Girl Guide Blazers & Blazer Badges (UK)

This post was inspired by a post on Facebook sharing an old Blazer Badge for sale on eBay.

A decision was made by the Girl Guide Association in 1926 that “the question of including blazers as part of the official uniform of Guides or Guiders was considered. It was decided that this was an unnecessary additional expense, and therefore not agreed to.” (The Girl Guide Gazette (May 1926))

Blazers were recommended as an alternative, with the camp overall, to the full uniform (tunic and skirt) for Guiders in Camp by 1932, and were an expected part of the Sea Ranger No. 2 Uniform (Summer) by 1939.

A blazer for Guiders makes an appearance in the 1930 Price Lists. It is described as as Navy Melton Cloth, sizes 36in or 38in, and costing 25s. The same blazer was offered in 1931, but a new size –  34in – was added. In 1932, a new style, described as Navy Flannel (all wool) was offered, with the sizes and price remaining the same. The blazer was discontinued in 1937.

A blazer for Guides and Rangers was offered for the first time in 1930. The Price List for

Guide, 1933 Catalogue

that year describes it as Navy Melton Cloth, sizes 32in, 34in, and 36in, and sold for 12s. The price increased in 1934 to 12/6. A new size, 38in, was added in 1936. The price increased again in 1937 to 13s. The last mention of this blazer is in Price Lists for 1939.

Guide Wear by Bukta offered two Blazers for Guides in 1931. The first, called Buxcel, was of Navy Melton, unlined, in sizes 32in and 34in, at a cost of 11/6. The second, called Buxwin, was of Navy Soft Twill Melton, lined sleeves, in sizes 32in and 34in, at a cost of 18/9.

Blazer Badges were offered as Registered Goods on the Price Lists beginning in 1929 for Rangers, Sea Rangers and Guides, all costing 8d. It is possible that these badges were available earlier, as a decision was made in May 1929 that “blue blazer badges be instituted for Sea Rangers.” An Old Guide Badge was added in 1937. The last mention of blazer badges is in Price Lists for 1939.

Guides	Rangers	Sea Rangers
Guides	Rangers	Sea Rangers
	Old Guides?

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Games for Outdoor Skills

These games appear in an article entitled “Some Games for Sea Guides” in The Girl Guide Gazette, June 1925

Sea Guides were formed in 1920 for older girls interested in boating, sailing and sealore. They were renamed Sea Rangers in 1927.

Observation Games

A. Show a picture of a ship or sea subject for one minute. Let each Patrol write down everything they have noticed, and see who gets the most items not included in other lists.

B. Each Patrol is given a sphere, such as deep sea, shore, cliff, river, pond, or any other subject. Five minutes allowed in which to write down everything which grows and lives in this sphere.

C. Form a circle facing inwards. The taker of the game hands objects to one Sea Guide who may only feel the object behind her back, and having determined what it is, passes it along. Some eight or ten objects such as rope ends knotted, models of fish or shells, or anything else may be used to test observation. The Sea Guides then write down all they can remember.

D. Sealed instructions may be given to each Patrol, telling them to do something or to go out for a certain walk, and return and report what they have seen, or to follow a certain course by paces and compass directions or by map. They report the result using as many nautical terms as possible.

E. Patrols go out of room; Patrol Leaders remain. Obstacles such as chairs placed at random to represent rocks, derelicts, safe harbour, etc. Patrols return. First Patrol Leader takes charge of her Patrol who are blindfolded and in file holding belts. Patrol Leader gives orders such as “Full steam ahead,” “Stop,” “Port your helm.” If Patrol touches obstacle it is out of game.

F. A story embodying a meeting between a man-o’-war and a pirate ship may be told, when each member of the Patrol represents a member of the crew, and has to run around the Patrol when her name is mentioned.

Compass Games

A. Sea Guides at attention as for signalling drill. Taker of game calls out compass directions. Everyone has to jump to position facing direction. Those who fail fall out.

B. Patrols in file. Patrol Leader receives set of compass directions shown on cards such as N.W., S.E., W. by N., etc., and distributes them to her Patrol. At sound of whistle each Patrol runs to corner and the members sit on floor with feet facing the direction on the card she received, thus forming compass.

C. Treasure is hidden in a certain part of the room, or out of doors, compass directions being carefully worked out beforehand, by which the treasure may be found on taking a certain number of paces N.W. then E., then so many points to starboard, etc. Directions are read out to the Company, and they note them down and then work out their devious course to the treasure. 

Stalking Games

One Patrol lies down asleep with spaces between them. Another Patrol tries to get through the ranks noiselessly. If a member of the sleeping Patrol hears a sound she has to call out the compass direction from which it came. If correct she is counted to have caught the stalker.