Everyone was expected to do their part, and the Boy Scouts were no exception. Local Boy Scouts helped the Red Cross roll bandages and collect razors to donate to soldiers overseas.
Donations of razors to soldiers were very common. As of August 1915, 70 000 razors had been donated from across the Empire. One store owner from Ayr reportedly had a donation box for razors in his shop. Donations to the local Boy Scouts were generous.
Berliner, Private Allen Smith read about the Boy Scouts’ efforts while in the trenches and wrote to the scoutmaster about his experience as a Boy Scout and how useful Boy Scout training was for future soldiers.
(“Boy Scouts Helping in Red Cross Work,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 6 August 1915.; “Responding to the call…,” Ayr News, 12 August 1915.; “Results Are Encouraging,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 13 August 1915.; “Letter to the Boy Scouts,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 24 August 1915.)
