Pulling out underage soldiers & infantry base depot RWF

[Grand Daughter Rose]

Hello, following on from JOHN RONCHI 35196 RWF, Medal Roll J/2/102 B14 PG 4641. Enlisted 5 days after 17th birthday, fighting in France 5 months later.

Thanks to Clive, I have the following info from the medal roll " travelled overseas with 16th Battn, transferred to 15th Bttn.

Then 2 refs to Infantry Base Depot, suggest departure to base or UK depot with wounds, sickness or age. Then returned to 9th Bttn."

Does any one know if letters from parents or the War Office to the western front concerning pulling out underage soldiers from the front are kept anywhere ? It is possible his parents wrote and he was put into camp until a bit older, just as possible he was sick or wounded.

Do records exist from the Base depots/ hospitals themselves on individual entries ?

Are there individual references for each Base depot ?

Can I follow up the Medal Roll info that Clive has given any further ?

Thanks any help appreciated.

[Scalyback]

It would be on his records if they survived the bombing of WW2.

Infantry depot for RWF was Wrexham, the last TA troops of the RWF left a few weeks ago. For more information and background on boy soldiers could I recommend "Boy Soldiers" by Richard Van Emden.

[Grand Daughter Rose]

yes i have read the book, its excellent, I wonder if Richard Van Emden is on this forum ???? If so please divulge your sources on underage soldiers.

[Scalyback]

He does post on this forum. I can not for the life of me think of his log on name!

RWF depot at Wrexham still holds the archvices, there may still be something there that will satisfy your thirst for information.

Everything relating to a soldier will be in the file and if this is destroyed there will not be much left to find. As per Richards book at a certain age they would get returned, between that age and the correct age to be at the front the soldier himself had the choice. They could say yes sir Im underage but they did get removed to etaples (I think) to battlions of all capbadges until of fighting age not to regimental holding units.

By being transfered battalions within the regiment looks more like sickness transfer to keep the man within the RWF. Either way a chap to be proud of!

[Guest]

I think Richard posts under the name Forton

Mike

[charlesmessenger]

It rather depends on when this solider served in France. The infantry base depots in France would certainly initially have taken the soldiers. From there they would either be sent home and discharged or retained at base. In spring 1917 a special unit was formed in France for underaged boys under the umbrella of No 29 Infantry Base Depot. Then, in autumn 1918, Young Soldiers battalions were created in France.

Charles M

[Scalyback]

This chap did serve abroad so not a home discharge.