Boy Soldiers of the Great War
by Richard van Emden
- New
- Hardcover
- Condition
- New/New
- ISBN 10
- 1399011634
- ISBN 13
- 9781399011631
- Seller
-
Dover, Kent, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2021. After the outbreak of the Great War, boys as young as twelve were caught up in a national wave of patriotism and, in huge numbers, volunteered to serve their country. The press, recruiting offices and the Government all contributed to the enlistment of hundreds of thousands of under-age soldiers in both Britain and the Empire. On joining up, these lads falsified their ages, often aided by parents who believed their sons' obvious youth would make overseas service unlikely. These boys frequently enlisted together, training for a year or more in the same battalions before they were sent abroad. Others joined up but were soon sent to units already fighting overseas and short of men: these lads might undergo as little as eight weeks' training. Boys served in the bloodiest battles of the war, fighting at Ypres, the Somme and on Gallipoli. Many broke down under the strain and were returned home once parents supplied birth certificates proving their youth. Other lads fought on bravely and were even awarded medals for gallantry: Jack Pouchot won the Distinguished Conduct Medal aged just fifteen. Others became highly efficient officers, such as Acting Captain Philip Lister and Second Lieutenant Reginald Battersby, both of whom were commissioned at fifteen and fought in France. In this, the final update of his ground-breaking book, Richard van Emden reveals new hitherto unknown stories and adds many more unseen images. He also proves that far more boys enlisted in the British Army under-age than originally estimated, providing compelling evidence that as many as 400,000 served.. Revised Edition. Hard Cover. New/New. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.
Reviews
Though tragic in its details, this book tells how boys as young as 12 years were able to enlist and fight (and die) in World War 1. No Birth Certificates were necessary for the first 2 years, and even many letters written subsequently by parents to the authorities were to no avail. Many boys were heroes and won medals for bravery and also made officers as early as 16! The author has researched thoroughly the experiences of many individual boys and also groups as a whole and the book is written in such a way as to be moving and informative.
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Allen Williams Books (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 161471
- Title
- Boy Soldiers of the Great War
- Author
- Richard van Emden
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- New New
- Jacket Condition
- New
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- Revised Edition
- ISBN 10
- 1399011634
- ISBN 13
- 9781399011631
- Publisher
- Pen & Sword Military
- Place of Publication
- Barnsley
- Date Published
- 2021
- Size
- 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Terms of Sale
Allen Williams Books
About the Seller
Allen Williams Books
About Allen Williams Books
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...