Hi, Having just got my fathers service record from Coldstream Guards I noted his 5th "Cumberland" Battalion, The Border Regiment attestation papers were attached from May 1935 when he was 17 years old. He had added a year to his age making himself 18 years old on enlistment in May 1935. He gave his correct DOB on Coldstream Guards enlistment in January 1937. Does anyone know the minuimum age for pre war Territorial Army enlistment? Thanks. Steve Y.
I cannot say definitively, but the minimum age in 1935 may well have been 18 - hence your father falsifying his age. I do recall that the present TA minimum enlistment age of 17 was instituted some 10 years ago, when the pre-existing age of 18 was lowered, and it could well have been 18 all along.
I do recall that the present TA minimum enlistment age of 17 was instituted some 10 years ago, when the pre-existing age of 18 was lowered, and it could well have been 18 all along. My mate who joined with me in January 1986 was 17, he wasn't 18 until the August.
TA Age Taken from my history notes. At the same age of 15 I joined the Royal Engineers Territorial Army (TA's) 51st (HD) as a Sapper band's-man learning to play the bag pipes. John.
