Wood Badge Axe N Log Four Beads Patch

Proudly display this Wood Badge Axe N Log Four Beads patch to show your Wood Badge loyalty. This is a great gift for your patrol at reunions as a Thank You for the great memories. Four Beads are worn by Scoutmasters.

The axe and log totem was conceived by the first Camp Chief, Francis Gidney, in the early 1920s to distinguish Gilwell Park from the Scout Headquarters. Gidney wanted to associate Gilwell Park with the outdoors and Scoutcraft rather than the business or administrative Headquarters offices. Scouters present at the original Wood Badge courses regularly saw axe blades masked for safety by being buried in a log. Seeing this, Gidney chose the axe and log as the totem of Gilwell Park.

In looking for a suitable recognition for the 19 men who completed the first Wood Badge course, the hero of the 217-day siege of the South African town of Mafeking in 1900 found among his old army trophies and souvenirs a long necklace of quaintly carved wooden beads. In 1888, during the African Zulu wars, Baden-Powell found the necklace in a hut that had been recently deserted by the African King Dinizulu (Dinny-Zulu).

He presented each man who had taken part in the camp with one of the beads. They were badges of wood. The beads gave the training its name - the Wood Badge Course.

These simple wooden beads signify the completion of the training course soon became one of the most highly prized possessions a scoutmaster could have. When the original beads ran out, the Gilwell training staff whittled others to keep the tradition established by Baden-Powell.

Two simple wooden beads knotted on a leather thong have come to signify that the wearer has completed the most respected scout training program and is dedicated to the highest standards of service.

Product Dimensions: 3" round