PRODUCING “USEFUL CITIZENS AND MEN”: THE BOYS’ BRIGADE IN POSTCOLONIAL SINGAPORE, 1959-1985

Abstract

The Boys’ Brigade is an international, interdenominational uniformed youth organization that originated in Scotland. Having spread across the British Empire, including to Singapore, it was inevitable that units outside of Britain had to deal with the changes wrought by decolonization. The story of the BB in Singapore from 1959-1985 can help us understand Singapore’s decolonization process better. In terms of institutional decolonization, individual organisations with colonial affiliations could negotiate decolonization and align themselves to the new state. This took the form of changes in practices and even breaks with tradition that allowed for state recognition. In contrast, some other British colonies saw groups with colonial links forcibly expelled after independence. Yet at the same time, many of the BB’s practices remained unchanged which showcases colonial cultural continuities after 1959. The PAP government advanced their own ideals for citizenship and masculinity in the “rugged society” drive of the late-1960s and early-1970s. Citizens were expected to embody certain values that were deemed as “rugged”. While the BB’s objectives and programmes corresponded with the state’s, we can also see how the BB perpetuated colonial values from the Victorian era. The BB developed self-discipline, esprit-de-corps, athleticism, and “Christian manliness” in its Boys, values and characteristics that originated in Victorian Britain. As the BB was commended for its role in developing “rugged citizens”, we can in turn point out the possible Victorian origins of Lee Kuan Yew’s “rugged society” ideal as well. What is unique is that the PAP took these previously exclusive values and upheld them as an ideal for all citizens and by extension all men. This shows then that cultural decolonization in Singapore did not entail a complete rejection of British values but a reusing of said values, albeit under new labels and discourse.