Guest tafski Posted 18 May , 2006 Share Posted 18 May , 2006 Hi Pals not sure if this has ever been discussed before but any body know the age of the youngest officer to lead his men in action At the momment i have found 2lt Reginald Battersby commisioned into the 11 East Lancashire Regiment ( Accrington Pals )at the age of 15 led his platoon into action 1st July 1916 aged 16 was wounded shot in the leg and was wounded again in 1917 same leg which was amputated are there any younger officers than him cheers bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 Hello could be a tough one this as lots lied about their age Given the high attrition rate of junior officers would nt be suprised if its low Regarding this chap - if you know, at what stage did his age get found out ? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 A 15 yr old leading men into battle. S**t, that's tough,... poor kid. Old before he was of legal age. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 Bruce Do you have background information on Reginald Battersby, eg the school he attended ? I wonder how he managed to make it to the rank of officer by such a young age ? Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 And why wasnt he at school ? Someone must have missed him and knew he joined up. And did he go through officer training ? A very mature chap ! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 Hello See this link for more details and a picture http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/the_no...ans/130405.html Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 Ian The photograph of Reginald shows his maturity but I am still interested to know his background. Very young ORs managed to join up and go to fight but how would a 15/16 year old pass through officer training unless he knew someone who could " pull the strings". Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 And why wasnt he at school ? Someone must have missed him and knew he joined up. Ian Perhaps not in those days when most children would leave school earlier than 15? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfh249 Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 Perhaps not in those days when most children would leave school earlier than 15? Phil B My grandfather left school at 14 in 1920 as was the norm. He started work straight away (his father was KIA in 1917 see my signature) Regards, Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 And why wasnt he at school ? Someone must have missed him and knew he joined up. And did he go through officer training ? A very mature chap ! Ian School at 15! Not then, unless at a GS or PS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essexboy68 Posted 19 May , 2006 Share Posted 19 May , 2006 Folks Coldstreamer has posted the link to a BBC story that appeared (at least in the area covering the IoM) in a "recent" documentary programme, where this man's son told his story. I seem to recall that his father was enthusiastic for his son to enlist & be commissioned & pulled strings, & IIRC his headmaster (yes he was a GS boy) even wrote a reference! I think it is safe to say that those in command of his Pals Bn knew his true age. Cheers Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tafski Posted 20 May , 2006 Share Posted 20 May , 2006 Hi Pals sorry have been away from this post thank found this guy in richard van emdens book boy soldiers of the great war a really good read opens ones eyes if ye get a chance have a read of it bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 21 May , 2006 Share Posted 21 May , 2006 Hello Thanks for putting me straight- I never really gave much thought to the school leaving age of the time. The on;y school records I have are all for officers who, being Guards, went to Private schools - one in Geneva.. Ian School at 15! Not then, unless at a GS or PS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_jackson Posted 21 May , 2006 Share Posted 21 May , 2006 Here's a link to BBC North West's Inside Out page on the Battersby story. http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/northwest/s...week_four.shtml Also, one to Battersby's page on the Accrington Pals site. http://www.pals.org.uk/battersby.htm Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 21 May , 2006 Share Posted 21 May , 2006 Folks where this man's son told his story. I seem to recall that his father was enthusiastic for his son to enlist & be commissioned & pulled strings, & IIRC his headmaster (yes he was a GS boy) even wrote a reference! I think it is safe to say that those in command of his Pals Bn knew his true age. Cheers Mark Mark Thanks for clarifying that "strings were pulled". The usual story of "not what you know but who you know". Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now