Hello Just wondering for any information regarding conscription age ranges in the UK and Commonwealth during the War. I know that the pre-war militia consisted of 20-22 year olds; the next call-up group of 22-27 year olds; then 27-36; and lastly those who were older. I am also aware that the NMS Act made all males 18-41 liable for such service. So, when were 18-19 yr olds called up, and what was the oldest age at which a (non-reservist with no previous military service) civilian could be conscripted and expect to find himself sitting in a tank or trench within a few months? In WW1 a good deal of frontline soldiers were in their very late 30s, 40s and even 50s; was this the same in WW2 or was the average age of infantrymen/tankmen noticeably lower - was the average age of the British infantry soldier 26, as with the US Army? If so, was this deliberate policy or reflection of a smaller infantry force and less severe casualty rates? Were older recruits generally assigned to static or logistical positions? Thanks Richard
My dad was called up in early 1940 when he was 21. Obviously, at the start of the war there was a reserve of manpower to call from. But later, most of the conscripts were age 18 or so and if you go and look at the headstones in the military cemeteries you will see a big cluster in the 19-25 age group, particularly for aircrew and the campaign in Europe. Frankly, with exceptions, I would have thought that you want the bulk of your fighting troops under 25, at least as far as the privates and junior NCOs are concerned.
At the beginng of the war Bazil Rathbone, who was not only a well known actor at the time but was also an ex Captain of intelligence of the Liverpool Scotish and an MC winner, tried to join up and was refused on the grounds that he was 47 at the time. So to turn down a voluteer with such great propaganda potential if nothing else the upper age limit must have been taken very seriously at least in the early stages of WW2. Brum
Thanks for the replies. Just trying to ascertain tranches of call-up ages during the War. I've read a number of pieces - both historical and contemporary - and most seem to indicate that the 20-33-ish age group make for the best frontline troops, combining both good physical stamina and upper body strength and, at the upper end of this scale, mental maturity and support for younger troops. Yes, the Army did seem to take upper age limits more seriously in 1939 than 1914: perhaps this was a reflection of an organised sweep of eligible manppower guaranteeing recruits; or perhaps there was experience from WW1 to support this. Richard
Conscription in the UK? There was conscription in Great Britain but all Northern Ireland citizens volunteered for WWII service, a point often forgotten. For WWII there were 80,000 volunteers from Southern Ireland and 38,000 volunteers from Northern Ireland. Over 4,500 of the Northern Ireland volunteers were killed. (Adamson, in Marrinan 1986)
The shadow of war saw the Military Training Act come on to the statute book in May 1939.This act called up men aged 20-21 years for 6 months military training.This pool accounted for less than 1 million men and compared with France who had called up about 5 million men it was proved to be inadequate. When war started in September 1939,the act was overrun by the National Services Act 1939 by which men between the ages of 18-41years were liable for conscription.The 20-23 year olds had to register by October 1939 and the registration went on with the priority being single men until by June 1941 when all men up to 40 years of age had to be registered. I have an aquaintance who was called up for military training in May 1939 for as he was told,6 months military training.He was called up and never saw his homeland again until 1946 as he went out to Burma very early and had the experience of the retreat north from Burma towards India and the campaign to retake Burma.He survived to tell tales of equipment being wrecked to prevent its use by the Japanese during the long retreat.Years later, I remember a claim by the Burmah Oil Company on the British Government for losses caused by this neccessary "burnt earth" policy.
WW2 Call up 18 but could not serve in an "Active overeseas" area till nineteen. I managed to get into the army (reserved occupation) at the age of 18. I went to Normandy 6 weeks after my nineteenth birthday. Lots of young men, keen to serve their Country in its time of need, put their ages on as older. Many were taken in to the army, found out, and packed off home again! I think it fair to say that in the 1940s men were a lot younger, and less "Worldly Wise" than today. The world was far more innocent place in my youthful days, and dare I say it? a much nicer world. Sapper.
Sapper - A nicer world without forums such as these??? Impossible! I recall from Spike Milligan that they encountered a Sapper who was in his mid- to late-30s, and he commented that it was unusual to find such a lowly soldier of that age at the Front. I stumbled across an on-line roll of honour of the Middlesex Regt for WW2 and noted that the vast majority of casualties seemed (not scientific, just primae facie) to have been aged in their mid- to late-twenties, but with a substantial numbers at either extreme ranging from 18 to late-30s and beyond; I suppose merely reflecting the proportion of ages in the Regt? Richard
From my experience, the youngest ones were about 19, the age range you mentioned is about right. The youngest single ones, were given the most dangerous jobs. They had no wife or children...... I, unfortunately, was young and single.....That is why I was wouned twice I reckon. If you stop to think the youngest was 19, the oldest (Mostly) young thirty. that make the youngest 80 now and the oldest 93/4 that signifies they are departing at the rate of Knotts, now. Sadly, that is now being borne out. I am determind, despite being severely injured, and already having outlived my mates, to continue for some time yet........Obstinate being my middle name.. The thing is, when I do go, there will be a lot of pals waiting to greet me. "Hi Bry, been waiting for you mate" I do have some great friends that have left, only trouble is; it is getting a bit lonely round here! Only joking! Sapper
Originally posted by DirtyDick@Feb 22 2005, 07:51 PM Sapper - A nicer world without forums such as these??? Impossible! I recall from Spike Milligan that they encountered a Sapper who was in his mid- to late-30s, and he commented that it was unusual to find such a lowly soldier of that age at the Front. I stumbled across an on-line roll of honour of the Middlesex Regt for WW2 and noted that the vast majority of casualties seemed (not scientific, just primae facie) to have been aged in their mid- to late-twenties, but with a substantial numbers at either extreme ranging from 18 to late-30s and beyond; I suppose merely reflecting the proportion of ages in the Regt? Richard [post=31745]Quoted post[/post] The average age of the chindets was an elderly 28!
Cheers Chaps. I noted that the average age of Australian soldiers in Gallipoli in 1915 was also 28; and in WW2 the average age of the infantrymen in the initial Australian divisions sent to the ME theatre was 29, which dropped later in the war. Richard
