Australian diggers who enlisted during the Second World War
The fact that many soldiers falsified their ages on enlistment during the Second World War was uncovered during training, battle, death or even many years later. Here is an interesting look at enlistment ages and some stories or young teenagers enlisting in the war.
Australians who joined the army in World War II were generally young men. However, there were many older men, some with Great War experience.
Age limits set for enlistment in the Second Australian Imperial Force during 1939 were set between 20 to 35 for recruits, there was a higher age limit for officers and some NCOs (non-commissioned officers).
The age requirements changed as the war progresses, and Australia needed to widen their pool of available recruits. 1940 the maximum age was raised to 40, and the minimum lowered to 19 during 1941, and 18 in 1943. Australian Imperial Force policy that young men aged 18 were not permitted to be deployed to New Guinea or the Northern Territory (although this restriction was not always enforced).
The same restriction applied in the Citizen Military Forces (CMF). The militia as they were officially referred to, composed of who was permitted to be deployed to serve on Australian territory and in New Guinea. Many men in the AIF and the general public related to them as chocolate soldiers (melt in the heat of battle) or Koala bears (a protected Australian marsupial). The militia upper age limit was 60, however, by 1944 an overwhelming majority of men enlisted was between 18-35.
Written parental consent was required for anyone to enlist under the age of 21. However, there were many exceptional cases that slipped through the system.
The late Dick Payten highlights his story of persistence to enlist. Dick was born in Dubbo on 30 March 1921 and the youngest of four children.
Dick was employed as a barman in Dubbo before he made the trip to Sydney during May 1941.
While waiting in the queue to be enlisted Dick got talking to another young man who said
‘By the way, how old are you?’ Dick replied, ‘I’m 20.’ The young man said, ‘Have you got your papers signed by your parents?’ Dick didn’t know anything about such papers and replied ‘Okay, I’ve just turned 21.’
Dick was subsequently declined because he didn’t look 21. Not quickly deterred Dick sat around waiting for a change of staff to try again. Dick would just get in the queue edging towards the front of the line Dick saw the staff had not yet changed and just shuffled back a few places awaiting a new enlistment crew come on shift. Eventually, the recruitment staff caught up with him, expressing they’d had a gutful of him sending him to the Major for a chat. The Major said ‘Look, the reason you were declined was that the Army could spend a load of money on your clothing, gear and training, and if you’re not 21, your parents can withdraw you from the Army.’
Dick stood up, and said: ‘Sir, I’ve travelled from Dubbo here to enlist today, and I’ve been on the queue quite a few times and I’m very, very keen to join because I lost one uncle in the Great War and my other uncles died early from the effects of the Great War.’ Dick said, ‘I really want to join up. I’m fair dinkum.’ Dick put his hand out, and I said, ‘I will not let you down.’ The Major replied, ‘Mate, you’re in.’
Another story that resulted in a stark contract to Dicks was Donald Howlett.
Corporal Donald Alfred Howlett (V22072, 39th Battalion) was 15 years old when he joined the 39th Battalion during December 1940. Donald was present during the fierce battles between the 39th Battalion and the Japanese South Sea Forces.
The 39th Battalion withdrew from the Kokoda plateau at 440 hours on the 29 July 1942 after losing their commander Lieutenant Colonel William Owen.
A few days later the men of the 39th Battalion recaptured the Kokoda plateau and aerodrome. Donald was involved in these battles that took place between the 8 – 10th August. Donald was reported missing on the 10 August 1942 presumed dead at the age of 17.
The following ‘boy soldiers’ and ‘boy sailors’ have been identified among the 40,000 names on the Roll of Honour for the Second World War by the Australian War Memorial. The below content is copied from the Australian War Memorial site. Link https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/boysoldiers
Private Ronald Baden Thomas (VX62736, 2/21st Battalion) died in Indonesia on 20 February 1942, aged 15 years. He is commemorated on the Ambon Memorial
Private John Latima Assheton (NX202253, 2/41st Battalion) died in Australia on 9 July 1944, aged 16 years. He is buried in the Sydney War Cemetery, Sydney.
Private Ernest Arthur Deane (NX52899, 2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion) died in Egypt on 19 August 1941, aged 16 years. He is buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery.
Private Donoma (PN1079, Paga Paga Battery (RAA) att 1 Papuan Infantry Battalion) died in Papua New Guinea on 19 January 1941, aged 16 years. He is commemorated on the Port Moresby Memorial, Papua New Guinea.
Private Thomas Arthur Jiggins (NX35926, 2/19th Battalion) died in Singapore on 22 January 1942, aged 16 years. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, Singapore.
Lance Bombardier Alfred Joseph Murphy (VX43630, 2/3rdLight Anti Aircraft Regiment) died on 20 May 1941 on Crete, Greece, aged 16. He is commemorated on the Athens Memorial.
Private Bruce Mcswain (NX73811, 3rd Battalion) died on 22 January 1942, aged 16 years. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.
Private Joseph Rorkin (NX73811, 3rd Battalion) died on 11 July 1942 in Papua New Guinea. He is buried in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.
Pata (Private) Topipin (P973, 1st Papuan Infantry Battalion) died May 1944 in Papua New Guinea, aged 16 years. He is buried in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.
Trooper James Arthur David Bridge (NX81807, 1st Armoured Corps Training Regiment) (alias David Geoffrey Leafe) died on 4 March 1942 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Sydney Memorial.
Private Charles Stanley Buchanan (NX49374, 2/19th Battalion) died on 15 February 1942 in Singapore, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.
Private William Martin Burke (NX44815, 2/19th Battalion) died on 9 February 1942 in Singapore, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Kranji War Cemetery.
Private Stanley Ivan Davis (NX30110, 2/19th Battalion) died on 15 February 1942 in Singapore, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.
Private John Edward Doyle (VX58684, 2/23rd Battalion) died on 22 July 1942 in Egypt, aged 17 years. He is buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery.
Private William Gordon Field (VX8467, 2/8th Battalion) died on 12 April 1941 in Greece, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Athens Memorial.
Private Rex Keylock French (N224445, 28th Infantry Training Battalion) died on 14 March 1943, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Cowra War Cemetery.
Signalman Aubrey David Gane (N101895, 2/19th Battalion) died on 15 May 1941 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried at the Rookwood Necropolis, Sydney.
Private Raymond Leslie Geraghty (Nx42478, 2/19th Battalion) died on 17 March 1942 in Singapore, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Kranji War Cemetery.
Sapper Ronald Jack Grundy (N109341, 60th Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Company) died on 15 May 1941 in Australia. He is commemorated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Chatswood.
Private Tasman Frank Hite (T255675, 6th Garrison Battalion) died on 3 March 1940 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Wynyard Public Cemetery.
Corporal Donald Alfred Howlett (V22072, 39th Battalion) died on 10 August 1942 in Papua New Guinea, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Port Moresby Memorial.
Private George Arthur Hutchinson (VX51041, 2/29th Battalion) died on 20 January 1942 in Singapore, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Kranji War Cemetery.
Gunner Kevin Henry Ireland (NX191486, Heavy Battery Rabaul) died on 1 July 1942 in Papua New Guinea, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Rabaul Memorial.
Private Geoffrey Dalton Jamieson (SX24864, 126 General Transport Company) died on 15 November 1943 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Brisbane (Lutwyche) Cemetery.
Gunner Frank Christian Corrie Kemp (NX73207, 2/17th Light Anti Aircraft Battery) died on 15 May 1943 in Papua New Guinea, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.
Private Leslie Allen Lanham (NX54488, Training Depot Eastern Command) died on 21 November 1941 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Macquarie Park Cemetery And Crematorium.
Private Norman Stanley Leslie (V181127, 15th Training Battalion) died on 24 May 1942 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Footscray Cemetery.
Private William Percival Gordon Millar (VX40373, 2/24th Battalion) died on 11 July 1942 in Libya, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Tobruk War Cemetery.
Private Albert William Moag (NX31779, 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion) (served as Albert William O’Shea) died on 31 October 1942 in Egypt, aged 17 years. He is buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery.
Private Douglas Macelroy Maclean (N109514, 14th Anti Aircraft Battery) died on 12 December 1941 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Adelaide River War Cemetery.
Sapper Rex Austin Newell (NX140696, 1st Field Squadron) died on 24 January 1943 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Sydney War Cemetery.
Private James Vivian O’Brien (NX54662, 2/2nd Battalion) died on 12 July 1942 in Sri Lanka, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Colombo (Kanatte) General Cemetery.
Private Noel Roy Partridge (NX43367, 2/1st Battalion) died on 21 November 1942 in Papua New Guinea, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Port Moresby Memorial.
Gunner David Douglas Penman (WX36331, 66th Anti Aircraft Battery) died on 19 June 1943 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Perth War Cemetery And Annex.
Private Maurice Raymond Perry (NX48930, 7th Machine Gun Battalion) died on 12 May 1943 in Papua New Guinea, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.
Private Anthony Robert Redmond (NX49060, 2/19th Battalion) died on 15 February 1942 in Singapore, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.
Private John William Henry Smith (VX34943, 2/32nd Battalion) died on 14 September 1941 in Egypt, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.
Private Allan Leigh Summerville (NX89567, 2/6th Independent Company) died on 7 December 1942 in Papua New Guinea, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.
Private Harry Waters (VX63978, 2/10th Ordnance Workshop) died on 14 February 1942 in Singapore, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.
Private William Maxwell Wheeler (WX500703, 1st Recruit Training Battalion) died on 26 July 1946 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Sydney War Cemetery.
Private Wesley Murray Williams (VX61326, 2/21st Battalion) died on 20 February 1942 in Indonesia, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Ambon Memorial.
Trooper Dudley James Wright (NX144623, 12th Armoured Regiment) died on 7 February 1943 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Taabinga Cemetery.
Cadet John Gilbert Morris (HMAS Cerberus) died on 15 January 1941 in Australia, aged 16 years. He is buried in the Payneham Cemetery.
Stoker John William Clark (H1690, HMAS Yarra) died on 4 March 1942 in the Indian Ocean, aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Ordinary Seaman William James Morris Cork (24608, HMAS Sydney) died on 20 November 1941 in the Indian Ocean, aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Cadet Kevin John Donovan (HMAS Canberra) died on 9 August 1942 off Savo Island in the Solomon Islands, aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Ordinary Seaman Ronald John Gannon (S9424, HMAS Australia) died on 5 January 1945 near Luzon Island, aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Ordinary Seaman Frank Rupert Hack (PM2541, HMAS Goorangai) died on 20 November 1940 in Port Phillip Bay, Australia aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Ordinary Seaman George James Haywood (H1453, HMAS Sydney) died on 20 November 1941 in the Indian Ocean, aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Stoker Donald Richard Glenn Kilby (H1689, HMAS Perth) died on 1 March 1942 in the Sunda Strait, Indonesia aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Ordinary Seaman Francis Roy Nichols (H1458, HMAS Sydney) died in the Indian Ocean on 20 November 1941, aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Ordinary Seaman Cameron William Reed (B5256, HMAS Moreton) died on 15 December 1944 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Brisbane (Lutwyche) Cemetery.
Ordinary Seaman Phillip Alexander Rennison (58742, HMAS Ladava) died on 4 December 1943, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.
Stoker Desmond Maxwell Rice (W2013, HMAS Sydney) died on 20 November 1941 in the Indian Ocean, aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Ordinary Seaman Raymond Jack Rinkin (56962, HMAS Assault) died on 14 November 1942 in Sydney, Australia aged 17 years. He is buried in the Macquarie Park Cemetery And Crematorium.
Ordinary Seaman Kenneth Alwyn Roper (PM6686, HMAS Cerberus) died on 15 March 1944 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Springvale War Cemetery, Melbourne.
Stoker Robert Stevenson (S5336, HMAS Sydney) died on 20 November 1941 in the Indian Ocean, aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Assistant Steward Lindsay John Stewart (B3981, HMAS Cerberus) died on 2 January 1943 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the Bowral Cemetery.
Ordinary Seaman Ronald Ian Sutherland (S10027, HMAS Cerberus) died on 6 September 1945 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is buried in the HMAS Cerberus Cemetery.
Stoker Jack Stephen Trenbath (S5208, HMAS Sydney) died on 20 November 1941 in the Indian Ocean, aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Ordinary Seaman George Alfred Turner (PM3372, HMAS Sydney) died 20 November 1941 in the Indian Ocean, aged 17 years. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Merchant Seamen
The following ‘boy merchant seamen’ have been identified on the Commemorative Roll.
Ordinary Seaman William Henry Rushford (SS Iron Crown) died on 4 June 1942 in Australia, aged 16 years. He is commemorated on the Sydney Memorial.
Deck Boy David Abbott (HMAHS Centaur) died on 14 May 1943 in Australia, aged 16 years. He is commemorated on the Sydney Memorial.
Deck Hand Roger Frederick Hart (HMAHS Centaur) died on 14 May 1943 in Australia, aged 16 years. He is commemorated on the Sydney Memorial.
Cadet Robert Henry Stobo (MV Neptuna) died on 19 February 1942 in Australia, aged 16 years. He is buried in the Adelaide River War Cemetery.
Deck Boy John Welblund Lindemann (SS Iron Chieftain) died on 3 June 1942 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Sydney Memorial.
Ordinary Seaman Alexander Douglas Thomas (SS Iron Knight) died on 8 February 1943 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Sydney Memorial.
Deck Boy Kenneth James Durie (SS Wollongbar) died on 29 April 1943 in Australia, aged 17 years. He is commemorated on the Sydney Memorial.