17 Scout Recruit (IRESC, Mar '63)

Scout Recruit IRESC-09

This set portrays the induction of a newcomer into a sort of adult Scout Troop.  We don't have any description of the story line, but in the pictures he is seen introducing himself with a letter. He seems far from enthusiastic about putting on the uniform, which suggests he's been sent there as a punishment or to be given character training. It seems like a curious hybrid of UK National Service in the Army (which was just coming to an end in the 1960-63 period) and Community Service, which hadn't been invented then. The set culminates with an extended, nude spanking scene which, surprisingly, is almost unknown.

We are lucky enough to have a thumbnail sheet showing all 36 images, but almost everything else about the set is obscure. We don't even have a title, just the ordering code 'IRESC' on the thumbnail sheet. I made my title up.

There are three men in the cast, but the only one I have been able to identify so far is Ray Huggins, the 'R' in IRESC (see IRESC blog article). Ray was a truly muscular model, who appeared in the beefcake press for Hussar in the dying days of the studio (Grecian Guild Pictorial for March 1963). An ad for his photos appeared in Manorama the same month. The obscurity (so far) of the other models' identities suggests it's a late, original work of Hussar, not a Royale reissue. 

We are fortunate that there exist two different copies of the complete thumbnail sheet for this set and a complete copy of the 36 images in it (albeit small and afflicted by noise).  

View 'The Scout Recruit' 

(Under construction) 

There is no obvious connection with the Royale/Hussar Scout set modelled by Cliff Smith. Even the uniform is different.