Company at Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church. With the aid of ex-Sergeant Quek Eng Moh of the 1st Swatow Company, he assembled 12 local Boys to form the company.
In August 1930, when the company was officially enrolled at the Boys' Brigade Headquarters in London, the membership consisted of 40 youths. The company chaplain was Reverend William Murray and Fraser's lieutenants were John McNeish (formerly of 76th Glasgow) and Dong Chui Sing. Bible class, drill, concerts, wayfaring, signalling, first aid, swimming, fencing, tumbling and other forms of physical recreation formed the core of the Boys' Brigade syllabus.
The Battalion Colors were presented to the battalion by Frank Cooper Sands[1](former brigade chairman of the Singapore Officers' Council[2] and later an honorary vice-president of the Battalion[3]) in 1936 and the drill competition was introduced. Fraser served as the Battalion President from 1936 to 1956. In 1940, he handed the captaincy of the 1st Singapore Company over to one of his Boys, S. P. Chua.
During the war years of 1942 to 1945, the Brigade's activities were suspended. The Battalion destroyed its Colors to avoid destruction in the war, but some of the drums were stored in a room at Prinsep Headquarters.
After the war, S. P. Chua revived the 1st Singapore Company. By 1950, the Battalion membership had reached its pre-war membership.
As the Brigade approached its 85th anniversary in 2015, it conducted its first Trooping of Colours parade and reunion dinner in over a decade with the then Education Minister Heng Swee Keat as the Guest-of-Honor.
Bishop Dr Titus Chung (Anglican) Bishop Lu Guan Hoe (Lutheran) Bishop Dr Gordon Wong (Methodist) Rev Dr Christopher Chia (Presbyterian)
Honorary Vice-Presidents (Lay)
Dr Lee Soo Ann, PBM Mr Sam Tan Boon Yeow, PBM Mr Peter Tay Yew Beng Mr Peter Foo Chien Ho, PBM Mr Choo Gim Kang Mr Tan Kok Heng, PPA,PP,PBS Dr Ho Yew Kee Mr Poh Leong Berg
The Brigade Executive
The Brigade Executive is the decision making body of The Boys Brigade. In January 2007, the Brigade implemented the Cluster Structure and grouped the BB Companies into 10 clusters with an average of 10 to 15 Companies in each cluster. These clusters are similar to the school clusters of the Ministry of Education.
Position
Bearer
Brigade President
Mr Patrick Koh Ley Boon
Vice-Presidents
Mr Timothy Tan Jiat Meng Mr Daniel Lim Wei Chong Dr Andrew Yong Yun Leong Mr Oliver Loke Jia Wen
Brigade Secretary
Mr Wilson Tan Teck Hian
Assistant Brigade Secretary
Mr Samuel Bey
Brigade Treasurer
Mr Chong Loi Foong
Brigade Chaplain
Rev Daniel Tong Wee Hwa
Associate Brigade Chaplain
Rev Dr Chao Wee Chun Bernard
Standing Committees Chairmen
Mr Liu Lijia (Juniors Programme) Ms Philisa Neo (Seniors Programme) Mr Kenneth Cheng Zemin (Primers Programme) Mr Daryl Tan Jinn Wen (Training) Mr Alex Lum Kah Heng (Activities) Mr Lim Choo Siang (Facilities)
Cluster Representatives
Rev Daniel Tay Ban Hong (North 1) Mr Lewis Poh Yu Gui (North 2) Ms May Seah Yi (North 3) Mr Daryl Chen Wei Ming (South 1) Mr Gerard Su Jin Song (South 2) Mr Low Jian Xin (East 1) Mr Andy Chua Kok Huang (East 2) Mr Gabriel Leng Chengda (West 1) Mr David Oh Tai Wai (West 2) Ms Avery Ho Yi Ling (West 3)
Executive Director
Mr Desmond Koh
The Brigade Office
The Brigade Office implements the strategic plans developed by the Brigade Executive.
Position
Bearer
Executive Director
Mr Desmond Koh
Deputy Director
Ms Ang Hui Leng
Companies
Each BB company is managed by a partnership of members from the sponsoring church and the school where the company is based, if present. They are led by the Chaplain and Captain from the church, and typically assisted by a team of Teachers-in-Charge of the school. Assisting them are Officers, Primers and other VALs either from the church, from other churches or as former members of the Company.
BB Companies are identified by a unique number, with an exception of companies catered for the Primers Programme. In general, the smaller the number is, the earlier the company was founded. For example, the 1st Singapore Company has the longest history in Singapore. While this is true for most companies, the same cannot be said for certain companies as the number was "recycled" (especially in the 1980s and early 1990s). The majority of the companies are catered for the Seniors Programme. Companies with a "J" indicate the Juniors Programme. Every company also has a sponsoring school where new boys are recruited annually, and weekly parades are held.
The BB companies in Singapore are divided into 10 clusters – North 1, North 2, North 3, East 1, East 2, South 1, South 2, West 1, West 2 and West 3. Each company is categorised into the appropriate cluster based on its geographical location.
There are four programmes for different age groups:
Explorers Programme - 3 to 6 years old (Kindergarten)
Juniors Programme – 8 to 11 years old (Primary 3 to Primary 6)
Seniors Programme – 12 to 16 years old (Secondary 1 to Secondary 4 or 5)
Primers Programme – 17 to 19 years (Post-Secondary, Junior Colleges/Polytechnics/Institutes of Technical Education, girls are eligible to enrol in this programme)
There are three different dress codes for the Juniors' Programme for various functions and occasions. These include, in decreasing formality, the Day Dress, the Fatigue Dress and the PT Kit.
Seniors' Programme
There are five different dress codes for the Seniors' Programme for various functions and occasions. These include, in decreasing formality, the Ceremonial Dress, the Day Dress, the Musketry, the Fatigue Dress and the PT Kit.
Primers
There are four different dress codes for the Primers' Programme for various functions and occasions. These include, in decreasing formality, the Ceremonial Dress, the Day Dress, the Musketry and the Fatigue Dress.
Officers
There are six different dress codes for BB Officers for various functions and occasions. These include, in decreasing formality, the Ceremonial Dress, the Function Dress, the Day Dress, the Musketry, the Fatigue Dress and the PT Kit.
Badges and awards
Juniors' Programme
Badge
Programme
JP Gold Award
Juniors
White Achievement Badge
Juniors
Green Achievement Badge
Juniors
Purple Achievement Badge
Juniors
Blue Achievement Badge
Juniors
Red Achievement Badge
Juniors
Silver Achievement Badge
Juniors
Junior One Year Service
Juniors
Junior Three Year Service
Juniors
Seniors' Programme
Badge/Award
Type
Stages
Adventure
Core
3
Anti Drug Abuse (SANA)
Elective
1
Arts
Elective
3
Athletics
Elective
3
Bandsman's
Elective
3
Bugler's
Elective
3
Christian Education
Core
3
Citizenship
Core
3
Civil Defense (Fireman)
Elective
1
Community Service
Core
3
Crafts
Elective
3
Drill
Core
3
Drummer's
Elective
3
Environmentalist
Elective
3
First Aid
Core
3
Gymnastics
Elective
3
Heritage
Elective
1
Hobbies
Elective
3
International Relations
Elective
3
Kayaking
Elective
3
Lifeskills
Core
2
Musketry
Elective
3
Naturalist's
Elective
3
NCO Star
Core
2
Piper's
Elective
3
Sailing
Elective
3
Sportsman's
Elective
3
Swimming
Elective
3
Target
Core
1
Juniors Programme Link
Service
1
Total Defence
Special
3
One Year Service
Service
Three Year Service
Service
Long Year Service
Service
Founder's Award
Special
Cross For Heroism
Special
Senior Proficiency Award
Special
Intermediary Proficiency Award
Special
National Event
Special
Best Boy Award
Special
Primers' Programme
Badge/Award
Type
Anchors Award
Special
Long Year Service
Service
President's Award
Special
Community
The Boys' Brigade in Singapore aims to play an active role in contributing to society, and to inculcate these values to the Boys.[4]
BB CARES
BB CARES, which stands for Community Activities Rallying Everyone to Serve involved BB companies organising activities to benefit welfare organisations of their choice. It is one of the events as part of the annual President's Challenge event.
Boys' Brigade Share-a-Gift
The Boys' Brigade Share-a-Gift (BBSG), previously known as The Boys' Brigade Sharity Gift Box, is a major annual event held during the Christmas period whereby more than 3,500 BB Officers and Boys, along with volunteers from other various groups, are mobilised to help collect gifts such as food and beverages from people and distribute these items to the needy in Singapore. These beneficiaries include the disabled, welfare homes, the elderly, and low-income families. There are also wishes from the beneficiaries that people can help to fulfill with, such as those requesting for food or household items, or toys and mattresses from children or the elderly.
Since the BBSG was started in 1988, it has been largely successful and has received great support from Singaporeans who have generously donated gifts over the years. From around 7,000 gifts collected in 1988, it has collected 428,000[5] gifts in 2006. Although the project did not meet its target donation by the close of the project on some occasions,[6][7] the public would often continue to donate such that target was achieved within the next few weeks.[8] In the last fifteen years, the BB has been working hand in hand with the National Council of Social Service (NCSS).
On 7 July 2013, the Boys' Brigade Share-a-Gift (BBSG) project was conferred the Singapore Youth Award Medal of Commendation. BBSG was recognised for achieving, contributing and inspiring youths at significantly higher levels after being awarded the Singapore Youth Award in 2004.
The Boys' Brigade (BB) is an international interdenominational Christian youth organisation, conceived by the Scottish businessman Sir William Alexander Smith to combine drill and fun activities with Christian values. Following its inception in Glasgow in 1883 the BB quickly spread across the United Kingdom, becoming a worldwide organisation by the early 1890s. As of 2018, the Boys' Brigade claimed 750,000 members in 60 countries.
Lieutenant General Henry Gordon Bennett, was a senior Australian Army officer who served in both World War I and World War II. Despite highly decorated achievements during World War I, during which he commanded at both battalion and brigade level and became the youngest general in the Australian Army, Bennett is best remembered for his role during the fall of Singapore in February 1942. As commander of the 8th Australian Division, he escaped while his men became prisoners of the Imperial Japanese Army. After this, Bennett's military career waned and, although he rose to command a corps, he never again commanded troops in battle. In 1945, his escape caused controversy and resulted in a Royal Commission and military enquiry. Both found that he had been unjustified in relinquishing his command.
The Church Lads' and Church Girls' Brigade is an Anglican youth organisation with branches in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Bermuda, Kenya, South Africa, Barbados, Newfoundland and St Helena. Its origins lie in the formation in 1891 of the Church Lads' Brigade with its sister organisation, the Church Red Cross Brigade, later the Church Girls' Brigade, founded in 1901. The two respective founders were Walter M. Gee and the Reverend Thomas Milner. The two brigades amalgamated in 1978 to form the Church Lads' and Church Girls' Brigade.
The Royal Irish Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was founded in 1992 through the amalgamation of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment. Their oldest predecessor, the 27th Regiment of Foot, was first raised in June 1689 to fight in the Williamite War in Ireland. Other notable regiments in their lineage include the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Royal Irish Rifles and the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
The Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong is a branch of the Boys' Brigade. It is a uniformed youth organisation (香港青少年制服團體) founded in 1959, currently with more than 200 companies.
The National Day Parade (NDP) is an annual parade held in Singapore to commemorate its independence. Held annually on 9 August, it is the main public celebration of National Day, and consists of a parade incorporating contingents of the Singapore Armed Forces, Ministry of Home Affairs, local institutions and community groups, followed by a cultural presentation featuring music, dance displays, parachuters, and a fireworks show.
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) is an independent Methodist secondary school in Dover, Singapore. Founded in 1886 by Reverend William Fitzjames Oldham, it was recognised as an International Baccalaureate World School in 2005, and has since consistently ranked among the top three schools worldwide that offer the IB Diploma Programme.
Methodist Boys' School, Kuala Lumpur is a semi-government aided Cluster School of Excellence and High Performance School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was founded in July 1897, making it one of the oldest schools in Malaysia. It is known as MBS and its students are known as MBSians. The school is also known as Horley School, a reference to one of its principals, Rev. William E. Horley, who was responsible for changing and giving the school its present name from the previous name of Anglo-Tamil School. The name Horley School has been widely misunderstood as a reference to marble, which is also called Horley in Chinese, a game that was popular amongst its students then. It is noted for its library, which attracts visits from many other schools.
The Lorne Scots is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 4th Canadian Division's 32 Canadian Brigade Group.
The 18th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army which fought briefly in the Malayan Campaign of the Second World War. In March 1939, after the re-emergence of Germany as a European power and its occupation of Czechoslovakia, the British Army increased the number of divisions in the Territorial Army (TA) by duplicating existing units. The 18th Infantry Division was formed in September 1939 as a second-line duplicate of the 54th Infantry Division, with men from Essex and the East Anglian counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) is the youth military program and organisation of the Australian Army, tasked with supporting participants to contribute to society, fostering interest in defence force careers, and developing support for the forces. The program has more than 19,000 army cadets between the ages of 12 and 20 based in more than 200 units around Australia. The values of the AAC are "Service, Courage, Respect, Integrity and Excellence".
The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) is a government agency of the Government of Singapore under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The service runs 14 prisons and drug rehabilitation centres in Singapore. Its responsibilities encompass the safe custody, rehabilitation and aftercare of offenders, and preventive education.
The Boys' Brigade in Malaysia or Briged Putera Malaysia is part of the global Boys' Brigade movement.
The Boys' Brigade in Australia is a Christian uniformed youth organisation in Australia, which is part of the global Boys' Brigade movement.
The Boys' Brigade is the largest Christian uniformed youth organisation in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The Boys' Brigade was founded in Glasgow, Scotland on 4 October 1883 by Sir William Alexander Smith, and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2008. Today Felden Lodge in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire serves as the main headquarters and England regional headquarters, while other regions have their own regional headquarters. Today the BB has in the region of 50,000 boys involved in about 1,400 companies ranging geographically from Shetland to Cornwall.
The Battle of Kranji was the second stage of the Empire of Japan's plan for the invasion of Singapore during the Second World War. On 9 February 1942 the Imperial Japanese Army assaulted the north-western front of Singapore, capital of the Straits Settlements.
The 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion was an Australian Army unit raised for service with the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force during the Second World War. Formed in late 1940 as part of the 8th Division, the battalion was established to provide direct fire support to the division's infantry brigades. It was the fourth, and last, such unit raised within the 2nd AIF. The unit's personnel were largely drawn from the state of Western Australia and after formation, the battalion concentrated near Perth for basic individual training before moving to the Adelaide Hills to complete more advance manoeuvres.
Brigadier Harold Burfield Taylor, was an analytical chemist and an Australian Army officer who served in the First and the Second World Wars. A junior officer in the First World War, during the Second World War he was commander of the 22nd Infantry Brigade during the Japanese invasion of Malaya. Captured along with many of his fellow soldiers following the fall of Singapore, he spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war. In civilian life, he was an analyst for the government and an expert in poisons, often called upon to give evidence in criminal trials involving poisoning.
Barker Road Methodist Church (BRMC) is a Methodist church in Singapore located at 48 Barker Road along Dunearn Road, and is colocated with Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) and Anglo-Chinese School (Primary).
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
