Genealogy Chat

I'm sorry to take a while to reply, been busy with the children! Thank you for the information about consciption, thats really interesting. I have heard that these young men were 'forced' to volunteer through peer and social pressures. For those young men lucky to survive the memories of what they experienced must have haunted them for the rest of their lives - no wonder my Grandad didn't like to talk about it. Though being me I'm curious to see his record. I was being a bit thick this morning - I used the whole line of that link. No wonder it didn't work! I'll have to read through to see how this works. It's impossible for me to get to Kew at the moment, what with the children. Hopefully in the future more records will be available on line. Thanks for your help. Best wishes Rachel

I have now ordered g-uncle's service record via the old Estimate service :o(( The idea of social pressure to make very young men join up was something that didn't really begin until 1915 - before that there was an initial rush of men and boys (it'll be over by Christmas) - generally they were looking for some excitement and travel etc etc. It was only when it was realised the war would not be over soon and there was a very real chance of not coming back that the initial rush began to dry up and conscription was introduced...... Merry

I haven't heard of the estimate service - what records are available and how much does it cost? Rachel

Rachel, If you have a look at my earlier post (now I've tidied it up a bit - I'd forgotten that URLs in that format always copy-paste double) you see the basic info - plus where to find more info. Christine

Thank you Christine

Got my link to downlad this lunchtime which isn't bad as I requested it last night! Not had a chance to have a look at it as I am at work, but will do so tonight. I've been told i have been sent ten pages and the document is over 50 pages long...! So I might have to go back for an estimate. Or try and gather some other information I need and make a day of it down at Kew. Just to Edit and say that the copies sent to download by email are excellent quality, colour copies. I spent the night with tear in my eyes reading them.

Rachel (and anyone else!!) I've just read the next chapter of my book about boy soldiers. In June 1916 new rules were passed about enlistment ages. Here's the basics: Birth certs and ID cards to be seen by recruitment staff. Enlistment age for ''men'' (ie not officers) set at 18 and 19 for overseas (so, as before, despite all the arguing!) Officers to serve abroad from age 18. This age was as it had been before too, and was not increased to 19, mainly because of the exceptionally high casualty numbers, mostly amongst their more junior officer ranks. Boys underage and already overseas: aged 17 or 18, to be either brought a long way back from the front line or returned to UK service. Boys under 17 to be discharged. Generally the parents would have to send a letter and birth cert to the boy's commanding officer to initiate this. Unfortunately, these new laws did not get a lot of press coverage because of the death of Lord Kitchener, immediately before the start of the ''Big Push'' (Battle of the Somme). 1st July 1916 - First day of the Battle - worst day in UK fighting history for casualties?? Still many underage soldiers killed because there had not been time to sort out the new rules and get underage lads discharged/removed from the front line. Another problen was that many families of ''underage'' officers had wrongly interpreted the rules, thinking their sons of 18 would now be withdrawn from the front, not realising the age for officers was different. I will post again if any other bits of info crop up in the next couple of chapters! Merry

Nudge, because it's harder to read a book AND remember it, than just to read it! Merry

Another small nudge, for eveningtime...... Merry

September 1916 - Age for officers serving abroad increased to 19 to bring the age in line with other ranks. Merry (I'm ¾ of the way through the book!)

March 1918 age for overseas service reduced to 18 years 8 months, as long as a min of 4 months training had been undertaken Aug 1918, age limit reduced again to 18 years, 6mths. Merry

Hi Merry Thank you for putting the information re WW1 recruitment on this thread - it's been really useful. I'm sorry that I didn't respond before - I've been away and only got back today. Best wishes Rachel

The book finished with the fact that allowing for all the variables of statistical evidence, around ¼ million underage troops served overseas, and now I can't find the bit of paper to say what % of them were killed (some were killed ''overage'' bt had served whilst under) ..........Bother.............. Merry