In order to officially address the issue of underage boys serving overseas, War Office letter 9/Gen. No./5388D. (A.G. 2B) of 6th September, 1915 was issued followed by Army Council Instruction 1186 of 1916 which collectively laid out the appropriate rules and regulations to be followed. This was followed on October 6, 1916 by Army Council Instruction 1905 which replaced and cancelled the previous two sets of instructions.
Army Council Order 1186 of 1916
Army Council Order 1905 of 1916
6th OCTOBER.
1905. Disposal of soldiers whose release from the Service is applied for on account of being under age.
The following revised instructions are notified for the guidance of all concerned in dealing with the case of a soldier whose release from the Service, or transfer to a Home Service unit, is applied for on the ground that he is too young to serve :-
1. When the soldier is serving at Home.
(a) If under 18 years of age. – He will be dealt with under authority of the G.O.C.-in-C. of the Command in which he is serving, as follows:-
If serving with a unit affiliated to the :- | He will be posted to a unit of the :- |
Scottish Command …
Northern Command … Western Command … Southern Command … Eastern Command … } London District … } |
64th Division. 65th Division. 68th Division. 67th Division. 69th Division |
Note.-In posting it should be arranged, so far as possible, that:-
A man of Scotch Nationality be sent to the 64th or 65th Division, and
A man of Welsh Nationality to a Welsh Unit of the 68th Division, but
A man of Irish Nationality who wishes to join an Irish regiment will be sent to the depôt of the regiment he selects, and will be posted accordingly.
(b) If over 18 1/2 but under 19 years of age. – He will be posted to a Reserve unit.
In the case of postings under (a) and (b) the following entry will be made on the soldier’s attestation or record of service paper :-
“Posted, under A.C.I. 1905 of 1916, to ….. Date ……”
The posting will be notified in Part II of Orders.
2. When the soldier is serving with an Expeditionary Force.
(a) If under 17 years of age. – He will be sent home and dealt with as in para. 1 (a).
(b) If over 17 but under 18 1/2 years of age. – He will be sent home, if he be willing, and dealt with as in para. 1 (a). If not willing to be sent home, his services will be utilized either behind the firing line, or he will be sent home at the discretion of the G.O.C.-in-C. and dealt with as in para. 1 (a).
(c) If over 18 1/2 but under 19 years of age. – He will not be sent home but will be posted to a Training or other unit behind the firing line, under arrangements to be made by the G.O.C.-in-C.
In all cases to be dealt with as above, notification will be sent by the Officer i/c Records to the D.A.G., G.H.Q., 3rd Echelon.
3. When the soldier is serving abroad but not with an Expeditionary Force.
(a) If under 18 years of age – He will be sent home and dealt with as in para. 1 (a).
(b) If over 18 but under 19 years of age. – He will not be sent home but will be trained under local arrangements.
In all cases to be dealt with as above, notification will be sent by the Officer i/c Records to the C.-in-C. or G.O.C., as the case may be.
4. Applications for the release of a soldier received by Os.C. units will be dealt with as follows:-
(a) When serving at home. – If the soldier is over 17 years of age, a report will be rendered to the G.O.C.-in-C. through the usual channels.
(b) When serving with an Expeditionary Force. – The application will be dealt with under the orders of the Commander of the Force.
(c) When serving abroad but not with an Expeditionary Force – The application will be dealt with under the orders of the C.-in-C. or G.O.C. as the case may be.
5. Applications received through any channel other than those mentioned above will be forwarded to the Officer i/c Records concerned, who will take the initial action in each case in conformity with paras. 1, 2 and 3 of this Instruction, and inform the applicant.
6. Before any action is taken, the real age of the soldier will be verified by reference to his birth certificate.
7. The instructions contained in W.O. letter 9/Gen. No./5388D. (A.G. 2B) of 6th September, 1915, and A.C.I. 1186 of 1916 are hereby cancelled.
9/Gen. No./5388 (D.R. 2).