Boy Soldiers

I knew this was quite common in WW1 but it did continue in WW2 as well. Hopefully only in isolated cases.

'In June 1940 at age 14 I joined the Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, going overseas in July 1941. I returned to Canada in July 1945, having served in the U.K., Normandy, Belgium, Holland and Germany, and took my discharge in 1945 before my 20th birthday.'

Donald M. Fowler



20 November 1965
File ref 9451 (WSR).

Dear Sir, Your letter of November 11 addressed to the Department of National Defence was referred to this office for reply.
Records show that the youngest recruit accepted for active service with the Canadian Forces during World War II was 13 years of age. There were three of them and they enlisted in the Army.
I trust this answers your query.
Yours truly,
(Signed) F. B. Rading
Assistant Supervisor
Department of Veterans Affairs

 

Private R.J.Johns 13th Bn Parachute Regiment

Killed 23rd July 1944, age 16.

The youngest British Paratrooper killed in WW2; possibly the youngest British soldier to die in the war.

 

In Australia, there is a group that march in the Anzac Day parade under the association tittle of the "Under 16's". From chatting with some of them, it appears that some were engaged in a variety of areas ranging from US small Ships through to those initially engaged in things like civil construction with uniformed service later on, prior to 18 years of age. I have yet to see,( but I am sure they are out there) an Australian group that includes both campaign Stars & the Civilian Service Medal.

Regards

Simon

 

In Australia, there is a group that march in the Anzac Day parade under the association tittle of the "Under 16's". From chatting with some of them, it appears that some were engaged in a variety of areas ranging from US small Ships

Regards

Simon

There are 32 deaths on the Commemorative Roll from US Small Ships. I have not got to that group yet but there are some interesting pieces on the net.

When I get some time I will check some of the ages and see if any young ones were killed.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Germans had youth battalions as well, not sure what the ages were of the hitler youth who served in France etc

 

I recently saw this one (below) on James Holland's twitter of "10 yr-old Nikolai Pankov, a Russian whose parents were killed. Adopted by another Russian who was captured & fought for the Germans & took Nikolai with him. Ended up in 3rd Coy, 990 Grenadier Regt in Normandy where captured by US troops in Aug 44."

And: Normandy ’44 photos – James Holland's Griffon Merlin

There seems to have been a contemporary article too in: The Winnipeg Tribune from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on August 25, 1944 · Page 1

August 25, 1944:The Winnipeg Tribune from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada · Page 1
Publication:The Winnipeg Tribune i
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Issue Date: Friday, August 25, 1944
Page: 1