Chris_Baker Posted 17 June , 2009 Share Posted 17 June , 2009 Reginald Goodburn enlisted in January 1915, saying he was aged 19 years and 5 months. In fact, he was born on 12 August 1899 and so was 15 years and 4 months of age. On 16 April 1915 he was promoted to Sergeant, at 15 years, 8 months and 5 days old. (In November 1915 he was found out and discharged; he later served in the RAF and died in a flying accident). Can anyone tell me of a younger NCO? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 17 June , 2009 Share Posted 17 June , 2009 what sort of a unit would do that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 17 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 17 June , 2009 16th RWF. To be fair to them, he was physically very large and tall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 17 June , 2009 Share Posted 17 June , 2009 I am glad I was not rude about the regiment. Phew! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 17 June , 2009 Share Posted 17 June , 2009 Narrow escape there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 17 June , 2009 Share Posted 17 June , 2009 I smelt a trap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc2 Posted 18 June , 2009 Share Posted 18 June , 2009 Reginald Goodburn enlisted in January 1915, saying he was aged 19 years and 5 months. In fact, he was born on 12 August 1899 and so was 15 years and 4 months of age. On 16 April 1915 he was promoted to Sergeant, at 15 years, 8 months and 5 days old. (In November 1915 he was found out and discharged; Four months from Enlistment to Sergeant! WOW! He must have been impressive. Can't believe promotions that fast. Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Marshall Posted 18 June , 2009 Share Posted 18 June , 2009 This battalion was only a couple of months old (LLT refers) at the time of his enlistment and would have needed to quickly set up it's establishment of NCOs. Trawls would have been made through the the ranks for anyone with previous military service who wanted to accept rank. Once this stage had been passed through if there were any vacancies remaining, even time spent as a scout, or with any of the numerous 'boys clubs' could have been accepted and the man (or boy in this case) was promoted. He probably was impressive, his size would have been a factor, but he must have had the bearing and attitude to carry it off too. Some feat for a boy to run a platoon with the mix of men the New Armies attracted. After all, he did the job for around 7 months; if he'd been a rubbish serjeant, he would have been reduced to the ranks again. There are many examples of youngsters holding rank, but this is the youngest I have seen, by quite some margin. Cheers, Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 20 June , 2009 Share Posted 20 June , 2009 Having studied men who were officers at 12, in previous wars, and the navy where they became officers in their mid teens this isn't very surprising. As he was detected before going to France how hard would it have been to maintain his position? Here's an officer who was a cadet, before this file was opened when he was 16: Name Earl Mountbatten, Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas of Battenburg Date of Birth: 25 June 1900 Rank: Admiral of the Fleet Date 15 July 1916 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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