Age limits for enlisting

[alfylfc]

Is there anyone out there who can provide a definitive guide as to the lower and upper age limits for servicemen enlisting in the war?

I'm researching all the men from my town (Antrim in NI) and most joined the Ulster Division in 1914 when there was a 19-35 age limit in place, at least for the rank and file.

Some Ulster Division officers were definitely over 35 when they enlisted, and local men over 40 joined non-frontline units such as the RE.

A man serving with 6 Royal Irish Rifles was 49 when he was killed in Gallipoli in 1915 - maybe he had served as a regular at some time before the war, so was the age limit higher for categories including reservists?

Also, as the war progressed and the number of new recruits dried up, were the age requirements changed in order to get as many men in the ranks as possible?

Thanks, Alvin

[tullybrone]

Hi,

Have you looked on the Long Long Trail?

A simple search of "age limit" in the mother site search engine appears to give an answer to your query if you scroll through the pages.

Regards

Steve Y

[alfylfc]

Yes, it provides a basic guide, but it does not explain any differences relating to infantry/non-combat units and rank and file/officers.

[ss002d6252]

There were considerable changes during the war - including special enlistments for specific job roles - and the age limits continued to increase.

Ex soldiers/militia/reservists etc were allowed to re-enlist up to age 45 from the end of August 1914 - in May 1915 the age limit was lifted to 50 years in certain cases.

Craig

[Anneca]

Hi Alvin, there are many posts on the forum about the youngest and oldest enlisting and there are many gravestones for "boy soldiers" but official Government Policy was that a man had to be 18 to sign up and 19 to fight overseas. When conscription began the Military Service Act 1916 stated that single men between 18-45 were liable to be called up however many "boys" lied about their age. I think that in the first major battle involving Kitchener’s Volunteers, (the Battle of Loos), the British suffered 50,000 casualties killed and wounded and 3,600 of these were under the age of 19. On the first day of the Battle of Albert in 1916 500 “under the age of 19” were killed and 2,000 wounded, and by the time the battle had ended 18,000 “under the age of 19” had been killed or wounded. I know there have been discussions on the forum regarding the oldest. As to a definitive guide, perhaps someone more knowledgeable will come along to answer your question.

Anne

The more knowledgeable person was Craig!

Edited 29 October , 2014 by anneca

[Magnumbellum]

When conscription began the Military Service Act 1916 stated that single men between 18-45 were liable to be called up.

The age range set by the MSA 1916 was 18-41, not 18-45.

In 1918 the upper age limit was extended to 51.

[kenf48]

Not only would I challenge the casualty figures given in post 5 above, the Military Service Act and therefore conscription was never applied to Ireland. However as the Act progressively raised the upper age limit (first amendment May 1916 all men aged 18 to 41 - Military Service (No 2) Act April 1918 men aged 41 to 50 with an extension to men aged 56).

In August 1914 the advertised age for volunteer recruits to the 'New Army' K1 was between 18 and 30. There was considerable controversy that this meant fit men over 30 were excluded and by the time K2 was announced on 28 August the upper age limit was raised to 35, and as noted above 45 for ex- soldiers and 50 for senior NCOs.

In any event whatever age a man, or boy gave the Army was, at this stage of the war accepted as his 'Army age'. In 1915 following a National Registration scheme it became more difficult to lie about your age (as noted on the LLT reference given).

There is no 'definitive' guide especially for units such as the 36th (Ulster) Division for example F.P. Crozier was a retired pre-war regular officer born in 1879, he was second in command of a battalion of the UVF in August 1914, he ended up commanding 119th Brigade in 40th Division. Author of 'A Brass Hat in No Man's Land' he had been forced to leave the Army in 1908 for bouncing dud cheques.

As far as the Ulster Division and other 'Pals' or locally raised Battalions were concerned there was 'considerable latitude over the appointment of officers', foremen and managers carried their roles forward into the Army and those who were recommended for temporary commissions were seldom refused.

Crozier was typical of the 'dug-outs' or retired officers although younger than most, describing himself as 'a hired mercenary' with the UVF, when war was declared there was no argument he should be given a commission. There was a shortage of officers throughout the Army. The UVF was 80,000 strong in 1914 and had a well developed military structure, the age of its officers would have been a minor concern. By the time Third New Army was created in the 21st Division every battalion commander was a 'dug-out' or retired regular.

As for the rank and file there are many accounts in the literature of under age men and old soldiers pleading with their C.O. to be allowed to go on active service in 1914. The pre-war army did not consider a man mature enough for active service overseas until aged twenty.

Then there was the issue of patronage. In 1914 Clement Attlee was told he was too old to enlist at thirty one but soon gained a commission because the C.O. of the Battalion he was accepted in was a relative of one of his pupils and specifically asked for him. Similarly later in the war Willie Redmond used his influence at age fifty-six to join his old regiment and was killed at Messines Ridge in June 1917, on the other hand by this stage of the war thirty-two was considered middle aged for an officer.

There can't be a 'definitive guide', each case outside the norm would need to be considered individually especially in the Division you are researching where the pre-war influences would affect the recruiting patterns in 1914 and the creation of the Ulster Division.

Ken

[researchingreg]

One of my Great Great Uncles, Spr. Jesse Lambourne 266944 joined up on 29 Mar 1915 at the age of 47 (without previous military service) and was in the Royal Engineers, Railway Troops Depot and served in France from 6 Dec 1917 to 13 Mar 1918 and was finally discharged because of sickness 27 Jan 1919 at the age of 50.

See following link to post concerning tis info: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=217089&hl=

[Muerrisch]

Kenf48 is not quite correct regarding age for active service in 1914. It differed from oversea service per se. The latter was 20, the former was 19. Thus a man of 19 could not go to India in early 1914 but could go to war.

Exceptions in both cases drummers buglers trumpeters who went if permitted by CO and RMO

[researchingreg]

Alvin

Have a look at these posts on the same lines about the age for enlistment:

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=213461&hl=

and http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=212196&hl=

[Scalyback]

On a flip side. School leaving age was 14? What happened to the boys that pre war would be come the boy soldiers. Was there a stop on boy recruitment?

[Keith_history_buff]

Army Order 470, dated 7 November 1914, announced it was possible to enlist for the duration of the war, in the Regular Army. (This superseded the similar General Service terms of service introduced by Army Orders 295 & 296 dated 6 August 1914.) The third paragraph states: 'Men who have never served before may be accepted between the ages of 19 and 38.'

Army Order 217 of 1915, within the June 1915 compendium, states: 

'With reference to Army Order 470 of 1914, the Army Council have decided that men enlisting for the duration of the war who have not served before may be accepted between the ages of 19 and 40 years. The minimum standard of height for these recruits for Infantry of the Line will be lowered to 5 feet 2 inches.  

With reference to Army Order 186 of 1915, the above conditions as regards age and standard of height will also apply to enlistments into the Territorial Force.'