At the time of the Napoleonic Wars what was the minimum age for soldiers in the British army?

spanishliz

It would seem that boys as young as 10 were recruited into "Boy Regiments". "In 1795, three experimental regiments were formed "to relieve parishes of boys between the ages of 10 and 16, who were allowed to enlist on condition of the parishes paying their expenses to the recruiting depot". There were a thousand boys assigned to each regiment, and some served in the Cape and India. All this came to light because of a newspaper item which prompted a War Office investigation WO 32/6881 code 26A, Enlistment of boys under 16 years into Boy Regiments to supplement recruitment; copies of original orders 1797, 1801-1805. In December 1797, seven regiments presumably on the strength of the experiment, were authorised to enlist boys under 16. Pay seems to have been 8d per day, with lower stoppages for stays in hospital than ordinary soldiers. By 1801, there were only two boy regiments, the 32 and 65, presumably the recruits were not replaced as they grew older. However, the failure of the Treaty of Amiens and the resumption of hostilities with France meant an increase in recruitment. Most regiments gained a second battalion, and these were allowed to recruit a "certain number" of boys. The exact status of these boy soldiers is unclear as to whether they were considered combatants or not. " http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Enlistment_of_Boy_Soldiers_in_the_British_Army%2C_1795-1959 Jul 17 07, 5:29 PM

bloomsby

Many thanks. In many ways it doesn't sound too good. Jul 18 07, 10:51 AM