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How old to go to ww1

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Bren from Oldham

Bren from Oldham Report 25 Jul 2008 15:40

My grandfather joined in 1914 when he was 49 he was allowed to enlist because he had been in the army from 1881- 1893 he joined when
he was 14 .
His WW1 Papers stated that he was for home service only

Bren

Susan

Susan Report 25 Jul 2008 13:35

At the other end of the scale.................

I recently visited Essex Farm War Cemetery in Belgium. To stand in front of the grave of 15 year old rifleman V J Strudwick was a very moving expeirence.

Regards

Susan

Suzi-Wong

Suzi-Wong Report 25 Jul 2008 11:26

My great grandfather was nearly 55..he was a translator for the Chinese donkey troops. I suppose if you had specialist skills they would want you whatever your age.

Suzanne

Researching:
Allison, Wylie,Turnbull, Ker, McDougall, Stuart, Beer, Montgomery, Chapman, Harmon, Lillicrap, Muraldi, Hislop, McKay, McCordick

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 25 Jul 2008 07:57

Conscription was introduced by the Military Service Act of January 1916.

This Act rendered liable for service all men 18 to 41, and this extended to married men after May 1916. In April 1918, the age limit was extended to 51.

Not sure if the same age limits applied to those who volunteered.

SylviaInCanada

SylviaInCanada Report 25 Jul 2008 03:37

They also started scraping the bottom of the barrel as the war wore on, and called up older and older men.

Plus, there was the huge pressure (white feather campaign) that pushed many men into joining up. Again, as the war wore on, older men would be persecuted by women handing out the white feather ....... thus indicating they were cowards for not being in uniform and at the front.



sylvia

Researching:
My brother, photo taken in September 1991 just a couple of weeks before he died. ............................................................ To help us and to get better results, please post as much detail as you can, especially name, date(s) and place. Also say what you already know.

Devon Dweller

Devon Dweller Report 24 Jul 2008 23:09

It was common to lie about age. My Great Grandfather took 9 years off his real age to get in the army

William

William Report 24 Jul 2008 22:46

My wives' great-grandfather joined up in1917 at the grand old age of 49! Any historians out there able to explain if this was a common occurance? and why?