The Boys' Brigade in Singapore is a christian youth organization and is 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.

On 7 May 1967, the brigade held a fundraising walk from Anglo-Chinese School to Dunearn Road, covering . The walk was flagged off by Tan Boon Chiang, honorary president of the brigade, and about 350 boys participated.

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:

PositionBearerPatronMr Tharman ShanmugaratnamPresident of the Republic of SingaporeHonorary PresidentLG (Ret) Winston Choo Wee Leong, MSM(Military), PPA(E), PPA(E) Military, PBMHonorary Vice-presidents (Clerical)Bishop Dr Titus Chung (Anglican)Bishop Anthony Loh (Lutheran)Bishop Philip Lim (Methodist)Rev Dr Christopher Chia (Presbyterian)Honorary Vice-presidents (Lay)Dr Lee Soo Ann, PBMMr Sam Tan Boon Yeow, PBMMr Peter Tay Yew BengMr Peter Foo Chien Ho, PBMMr Choo Gim KangMr Tan Kok Heng, PPA, PP, PBSDr Ho Yew Kee, PBS, PBMMr Poh Leong Berg, PPA

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.

PositionBearerBrigade PresidentMr Patrick Koh Ley BoonVice-presidentsMr Peter Ong Kwee Guan (Infrastructure & Projects)

Dr Andrew Yong Yun Leong (Future Operations)

Mr Oliver Yoke Jia Wen (Innovation & Learning)

Mr Daniel Lim Wei Chong (Strategic Partnership)Brigade SecretaryMr Wilson Tan Teck HianAssistant Brigade SecretaryMr Thaddaeus Aaron Tan Yong ZhongBrigade TreasurerMr Desmond Seah Chiap KuangBrigade ChaplainRev Daniel Tong Wee HwaAssociate Brigade ChaplainRev Benjamin Fong Guo WeiStanding Committees ChairmenMr Alex Lum Kah Heng (Activities) Vacant (Facilities)

Mr Caleb Cheong Chee Ngai (Training)

Mr Gerard Su Jin Song (Juniors Programme)

Mr Foo Jia Ming (Seniors Programme)

Mr Kenneth Cheng Zemin (Primers Programme)Cluster RepresentativesMr Daniel Tay Ban Hong (North 1) Vacant (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 David Oh Tai Wai (West 1)

Mr Jeshua Kok Jian En (West 2)

Mr Dexter Ang Si Hao (West 3)Executive DirectorMr Desmond Koh Yee Choy

The Brigade Office

The Brigade Office implements the strategic plans developed by the Brigade Executive.

PositionBearerExecutive DirectorMr Desmond KohDeputy Executive DirectorMs Ang Hui LengExecutive AssistantMs Lim Hui MinSenior Supervisor (Finance & Admin)Ms Rosalind FanSupervisor (Facilities)Mr Steven LohShop & Admin AssistantMr John Rey GiloSenior Manager (Programmes)Mr Yam Kai ChowSenior Executive (Seniors Programme)Mr Lim Ting JieExecutive (Juniors & Primers Programme)Mr Daniel LauExecutive (Officers Training)Mr Paul TanAssistant Director (Projects)Mr Frederick KwanExecutive (Projects)Vacant

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.