Boy Soldier in the Devons

[Peter Woodger]

Hi

Family tradition has it that this is my grandfather serving as a boy in thre Devonshire Regiment. If so it would be between 1901 and 1905. He then srved 3 years with the colours then was taken from reserve in 1914 for a visit to Mons where he was in range of the enemy mobile guns and various trips around France and Belgium throughout the War. I forgot to say that he was in the Gunners during almost all his service.

Does the Photo back up the family story? What does the white band mean on his hat?

Peter

[Peter Woodger]

Hi

This is a better shot of the badge and hat

Peter

[Andrew Upton]

The badge certainly looks like the Devonshire Regiment:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brirtish-Army-Cap-Badg...A1%7C240%3A1318

And the cap is the short lived (due to it's unpopularity) "Broderick" cap, that was only in use for a few years at the very beginning of the 20th century, so the date and regiment are a perfect match.

[Peter Woodger]

Andrew

Thank you very much.

Peter

[per ardua per mare per terram]

It was not unusual for boys to serve as soldiers, especially pre war. Nor was it unusual for them to serve as seamen. It was only the army that appears to have had a restriction about boys going into combat.

[Peter Woodger]

Hi

I now find from his discharge papers that he had a pension and his pension records are on line. He was either active or reserve from 1905 to 1920 but there is no mention or credit for any boy service. Does this mean that such service as a boy did not count towards pension?

Peter