Seeking British Attestation Papers

[Guest Steve Turner]

Judging from the success I had getting information on my own Grandfather, my in-laws have tasked me to locate information on my grandfather-in-law.

My G-I-L's name was Leonard Warnes. He was born in 1901, but somehow managed to finagle his way into the Royal Horse Artillery using a false birth date. According to my mother-in-law, Leonard was apparently one of the original "contemptibles" and saw action right from the start of the Great War.

I assume that because he was so tall (6'6" or 6"7") as an adult, that when he joined the RHA as a thirteen year-old, he probably was far taller than most people, and the recruiters probably ignored his "babyface". I have seen one picture of him in uniform, and he clearly looks like a little kid (I'm in the process of having said picture scanned by my brother-in-law).

If someone could provide me with a British government website where I can search for his info, I'd greatly appreciate it. I assume that some of the records have made it online, but I am also aware that most WW I records were destroyed or water-damaged in the Second War.

Thanx;

Steve Turner

[Muerrisch]

It was legal and normal to join as a "boy" at 14. Boys became men at 18, but could not be sent on active service until 19. Boys trained as drummer, bugler, trumpeter [piper I think], tailor and one or two trades.

Any "boy" who could pass muster as a man went as a man, false age, the lot. A man started on 1/-, a boy on 8d [ie two thirds] so every incentive to tell porkies. No birth certificate for man service required, but there was for a boy, together with parental consent.

A person under 19 could be taken on Active Service with the consent of his CO: Mobilisation Regulations specifically detail this. The boy had no say!