Age Limit For Joining Army (pre WW1)

[catleugh]

According to his Army records, my Grandfathers Brother deducted 5 years from his age when he joined the 3rd Northumbrian Brigade, Royal Field Artillery in 1912.  He told them he was 27, when he was really 32.  Why would he do that?  Did you have to be under thirty at that time?

[km1971]

The 3rd Northumbrian (County of Durham) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery were part of the Territorial Force – ie part-timers. The age for enlistment for the TF was 17 to 35 for an initial four years, after which they could re-enlist for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years. However, discharge normally occurred at the age of 40 (50 if he made Sergeant), so he may have been hedging his bets, so he could stay in longer. They attended a two-week annual camp for which they were paid, so it may have been attractive for a man in casual employment.

A recruit had to supply a reference, but the emphasise was on character. They were based in the Drill Hall, Seaham Harbour so he must have lived locally in order to attend each week.

One of the conditions of joining was that he had to be prepared to be ‘embodied’ in time of national emergency. This would have happened at the start of WW1.

Ken

[catleugh]

km1971
Thanks for that.  Seems like the only plausible explanation.  In the end, he ended up in France for WW1, getting posted to several different artillery units.
He used to live in Durham City, and I have just found this on another web site:-

3rd Northumbrian (County of Durham) Bde was composed of:
1st Durham Battery. HQ - Seaham Harbour
2nd Durham Battery. HQ - Durham
3rd Durham Battery. HQ - West Hartlepool
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50th_(Northumbrian)_Division

 This seems to match up with what was written on his service record:
"2nd BATTERY 3rd NORTH'B'N BDE R.F.A."

[catleugh]

Found a site with loads of info:-
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=145049