The Boys' Brigade was founded on 4 October 1883 by Sir William Alexander Smith when he formed a company of 35 Boys at Free Church Mission Hall, North Woodside Road, Glasgow.

William Smith, a Sunday School teacher and an officer of the 1st Lanark Rifle Volunteers devised a unique system of giving Boys an organization as part of the church based on religion and discipline. Initially, 59 Boys joined, many out of curiosity but 35 of them stayed. Simple form of drill, gymnastics and games were introduced and these proved very popular. The uniform for the first year was a rosette; afterwards the forage cap, haversack and belt were introduced. Other activities were soon added and in 1886 the first BB camp was held in Tighnabruaich. It was, in fact, the start of camping for young people.

The Boys' Brigade was the first uniformed youth organization in the world. From one small company it has grown into a worldwide organization with companies in over 60 countries.

Following the impact of The Boys' Brigade, other uniformed organizations were started - Church Lads' Brigade (1890), Girls' Brigade (1893), Boys' Life Brigade (1899), The Jewish Lads' Brigade (1900), Catholic Boys' Brigade (1900), Girls' Guildry (!900), Girls' Life Brigade (1902) the Boy Scouts (1908) and the Girl Guides (1910). All of these organizations can trace the idea of uniformed youth back to 1883 and William Smith.

In 1817, Boy Reserves was started for boys between the ages of 9 and 12 years but later changed to Life Boys in 1926. And in 1966 The Life Boys became part of The Boys' Brigade organization known as the Junior Section.

BB Week was introduced in 1921. BB throughout the world celebrated the 100 years of its founding in 1883.
(From BB Hand Book Malaysia, Third Edition)