Journal article
South London's ‘Age-Fudgers’: Kitchener's Under-Age volunteers
The London Journal, Vol.40(2), pp.147-170
2015
Abstract
This article examines the numerous adolescents, many from the South London boroughs of Lewisham and Deptford, who lied about their age when joining the 11th (Lewisham) Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment in 1915. It focuses on their motivations for enlisting underage, highlighting the ‘push’ effects of particular features of working-class family life and the local labour market and the ‘pull’ effects of army recruitment policies and the increasing militarization of society as the war proceeded. Despite a minority causing the army major problems during the period of training, most of them conformed to military discipline and became useful recruits. Parents’ objections to the enlistment of their sons were muted, at least until the battalion was sent overseas in May 1916, after which the army authorities tried, not always successfully, to keep the under-aged out of the firing line.
Details
- Title
- South London's ‘Age-Fudgers’: Kitchener's Under-Age volunteers
- Authors/Creators
- M. Durey (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- The London Journal, Vol.40(2), pp.147-170
- Publisher
- Maney Publishing
- Identifiers
- 991005540344607891
- Copyright
- © 2015 W. S. Maney & Son Ltd
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Arts
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
Metrics
77 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Citation topics
- 10 Arts & Humanities
- 10.144 Modern History
- 10.144.1725 British Social Change
- Web Of Science research areas
- Area Studies
- History
- ESI research areas
- Social Sciences, general