REVIEWS

BOY SOLDIERS OF THE GREAT WAR

THE FULLY REVISED FINAL EDITION

Although boy soldiers had served in the British Army long before 1914, the wave of patriotic fervour that swept Britain at the outbreak of the First World War saw many thousands of underage boys enlist to fight for their country. By the time the war ended, as many as 400,000 may have served during the conflict, according to historian Richard van Emden.

Many boys lied about their age upon joining the Army. Not all joined up for patriotic reasons. Some looked to escape the grim existence of their lives at home. Others longed for adventure that they simply could never experience in civilian life. Most probably enlisted for a mix of reasons. Some were even assisted by their own parents, while those responsible for their recruitment turned a blind