Army Council Instructions of 1916

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

13th JUNE.
1186. Disposal of soldiers whose discharge is applied for on account of being under age.

 

The following amended instructions are notified for the guidance of all concerned in dealing with the cases of soldiers whose discharge, or transfer to a Home Service unit, is applied for by their parents or legal guardians on the ground that the man is too young to serve under his present circumstances and conditions:-

 

1. When the soldier is serving at Home.
(a) If under 17 years of age. – His discharge will be carried out by his C.O. under para. 392 (vi) (a) King’s Regulations. His documents will be sent to the Officer i/c Records, who will notify the Recruiting Officer nearest the place at which the man resides of his discharge.
(b) over 17 but under 18 years of age. – He will be transferred, if he be willing in the case of a Regular soldier, to Class W., Army Reserve, and in the case of a T.F. soldier to Class W. (T.), T.F. Reserve. The Officer i/c Records will recall the man to the Colours on attaining the age of 18 years, but in no case is the man to be recalled to the Colours before he has been in the Reserve for a period of three months after his transfer has taken place.
(c) If over 18 but under 19 years of age. – He will be posted to a Reserve unit until such time as he attains the age of 19 years.

 

2. When the soldier is serving with an Expeditionary Force.
(a) If under 18 years of age. – He will be sent home, if he be willing, and dealt with as in para. 1. If not sent home, he will be dealt with as in section (b) of this paragraph.
(b) If over 18 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., 3rd Echelon, G.H.Q.

 

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, if he be willing, and dealt with as in para. 1. If not sent home, he will be dealt with as in section (b) of this paragraph.
(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. Any applications received from parents or guardians by Os.C. units should be at once 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, and inform the applicant.

 

5. Before any action is taken, the real age of the soldier will be verified by reference to his birth certificate.

 

6. The instructions contained in W.O. Circular Letter 9/Gen. No./5388 D. (A.G. 2B) of 6th Sept., 1915, are hereby cancelled.
9/Gen. No./5388 (A.G. 2B (s).)

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).