Hi

On this mornings Remembrance programme, they showed a pre recorded bit with Huw Whatsisname showing the small distance between the graves of the first and last British deaths. He pointed out that the first, John Parr, was killed on 21/08/14 and then went on to say that recent research had shown that he was under age and may have been as young as 16. Surely this cannot be right, I thought that only regulars or reservists would have been in action as early as 21/10/14, unless of course he was an underage regular?

Regards

IanC

Hi Ian, he was born in 1898 and enlisted sometime in 1913,

Jon

Hello,

Just an aside. I believe the first British fatal casualty of the Great War was pilot and who is buried near Amiens.

Old Tom

I thought it was a cavalryman. Richard Emdens book 'Tickled to Death to go', may confirm this but not sure.

Garth

This was posted by krystina on the Welcome to the Great War Forum thread http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...howtopic=110301
joined yesterday,but found "The Long,Long Trail" when trying to research my grans cousin, John Henry Parr, who she said was the first man killed on the western front. She used to get very upset as he was only 16, lied about his age, on the CWG. site ,it had him as 20 but I think that has been amended now. She told me this in 1965 aprox. when I was telling her about the 3 Rumsey boys, grt. uncles of my then husband!! I was also in touch with Chris Baker to try and find a documentary that I saw on tv. 2/3 yrs. ago. I thought it was called "The First and The Last" so "googled it and got the long trail!! I'm sure it had adverts in it, about half an hr. long, and was about the first (John, or Jack as he was called) and the last man killed. Unfortunately, the video didn't tape it and I have never found it since. I have emailed various tv. companies but no luck.
There were 3 John Henry Parrs alive at that time, Grans uncle,born 1869 Lambeth, her brother,born Walworth, Southwark,London and John, Edwards son, born Finchley, London.(the one who died). Grans brother was also on the Somme, and was shell-shocked. I think it was him that got "promoted on the field" and under treat of being shot, led his men to death, I think she said they were in a shell hole for 3-4 days, lived on "Brimstone and treacle" a sort of tonic syrup, when he got back with3/4 men, he saw the officer who'd sent him, hit him and got "stripped on the field"!!! So quite a lot to find out! Gran was the eldest girl of 13, 3 died between her and the next survivor, the last brother, Sid, was born 1911, 21 yrs. after her!!! It is very strange as I'm 3rd. generation, and the Parrs I'm in touch with, are 2nd.!! They all thought I was "Nellies daughter"!! but thats another story!!
So, how do I find the 2 young Parrs that were in the war?? I've got the CWG. of John the cousin, but can't find John, her brother. He survived. There are 2 photos in 2 lockets, one gran had and I now have it as Mum died 2yrs. ago, and one that Toms (grans brother!!)daughter had! No-one knows who it is, both the same photo, why keep in a locket if he survived?? I think it is the one who was killed, but haven't got the cap badge identified. I think I'll enlist Chris as no good at scanning and posting online!!!!!! So, a family mystery, I also have a copy of an article in the Edgeware Times,written 2003, sent to me by another of grans Parrs, it says in there ,no photo exists of him.!!
Well, I think thats enough , hope some-one can help or put me on the right forum???

Hi All

Thanks for your replies.

I should probably have said 'on the WF' but my query was really about a 16 year old dying so early in the conflict.

So it seems he was an underage regular.

Anything that I have ever seen gives the impression that underage lads joining up was a phenomenon of the Great War, it would seem from this that, that was not the case.

Regards

IanC

I'm sure Grumpy or some other learned Forum Member will come along with the relevant Regulations but boys of 14 were legitimately serving in the Front Line in 1914.
If you want to see an example,check out the Boy Soldier Section of John Duncan's Web-Site-Newbattle at War.
George