Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Wars and ConflictsΒ  permalink

Youngest Tommy

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Pete- Weatherman (U14670985) on Monday, 6th December 2010

  I have just seen the Antiques Roadshow and an Item on the war records and meadels of a boy soilder C F Burdett who was just 15 when he fought in the trenches at sixteen he was discharged at 16 only to join the Navy at 17 a year later. He ended up haveing 2 sets of war meadels one for his Army service and one for the Navy. This got me to thinking I wounder how old the Youngest KNOWN Tommy was.?

  Link to this forum: Youngest Tommy

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by VoirreyM (U6681243) on Monday, 6th December 2010

  Test

  Link to this forum: Youngest Tommy

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by VoirreyM (U6681243) on Monday, 6th December 2010

  Pete If you do a G search you will find a flood of answers to
  your question. The lowest age i could find is incredibly 12. My neighbour
  in the 60's who looked much too young to have been a Tommy told
  me he indeed had fought in the Great War enlisting at 14 with his
  older brother. The recruiting sergeant winked at him & said he was a fine
  big boy, proving that it was obvious he was under age. After Parliament
  said these boys must be brought home if found[some having used false names]
  some were already dead & buried in Flanders. And then there are all the
  boy sailors legitimately at sea.Our youngest VC recipient ever died in the
  Battle of Jutland.

  Link to this forum: Youngest Tommy

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Sambista (U4068266) on Tuesday, 7th December 2010

  The senior cadets at Dartmouth were also sent to sea on the outbreak of war, and many were killed in HMS Monmouth at Coronel. IIRC they would have been 14-15-y-o.

  Link to this forum: Youngest Tommy

  Report message4

Back to top