Legion of Frontiersmen

[Doc]

An interesting organisation. Founded in 1905 to boost the defensive ability of the British empire and seems to initially at least, have been full of 'gentleman adventurers', doing their bit for the empire with a bit of independent espionage, intrepid outdoorsman stuff and semi-paramilitary training.
Then in 1914 they were the first British troops into action, making their own way to Belgium and joining the Belgian forces. Later the Frontiersmen formed a company of Fusiliers.
For a time the Canadian command seems to have been affiliated to the Mounties.
Members included Conan Doyle, Louis Mountbatten

Certainly had we been around in 1905 it sounds rather wonderful.

It still exists today in various forms, after various splits and divisions. I am not sure if todays organisation(s) bear a direct lineage from the 1905 original. I am sure there are people and groups doing good work helping the community, learning new skills, etc.

However there also seems to be a tendency to use British officer ranks (with many Chiefs and few Indians), and pitch up on Remembrance day in ostentatious uniforms with more medals than Idi Amin. This has understandably led to justified criticism from real soldiers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_Frontiersmen

http://www.frontiersmenhistorian.info/

Anybody come across them?

 

[Beer Monster]

Can't say I've heard of them. Seem like an interesting bunch. Seem to have quite a lot of involvment in East Africa during WW1. Never Realised the FC Selous was a member (an died as such) ....... they lost over 9000 people during the fighting. See here for more details.

 

[Shewie]

Where do we sign up ???


Rich

 

[Doc]

In 1905, that would have been my response too.

I'm not so sure now. There seems to be an excessive liking for badges, ranks and medals, at least in some of the groups.

 

[spamel]

Lets start out ownbranch of it. the Legion of bushcrafting Frontiersman. You get a badge if you poo in the woods and a medal if you sleep out doors more than three times a year!

 

[Beer Monster]

In 1905, that would have been my response too.

I'm not so sure now. There seems to be an excessive liking for badges, ranks and medals, at least in some of the groups.

Lets start out ownbranch of it. the Legion of bushcrafting Frontiersman. You get a badge if you poo in the woods and a medal if you sleep out doors more than three times a year!

Seems to have been (in a good natured ribbing to our friends over the pond way) American-ised ...... although all the photos appear to be from Canada?!

 

[SimonM]

I met a "Colonel" once or twice and even saluted him (the 1st time at least!) - he turned up in his dress blues - more gold braid and medals on his uniform than I've ever seen in one place before!

Later I was told that the higher the subscription fee paid the higher the rank awarded!

Always found a way to avoid saluting after the first meeting tho!

simon

 

[Beer Monster]

Lets start out ownbranch of it. the Legion of bushcrafting Frontiersman.

Sounds like these guys ..... they even carry their own axes FFL.

 

[Beer Monster]

Later I was told that the higher the subscription fee paid the higher the rank awarded!

Always found a way to avoid saluting after the first meeting tho!

simon

.......doesn't hold the Queens commission so you shouldn't have to anyway .

 

[SimonM]

.......doesn't hold the Queens commission so you shouldn't have to anyway .

I was much younger and idealistic then!

 

[Eric_Methven]

Lets start out ownbranch of it. the Legion of bushcrafting Frontiersman. You get a badge if you poo in the woods and a medal if you sleep out doors more than three times a year!

Good idea. Let's make it so nobody has the rank of less than Major.
Promotion requirements:
Major - Sleep in hammock.
Lieut Colonel - Sleep in hammock and use nalgene bottle for a pee without wetting sleeping bag.
Colonel - Sleep in hammock, light fire without matches, pee on fire to put it out from six feet away (Lady Colonels excused the last bit).
Brigadier - Sleep in hammock, light fire by rubbing two scouts together, pee on fire from top of cliff, eat rat packs for a week without needing a poo.
Brigadier General - Sleep in hammock, carry RM/AW bushcraft knife on belt through Woolworths without getting arrested, or if arrested, talk your way out of it. Pee on fire from the other side of a tall building.
General - Sleep in hammock till noon every day. Drink at least a bottle of single malt round the campfire, share hammock with a plump ewe (for warmth), give orders in a manner that everyone else will ignore.

Anyone else any additions?

Eric

 

[Beer Monster]

I was much younger and idealistic then!

...... I instinctively saluted a uniformed car parking attendant whilst on holiday in Thailand after he throw one of the snappiest salutes I've ever seen ...... I felt like a complete numpty. It wasn’t that long ago either .......

 

[Beer Monster]

Good idea. Let's make it so nobody has the rank of less than Major.
Promotion requirements:
Major - Sleep in hammock.
Lieut Colonel - Sleep in hammock and use nalgene bottle for a pee without wetting sleeping bag.
Colonel - Sleep in hammock, light fire without matches, pee on fire to put it out from six feet away (Lady Colonels excused the last bit).
Brigadier - Sleep in hammock, light fire by rubbing two scouts together, pee on fire from top of cliff, eat rat packs for a week without needing a poo.
Brigadier General - Sleep in hammock, carry RM/AW bushcraft knife on belt through Woolworths without getting arrested, or if arrested, talk your way out of it. Pee on fire from the other side of a tall building.
General - Sleep in hammock till noon every day. Drink at least a bottle of single malt round the campfire, share hammock with a plump ewe (for warmth), give orders in a manner that everyone else will ignore.

Anyone else any additions?

Eric

What do you have to do for Field Marshal? ........ Marshal a Field?

 

[SimonM]

On the subject of salutes ...

I broke my right elbow in a bike accident and had a cast on for a number of weeks. One of my mates wrote on the underside "Sorry Sir, I can't salute". Every time I saw a Rupert I raised my arm as if to salute - you would be surprised how many actually returned it and then had a sense of humour failure as he read the message!

Simon

 

[spamel]

What do you have to do for Field Marshal? ........

Drink 3/4 of a bottle of Stags Breath in one night by yourself, go to bed at 4 and get up again at seven and still crack on for the rest of the day doing bushcrafty stuff.

I will have my dais ready for the next meet and will salute you all as you march past in regulation green with highly polished axes and brushed Tilley hats!

 

[andy_e]

Good idea. Let's make it so nobody has the rank of less than Major.
Promotion requirements:
Major - Sleep in hammock.
Lieut Colonel - Sleep in hammock and use nalgene bottle for a pee without wetting sleeping bag.
Colonel - Sleep in hammock, light fire without matches, pee on fire to put it out from six feet away (Lady Colonels excused the last bit).
Brigadier - Sleep in hammock, light fire by rubbing two scouts together, pee on fire from top of cliff, eat rat packs for a week without needing a poo.
Brigadier General - Sleep in hammock, carry RM/AW bushcraft knife on belt through Woolworths without getting arrested, or if arrested, talk your way out of it. Pee on fire from the other side of a tall building.
General - Sleep in hammock till noon every day. Drink at least a bottle of single malt round the campfire, share hammock with a plump ewe (for warmth), give orders in a manner that everyone else will ignore.

Anyone else any additions?

Eric

Perhaps our canoeist bushcrafting siblings should take Naval rank.

 

[John Fenna]

My navel isn't rank! - I used the fluff for tinder!

 

[Greg]

Beginning to look into the Countess of Mountbatten's Own Legion of Frontiersman.. The opportunities to do various training is intriguing.. As for the medals, with the more serious units that try to emulate the past qualities of the original LoF, there are only 2..one is for Long Service (10yrs) the other is a distinguished service commendation to the public. (no different from other civilian voluntary organisations)
The comment above reference subscription fees and promotion is in some respects true (no doubt with the old guard) , but in general everybody pays £20 per year.
You get out of it what you put in.. Plenty of opportunity to help the general public, charity events, training with the military and getting out at the weekends with like minded individuals.
Training is only carried out by qualified instructors. ( with equivalent military or civilian instructor quals)
It obviously won't be for everyone, but for those ex squaddies on here who think its a joke then that's your personal opinion.. There are plenty of respected ex military including previous specialist unit members inc RMP Close Protection, Paras, RMs & SF
Who are able to carry on their military training with international militaries around the world.
What it is lacking in the UK is for people to get off their own personal high horse and get over themselves.
The LoF needs people with good 'Frontiersman' qualities.. As I see it a vast amount of the members of BCUK are of that calibre... But saying that, a uniformed service and being in an environment where you have to take orders from others isn't for everybody.. Including a lot of ex military.

 

[John Fenna]

PM me some details bro!

 

[Greg]

Will do