The founding of BB in 1883

William Alexander Smith, a young Sunday school teacher, was worried that the boys in his class were rowdy. Sound familiar?

Smith wanted to teach the boys' Christian principles, but spent most of his time trying to settle them down and establish order until, one day, he had an idea...

 A part-time army officer, Smith know how to get obedience from his troops when he drilled them. Smith knew that drill ‒ foot drill, rifle drill and other military drills ‒ have been used since antiquity to train soldiers to learn, obey orders and get quickly organised.

He asked: "Suppose the Sunday school boys were like army volunteers who drill during the week? Perhaps then they would be better behaved on Sundays." Smith's idea worked. On October 4th, 1883, The Boys' Brigade was established.

It quickly became obvious that Smith's idea was just what boys wanted and needed and soon other companies were formed, initially in Scotland and then England, New Zealand (1886) and elsewhere.

Today the organisation is represented in over 60 countries across the globe, working with up to 750,000 children and young people. The Boys' Brigade in New Zealand is a direct descendant of Smith's inspiration in 1883. BB New Zealand offers a comprehensive programme for ages 6 to 17, in both a modified traditional format and a new, parallel movement with a New Zealand focus (ICONZ New Zealand).