What was the age cut off for joining up?

[Krazykat87]

I’m trying to work out if my great great grandad lies on his records as his 1911 census has him as 32 yet his war recs has him at 32 in 1915 when he joined up.
I’m trying to pin down his birth a little better
All other records have him born roughly 1877/78/79 but the war record makes it about 1883.

Any info would be appreciated :-)

[JJen]

If he was still alive in 1939 his birth date should be on the 1939 register, providing he supplied the correct one 

Would you like to provide his name and place of birth so we could help further?

Usually 38 was the max age for WW1.

JJ

[Krazykat87]

They didn’t do one in Ireland did they?
His record is in the British army but was in the Connaught rangers... only a short time though too

[JJen]

They didn’t do one in Ireland did they?
His record is in the British army but was in the Connaught rangers... only a short time though too

Didn't realise we are looking at Ireland.

JJ

[MaxD]

 If his 1911 age is right, then he would still have been only 35 on enlistment so no need to lie about his age.  In 1915 men were all volunteers and the system was not over picky about the age of men who presented themselves. 


Do the earlier censuses support the 1911 age?


MaxD

[Krazykat87]

If his 1911 age is right, then he would still have been only 35 on enlistment so no need to lie about his age.  In 1915 men were all volunteers and the system was not over picky about the age of men who presented themselves. 


Do the earlier censuses support the 1911 age?


MaxD

I only have a ‘possible’ 1901 census which Iv just been looking in to. That shows him as being 23 which is the same age as his marriage age and his occupation of barber is there so I think it is quite possible it is them and that the probable wrong age would be his enlistment

[HughC]

It's an interesting question.

My great-uncle was born in late 1884 and emigrated to Canada at age 20.
He was therefore coming up to 30 when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers six weeks after the declaration of war.  He gave his younger brother's date of birth: late 1886.
Why would he do that?  Could it be that promotion to officer was open only to those under 30, or was there some other reason for fibbing?

[MaxD]

Can't find any reason in the academic treatise on the subject:

https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1753&context=cmh

or in:https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/recruitment_and_conscription_canada

Fibbing by what appears to be just 2 years seems a bit odd anyway!

MaxD

[Krazykat87]

It's an interesting question.

My great-uncle was born in late 1884 and emigrated to Canada at age 20.
He was therefore coming up to 30 when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers six weeks after the declaration of war.  He gave his younger brother's date of birth: late 1886.
Why would he do that?  Could it be that promotion to officer was open only to those under 30, or was there some other reason for fibbing?

Lol ancestors really baffle me!!