How Private Young saved himself

3 Battalion men boarding the train for Alexandria, 4 April 1915  (AWM P02282.007)

A sixteen year-old boy was amongst this group of men who were preparing to leave Egypt and storm the Gallipoli shore.  Rod Martin tells the story of how Pte Douglas Hector Young of Ascot Vale survived the terrifying storm of bullets with a self-inflicted wound, but who went on to redeem himself after this military crime. 

Francis Williams, underage soldier

2005 Pte Francis Williams, 46 Inf Bn.

What is the Army's duty when a clearly underage boy presents for enlistment?  Rod Martin examines the lack of process when Francis Williams, aged 16, enlisted in 1916.

An underage soldier

Troops waiting to board the Demosthenes on 16 July 1915.

Private Albert Newell may have been amongst this group of troops waiting to board the Demosthenes in 1915.  Albert was underage when he enlisted, and like many other underage soldiers struggled with military discipline.  Newell's service record was spanned by several gaol sentences, and at one point managed to have himself sentenced to death.  See Albert's story here.

Commemorative scroll for Arthur Hill

 

This scroll accompanied a memorial plaque, sent to Arthur's father Thomas Hill.  Arthur had enlisted as a sixteen year old, and was killed in France four months short of his 17th birthday.

Private John Christian Herweg, 23 Bn

Private John Christian Herweg, brother of Lance Corporal Robert Herweg, was another boy soldier who enlisted at the age of 17 and died of illness in Heliopolis a few months later.    You can read his story here.