Private Matt Daly, boy soldier of the First World War

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by Toby Purcell

I hope that you will both forgive (and indulge) my contributing belatedly. I agree that 'Boy' was a rank. It continued to be so until the early 1950s (1952, I think, but that is purely from memory). Interestingly the same term was used in the RN.

When appointed to the Corps of Drums an individual became a 'Boy (Drummer)' and to the Band, a Boy (Bandsmen) in order to show his location and that he was effectively entering a de facto apprenticeship. Similarly others were 'Boy (Bootmaker)' and 'Boy (Tailor)'. These were all regimental appointments and as such I don't think that they ever appeared in QRs or KRs, although they do appear as such in regimental documentation.

I'd be inclined to agree bearing in mind the case of Richard Napier "From Horses to Chieftains": he was most definitely engaged as a Boy Bandsman at age 14 in the early 30's.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Hussar100

I'd be inclined to agree bearing in mind the case of Richard Napier "From Horses to Chieftains": he was most definitely engaged as a Boy Bandsman at age 14 in the early 30's.

Grumpy is correct that the term Boy did not appear as a rank in KRs, and yet it did in all kinds of other documentation such as Army Circulars, various regulations and recruiting publications.

I recently bought a group of Navy medals and all 3 have boy stamped on them.
Funny how it can be done for the Navy and not the army.