This is a set with a huge story, most of which is told with our Card of the Day for the 27th of July, 2022.
In actual fact, this part of it, issued by Churchman, as their third series, was previously issued by Ogden`s as Boy Scouts first series. Churchman choosing to number all three of their sets between 1 and 50, whilst Ogdens ran them continuously from number one to number two hundred and fifty. If that were not enough this set was also issued by British American Tobacco, as a one off. And then there is yet another variation of our card, issued by Churchman all over again, a third series card, just like the card we show today, but with a blue back.
As far as the cyclist scout, the text on all the cards make much of the fact that this is a boy who stood a very good chance of becoming involved in war, if he was not already there when this version of the set was issued, in 1916. It even starts by saying that "A cyclist scout must sign a certificate to show he has a bicycle in good condition, which he is willing to use in the service of the Government, in case of emergency, such as national defence. He must know how to repair a puncture, read a map, and repeat correctly a verbal message."
Many, especially older, scouts, did go out to the front, or serve at sea (most notably John Travers Cornwell, a scout who was killed in action aged just sixteen and a half). Most of the time they were used to deliver messages to and from the trenches and HQ. However many of them, especially those of younger ages, served in the British Isles. Chief amongst these was being assigned to their local coastguard station, waiting for signs of invasion. They were trained to spot anything unusual, and then either send a message by signal or by semaphore, or cycle back to the station and deliver it in person.
It is believed that approximately eight thousand boy scouts lost their lives during the First World War whilst serving in the armed forces. These were mostly older boys, but we know that younger boy scouts were also killed on the home front, including George Harland Taylor, hit by shrapnel during the German Naval Bombardment of Scarborough, on December the 16th, 1914. We just do not have an accurate record of how many. And there seems to be no record at all of how many were killed during the Second World War, which seems to be a great scandal.
These Churchman cards were issued a bit later than the original sets by Ogden, which started in January 1911 and went through to September 1914. They are recorded first in our original Churchman reference book RB.10, issued in 1948, with a very lengthy and detailed description that reads :
- 21. Jan. 1916. 50. BOY SCOUTS (titled series). Size 2 11/16" x 1 7/16" or 67 x 36 m/m. Numbered 1-50. Fronts lithographed in colour. Backs in brown, with descriptions. Printed by Mardon, Son & Hall. Also issued by Ogden (Boy Scouts, 3rd Series)
- 22. Aug. 1916. 50. BOY SCOUTS. Inscribed "2nd series". Other detail as (21) but different subjects. Also issued by Ogden (Boy Scouts, 2nd Series).
- 23. Oct. 1916. 50. BOY SCOUTS. Inscribed "3rd series of 50". Other detail as (21) but different subjects. Also issued by Ogden (Boy Scouts, 1st Series). Note : Cards 39/40 have backs transposed.
- 24. 50. BOY SCOUTS. Inscribed "3rd series of 50". Identical to (23) but backs in blue..
We know that the London Cigarette Card Company retailed them as follows in their 1950 catalogue -
- series 1, odds from 3/- to 8/-, complete sets at £17
- series 2, odds from 3/6 to 10/-, complete sets at £20
- series 3, brown back, odds from 3/6 to 10/-, but no complete sets
- series 3, blue back, odds from 12/6 to 35/-, but no complete sets
From our original Churchman reference book, they are moved to our original World Tobacco Issues Index, where the listing, much shortened, for the group is :
- BOY SCOUTS. Sm. See H.62 ... C82-14
1. "Series of 50". Back in brown. Nd. (50)
2. "2nd Series of 50". Back in brown. Nd. (50)
3. "3rd Series of 50". Nd. (50). Back in (A) brown (B) blue
This is repeated, exactly, in our updated World Tobacco Issues Index, save a new card code, of C504-210