Posted by Joe Windsor on August 06, 2006 at 15:38:21 from 81.6.217.2 user Joe.
In Reply to: Re: What the future held posted by Prue Eckett on August 06, 2006 at 00:12:41:
Hi Prue - More than you needed to know!
All 3 services took 'boy entrants' into the ranks but from about 1900 the age limit was 15.
Army: Richard 1st. (12th. century) included boys in his army for communications (trumpet calls) and as apprentices to trades such as saddlers. There have been boy entrants to the British Army from then to about 1993, I think - but the name was changed from Boy Soldier to Junior Leader in about the mid-1950's to encourage more applicants. Numbers doubled straight away!
Royal Navy: Had Boy entrants for as long as there have been ships! From 1905 to 1976 their home was (mostly) HMS Ganges based at Shotley Nr. Ipswich. There was a ship (actually a series of ships all renamed Ganges to replace the last one) but the rest of the establishment was shore based. In 1940 there were about 1,500 there. They were moved out in 1940 and returned in 1946 until the last boy entrant in 1973.
Boy entrants became sailors. Boy Artificers went to RN Chatham and became 'mechanics' so to speak.
RN Officer Cadets went to RN College Dartmouth at age 13. I passionately wanted to go which was when they found out I needed glasses. (So that's why I was awful at cricket!) Originally (1809-ish)this school for RN Officers was a sail ship-of-war called HMS Britania which was moored at Dartmouth. The College was built there and opened in 1905. During the War Officer Candidates (NOT Cadets) went to HMS King Alfred based in a Marina in Hove. Closed in 1946, I think. I can't remember when Dartmouth stopped taking 13 yr olds. Probably the late 1950's?
RAF Boy Entrants were Apprentices at RAF Halton from 1920. Trained as mechanics etc. That was phased out, too, probably in the 1960's?
Whew!
RN Boy Entrants from HMS Ganges were turned out to help with the awful East Coast floods in 1953. So was I with my Entry as an RAF Officer Cadet. That was fun!! V. wet and muddy!!
Cheers - Joe