Kitchener's Lost Boys: From the Playing Fields to the Killing Fields

by John Oakes

As many as 250,000 underage boys found themselves fighting in World War I, and over half would never return home. This is their story, delving into the complex history of Britain's youngest Great War recruits. Despite the rule of being 18 years old to enlist and 19 to serve overseas many young boys were illegally conscripted. This history discusses the political reasons for underage conscripts, focuses on the recruitment crisis of 1914, and explores both why boys joined, and what their experiences were.

Genres: History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2009