3. Boy Soldiers
WW1 - Boy Soldiers
Saluting their Service - Grahame Old
WW1 – AIF Official Enlistment Age
There are many stories surrounding young boys serving during the First World War, boys aged 14-17 could enlist as buglers, trumpeters and musicians, however many more gave false ages in order to join as soldiers. Their numbers are impossible to determine. The official Australian Army's enlistment age was 21 years. However boys 18 and over could enlist with the signed permission of a parent or guardian (see attached consent form for Collie Boy, Thomas Butcher).
The Youngest known Australian Boy Soldier to Die during WW1
1553 Private James Charles Martin is the best known Australian boy soldier who died on Active Service. Born at Tocumwal NSW on 3 January 1901, he is believed to be the youngest soldier on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour. His mother had reluctantly given him written parental permission to enlist and he had then convinced recruiting that he was 18 years of age, when in fact, at enlistment he was 14 years and three months. Jim went ashore at Gallipoli on 8 September 1915 as part of the 21st Infantry Battalion and saw action near Courtney’s Post. Sadly young Jim contracted typhoid fever and was evacuated to the hospital ship HMHS ‘Glenart Castle’ on 25 October 1915, he died that same night and was buried at sea. 14 years 9 months old when he died James Charles Martin is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli. He was one of 20 Australian soldiers under the age of 18 known to have died on Active Service during WW1.
The Youngest known Collie Boy Soldier to Die during WW1
5099 Francis Ghilotti
There were seven ‘Collie boys’ under 20 yrs of age Killed in Action during WW1. All of the boys were 19 yrs old at time of death, the youngest was Francis Ghilotti. Francis was born in Footscray Victoria, son of Giuseppe and Frances Ghilotti, the family moved to Collie in the early 1900’s and lived at 36 Wittenoom St. Francis was schooled at the Presentation Convent Collie and in 1912 at age 14, Francis was employed at the Collie Mail as a printer. In January 1916 at age 18 years and 2 months his mother Frances signed the consent to enlist form for her young son.
In April 1916 after training Francis embarked for overseas service, he was posted to the 11th Infantry Battalion. In September 1916 he joined his Battalion in the field France. Sadly Francis was severely wounded with gunshot wounds to his chest and back on the 2nd March 1917, despite the efforts of the medical staff at 32nd Stationary Hospital, he died of his wounds on 7th March. Francis Ghilotti was 19 years and 4 months old at the time of his death, he is buried at the Wimeraux Communal Cemetery near Boulogne, France. Francis is commemorated at Panel 62 on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial and on the Collie Soldiers Park War Memorial. He is remembered forever at the Collie Cardiff RSL Sub Branch.
The Youngest known Collie Boy Soldier to enlist during WW1
The youngest known ‘Collie Boy’ to enlist for WW1 was, 3248 Private Richard Henry Hickson, just 17 yrs of age. His listed next of kin was his father, Richard Henry Hickson, Collie WA. Pte Hickson was 18 yrs of age when taken Prisoner of War by the Germans at Fleurbaix FRANCE in 1916. He survived the war and returned home to Australia. The following are Red Cross prisoner of war (POW) file extract’s reference HICKSON;
27/06/1916- Australian List ” Hickson, R.H. & Wallace, L/Cpl D.C. 3583- 30/05/1916 ( France )
” There was a bombardment of the Australian lines on the night of 30th May from 8.00 to 10.30 P.M. The smoke and noise was fearful. Hickson and Wallace were Machine Gunners. They were reported by friends of witness to have jumped over the parapet with a Lewis Gun so as to get outside the smoke. Three parties of Germans assaulted the trenches. Hickson and Wallace may have been taken prisoners by them. If not prisoners, they are dead.
Hickson was a very young fellow who claimed to be 18 and a half years of age. He came over as Corporal with the 11th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion from W.A “. Reference : Cpl. W. D. Brown, 3237, 11.A Reinforcements Camp Etaples France dated 27 June 1916.
8/08/1916- Letter from the Australian Branch British Red Cross Society London to Lieut. Le Ney – “Very many thanks for your prompt reply to our request for information concerning No 3248 Pte R.H. Hickson 11th Battalion. We are glad to be able to tell you that Lance Corporal Wallace No 3683 is a Prisoner of War in Dulmen, Westphalen, so, perhaps, there is a possibility of Private Hickson also having been captured. We shall inform you immediately if we hear any definite news"
9/01/1919- London- Certified by AIF Headquarters “Hickson, R.H, 3248- Repatriated Prisoner of War- Arrived Hull 1/01/1919”.
Richard Hickson was repatriated to England from Germany on the 1 January 1919, he returned to Australia on the 3 March and was discharged on the 13 June 1919. There were many more ‘Collie Boys’ who were only 18 yrs of age when they enlisted for WW1. They survived the horrors of the Great War, however many had been severely wounded, and many carried psychological scars. They carried those horrific injuries for the remainder of their lives.
The Youngest known British Boy Soldier to enlist during WW1
The youngest authenticated British soldier in World War One was twelve-year-old Sidney George Lewis who fought at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. In WW1 the official enlistment age for the British Army was 18 years. However, it was well known that recruiters would often turn a blind eye to the age requirement.
Sidney was quite tall, heavily built and mature for his age when he enlisted in 1915, he fought as a machine gunner in the first Battle of the Somme (1916) at the Battle of Deville Wood, which saw some of the worst casualties of the war. Sidney was sent home when his mother sent his birth certificate to the British War Office and demanded his return.
‘Lest we Forget’
