Uniform
Category
Costume
Date
c. 1911
Materials
Cotton, linen, brass, plastic, metal and wool
Order this imageCollection
Mr Straw's House, Nottinghamshire
NT 748924
Caption
It is not known when William Jr joined the local Scout troop, but he attended a spectacular gathering in Windsor Park on 4 July 1911, where, as one of 35,000 Scouts, he was inspected by King George V (1865–1936). The Scout uniform was one of the most important signifiers of the organisation’s philosophy and conduct. Designed by founder Robert Baden-Powell (1857–1941), its synergy with military uniform is telling, representing unity, brotherhood and order. While it was designed to be practical and hard-wearing, Powell was also careful to evoke similarities with ‘frontiersmen’ and other schoolboy heroes. There were strict rules to be upheld with the uniform – slovenliness and untidiness being frowned upon. William Jr’s uniform shows just how many elements he was expected to look after, including the wide-brimmed hat, to protect him from the elements, the water bottle and the pin, bearing the all-important motto ‘Be Prepared’. Helen Antrobus
Summary
Scout uniform believed to have belonged to William Straw Jnr. Includes shirt with badge, one set of black ribbons and safety pin, one set of white ribbons with safety pin and a length of thread in the top left pocket, navy shorts, stripped belt with twist buckle and navy neckerchief, hat, water bottle, bag and a pair of sock garters.
References
Antrobus and Slocombe 2025: Helen Antrobus and Emma Slocombe, 100 Things to Wear: Fashion from the collections of the National Trust, National Trust 2025, pp. 162-163.