# Boys' Brigade in Singapore

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 900 officers and 5,600 Boys in over 130 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 President of Singapore is the Patron of the Boys' Brigade in Singapore.

## History

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.
In 1931, the first camp was held at the Singapore Volunteer Camp at Siglap.
The 2nd Singapore Company was formed at Kampong Kapor Methodist Church in February 1931.
By 1936, the Singapore Battalion had 200 members. The 3rd Singapore Company was founded in 1933 at the Anglo-Chinese Continuation School. In 1934, the 5th Singapore Company was founded at Choon Guan Presbyterian Boys School, the 4th Company at Geylang Methodist Church, and the 6th Singapore at Paya Lebar Methodist Church.
The Battalion Colors were presented to the battalion by Frank Cooper Sands(former brigade chairman of the Singapore Officers' Council and later an honorary vice-president of the Battalion) 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.
By 1968, there were 28 companies in Singapore. In 1971, the President of the Republic of Singapore became the Battalion's Patron.
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.
In December 2023, the Brigade moved to its new Headquarters at 10 Kwong Avenue from 105 Ganges Avenue.

## Organisation
### Headquarters

A list of honorary office-bearers include:
| Position | Bearer |
| Patron | Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam President of the Republic of Singapore |
| Honorary President | LG (Ret) Winston Choo Wee Leong, MSM(Military), PPA(E), PPA(E) Military, PBM |
| Honorary Vice-presidents (Clerical) | 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, PBS, PBM 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 (Finance & Infrastructure) Dr Andrew Yong Yun Leong (Future Operations) Mr Oliver Loke Jia Wen (Innovation & Learning) Mr Daniel Lim Wei Chong (Strategic Partnership) |
| Brigade Secretary | Mr Wilson Tan Teck Hian |
| Assistant Brigade Secretary | Mr Ho Yew Keong |
| Brigade Treasurer | Mr Chong Loi Foong |
| Brigade Chaplain | Rev Daniel Tong Wee Hwa |
| Associate Brigade Chaplain | Rev Benjamin Fong |
| Standing Committees Chairmen | Mr Alex Lum Kah Heng (Activities) Mr Lim Choo Siang (Facilities) Mr Daryl Tan Jinn Wen (Training) Mr Gerard Su Jin Song (Juniors Programme) Ms Philisa Neo Ching Lu (Seniors Programme) Mr Kenneth Cheng Zemin (Primers Programme) |
| Cluster Representatives | Mr Daniel Tay Ban Hong (North 1) Mr Lewis Poh Yu Gui (North 2) Ms May Seah Yi (North 3) Mr Daryl Chen Weiming (South 1) Mr Brendan Loon Kin Yip (South 2) Mr Low Jian Xin (East 1) Mr Andy Chua Kok Hwang (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 Executive 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.
| Company | Sponsoring Church | Sponsoring School | Status |
| 1st | Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church | Yusof Ishak Secondary School | Active |
| 1J | Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church | Pioneer Primary School | Active |
| 2nd | Kampong Kapor Methodist Church | Victoria School | Active |
| 4th | Faith Community Baptist Church | Whitley Secondary School | Defunct |
| 5J | Living Praise Presbyterian Church | Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School | Active |
| 5th | Adam Road Presbyterian Church | Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School | Active |
| 7J | Church of the Ascension | St Andrew's Junior School | Active |
| 7th | Chapel of the Holy Spirit | St Andrew's Secondary School | Active |
| 8J | Fairfield Methodist Church | Radin Mas Primary School | Active |
| 9th | Church of the Good Shepherd | Westwood Secondary School | Active |
| 10th | Toa Payoh Methodist Church | Beatty Secondary School | Active |
| 11th | Light of Christ Church Woodlands | Christ Church Secondary School | Active |
| 12BRJ$^A$ | Barker Road Methodist Church | Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) | Active |
| 12BR$^A$ | Barker Road Methodist Church | Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) | Active |
| 12J | Barker Road Methodist Church | Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) | Active |
| 12I | Barker Road Methodist Church | Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) | Active |
| 13th | Glory Joy Christian Church | Sembawang Secondary School | Active |
| 14th | All Saints' Church (English Congregation) | Anglican High School | Active |
| 16J | Good Gifts City Church | International Community School | Active |
| 17th | Charis Methodist Church | Loyang View Secondary School | Active |
| 19th | Yishun Christian Church (Lutheran) | Yishun Town Secondary School | Active |
| 20J | Jesus My King Church | Greendale Primary School | Active |
| 21J | Christalite Methodist Chapel | Geylang Methodist School (Primary) | Active |
| 21st | Christalite Methodist Chapel | Geylang Methodist School (Secondary) | Active |
| 22J | Ang Mo Kio Presbyterian Church | Anderson Primary School | Active |
| 23rd | Pentecost Methodist Church | Springfield Secondary School | Active |
| 24J | St John's – St. Margaret's Church | Fuhua Primary School | Active |
| 25th | Faith Methodist Church | Hillgrove Secondary School | Active |
| 27th | Ang Mo Kio Presbyterian Church | Presbyterian High School | Active |
| 28J | New Life Baptist Church | Shuqun Primary School | Active |
| 28th | Jurong Christian Church | Yuhua Secondary School | Active |
| 29J | Bethesda Hall (Ang Mo Kio) | Mayflower Primary School | Active |
| 31st | Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church | Bowen Secondary School | Active |
| 32nd | Full Gospel Assembly | Heritage Academy @ Thomson Campus | Active |
| 33J | Aldersgate Methodist Church | Fairfield Methodist School (Primary) | Active |
| 33rd | Aldersgate Methodist Church | Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary) | Active |
| 34th | Adam Road Presbyterian Church | Marsiling Secondary School | Active |
| 35J | Fairfield Methodist Church | Zhangde Primary School | Active |
| 36th | Church of the Epiphany (English Congregation) | Compassvale Secondary School | Active |
| 37th | Faith Community Baptist Church | Hougang Secondary School | Active |
| 38J | S-Word Evangelical Free Church | Keming Primary School | Active |
| 39th | Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer | Swiss Cottage Secondary School | Active |
| 40th | Bedok Methodist Church | Changkat Changi Secondary School | Active |
| 41J | Faith Community Baptist Church | Tao Nan School | Active |
| 42J | Adam Road Presbyterian Church | Nanyang Primary School | Active |
| 44th | Woodlands Evangelical Free Church | Fuchun Secondary School | Active |
| 45th | Living Sanctuary Brethren Church | Xinmin Secondary School | Active |
| 46th | Geylang Evangelical Free Church | Junyuan Secondary School | Active |
| 47th | Trinity Methodist Church | Serangoon Garden Secondary School | Active |
| 48th | Bethel Presbyterian Church | Zhonghua Secondary School | Active |
| 49J | Chapel of Christ the Redeemer | St Hilda's Primary School | Active |
| 49th | Chapel of Christ the Redeemer | St Hilda's Secondary School | Active |
| 50th | Fairfield Methodist Church | Gan Eng Seng School | Active |
| 52J | St John's Chapel | Pei Tong Primary School | Active |
| 53rd | Impact Life Church | Bukit Batok Secondary School | Active |
| 55J | Bethesda Community | Fengshan Primary School | Active |
| 56J | Glory Presbyterian Church (English) | Bukit Timah Primary School | Active |
| 57J | Glory Presbyterian Church (English) | Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School | Active |
| 58th | New Life Bible-Presbyterian Church | Riverside Secondary School | Active |
| 59J | St John's Chapel | Greenridge Primary School | Active |
| 60th | Kampong Kapor Methodist Church | Raffles Institution | Active |
| 61st | Church of Our Saviour | Queensway Secondary School | Active |
| 62nd | Yishun Methodist Mission | Orchid Park Secondary School | Active |
| 64th | St John's Chapel | Ang Mo Kio Secondary School | Active |
| 66th | Adam Road Presbyterian Church | Woodlands Secondary School | Active |
| 67J | Church of the Good Shepherd | Queenstown Primary School | Active |
| 68J | Bethesda Community | Valour Primary School | Active |
| 69J | The People's Bible Church | Xinghua Primary School | Active |
| 71J | S-Word Evangelical Free Church | South View Primary School | Active |
| 73rd | Faith Community Baptist Church | Bukit View Secondary School | Active |
| 74th | Mount Hermon Bible Presbyterian Church | Kent Ridge Secondary School | Active |
| 75J | Paya Lebar Methodist Church | Punggol Primary School | Active |
| 76J | Toa Payoh Methodist Church | First Toa Payoh Primary School | Active |
| 77th | S-Word Evangelical Free Church | Choa Chu Kang Secondary School | Active |
| 78J | Hebron Bible-Presbyterian Church | Yew Tee Primary School | Active |
| 80J | Covenant Presbyterian Church | Farrer Park Primary School | Active |
| 81J | Faith Community Baptist Church | Townsville Primary School | Active |
| 82nd | City Harvest Church | Boon Lay Secondary School | Active |
| 83J | Faith Sanctuary | Cedar Primary School | Active |
| 84th | Impact Life Church | Unity Secondary School | Active |
| 85th | Faith Community Baptist Church | Jurong West Secondary School | Active |
| 86th | Faith Community Baptist Church | Jurongville Secondary School | Active |
| 87th | Yishun Methodist Mission | Northbrooks Secondary School | Active |
| 88J | Yishun Methodist Mission | Naval Base Primary School | Active |
| 90J | Bukit Batok Presbyterian Church | Princess Elizabeth Primary School | Active |
| 91st | Bukit Panjang Gospel Chapel | Regent Secondary School | Active |
| 93rd | Living Sanctuary Brethren Church | Yuying Secondary School | Active |
| 94th | True Way Presbyterian Church | Nan Hua High School | Active |
| 95J | Westside Anglican Church | West Grove Primary School | Active |
| 98th | True Grace Presbyterian Church | Grace Orchard School | Active |
| 99th | Faith Community Baptist Church | Canberra Secondary School | Active |
| 100J | Tai Seng Christian Church | North Vista Primary School | Active |
| 102J | Tai Seng Christian Church | North View Primary School | Active |
| 106J | St Andrew's Cathedral | Gan Eng Seng Primary School | Active |
| 107J | S-Word Evangelical Free Church | Westwood Primary School | Active |
| ACJC Primers | Barker Road Methodist Church | Anglo-Chinese Junior College | Active |
| NP Primers | Faith Community Baptist Church | Ngee Ann Polytechnic | Active |
| NYP Primers | Faith Community Baptist Church | Nanyang Polytechnic | Active |
| SP Primers | Faith Community Baptist Church | Singapore Polytechnic | Active |
| FGA Primers | Full Gospel Assembly | Open Unit | Active |
| ITECC Primers | Full Gospel Assembly | ITE College Central | Active |
| ITECE Primers | Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church | ITE College East | Active |
| ITECW Primers | Good Gifts City Church | ITE College West | Active |
| HQ Primers | - | - | Active |
$^A$ BR stands for "Barker Road"

## Programmes

There are four programmes for different age groups:
* Explorers Programme – 4 to 6 years old (Preschool, girls are eligible to enrol in this Programme)
* Juniors Programme – 8 to 12 years old (Primary 2 to Primary 6)
* Seniors Programme – 12 to 17 years old (Secondary 1 to Secondary 5)
* Primers Programme – 17 to 21 years (Post-Secondary, Junior Colleges/Polytechnics/Institutes of Technical Education, girls are eligible to enrol in this Programme)

## Ranks

Boys The ranks in the Seniors Programme include:
* Recruit (REC)
* Private (PTE)
* Lance Corporal (LCP)
* Corporal (CPL)
* Sergeant (SGT)
* Staff Sergeant (SSG)
* Warrant Officer (WO)
Primers This ranks attainable by Primers include:
* Cadet Lieutenant (CLT)
* Senior Cadet Lieutenant (SCL)
Officers This ranks attainable by Officers include:
* Officer Cadet (OCT)
* Second Lieutenant (2LT)
* Lieutenant (LTA)

## Uniforms
### Juniors' 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 |
| Best Boy Award | 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.

### 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 gifts in 2006. Although the project did not meet its target donation by the close of the project on some occasions, the public would often continue to donate such that target was achieved within the next few weeks. 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.

### Boys' Brigade Learning Centre

The Boys' Brigade Learning Centre (BBLC) is an educational facility built and maintained by the Boys' Brigade in Proyouth Village, Puok Commune, Cambodia.

## Notable alumni

* Chua Siak Phuang – Last founding member of the first Boys' Brigade Company in Singapore who died in 2010.
* Winston Choo – First Chief of Defence Force of the Singapore Armed Forces from 1974 to 1992 and held the rank of Lieutenant-General.
* VADM Aaron Beng Yao Cheng – 11th Chief of Defence Force of the Singapore Armed Forces.
* Andie Chen – Singaporean Actor, former BB Boy from 26th Company, Tanglin Secondary.
* Chiam See Tong – former Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir SMC.
* Khoo Boon Hui – former Commissioner of the Singapore Police Force.