After the outbreak of the Great War, boys as young as twelve were caught up in a national wave of patriotism and, in huge numbers, volunteered to serve their country. The press, recruiting offices and the Government all contributed to the enlistment of hundreds of thousands of under-age soldiers in both Britain and the Empire. On joining up, these lads falsified their ages, often aided by parents who believed their sons’ obvious youth would make overseas service unlikely. These boys frequently enlisted together, training for a year or more in the same battalions before they were sent abroad. Others joined up but were soon sent to units already fighting overseas and short of men: these lads might undergo as little as eight weeks’ training. Boys served in the bloodiest battles of the war, fighting at Ypres, the Somme and on Gallipoli. Many broke down under the strain and were returned home once parents supplied birth certificates proving their youth. Other lads fought on bravely and were even awarded medals for gallantry: Jack Pouchot won the Distinguished Conduct Medal aged just fifteen. Others became highly efficient officers, such as Acting Captain Philip Lister and Second Lieutenant Reginald Battersby, both of whom were commissioned at fifteen and fought in France. In this, the final update of his ground-breaking book, Richard van Emden reveals new hitherto unknown stories and adds many more unseen images. He also proves that far more boys enlisted in the British Army under-age than originally estimated, providing compelling evidence that as many as 400,000 served.

Filled with historic photographs, maps, and short, powerful chapters, "Great Battles for Boys" captures the attention of even reluctant readers. History leaps off the page through the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of soldiers fighting America's earliest battles, from Bunker Hill and San Juan Hill to The Alamo and The Lost Battalion of WWI.

When war takes two young men far from the peaceful streets of Pocatello, Idaho, an intense friendship develops on the battlefront. These friends find there can be life after tragedy and that sometimes the one we need most desperately to forgive is ourself.

Does your son avoid reading, but spends hours playing videogames?Are you worried about his reading abilities, now and in the future? What if you could give him all the excitement of screen time while also sparking his love of reading and history? Now you can, with Great Battles for Boys--written especially for reluctant readers. These exciting tales take boys to the front lines of history's most important military conflicts. Filled with historic photographs, maps, and biographies of soldiers who accomplished extraordinary feats against all odds, Great Battles for Boys gets boys hooked on reading. In his highly acclaimed middle-school class "Great Battles for Boys," author Joe Giorello has ignited a love of military history in hundreds of boys. Now with this engaging non-fiction series written specifically for boys ages 8-14, your son can experience that same thrilling adventure in learning. Reading is essential! Many education experts believe that boys' education failures later--such as struggling to get into college, or complete university--arises from poor reading and literacy skills that didn't get developed in elementary and middle school. But you can change that for your son or grandson. Give him books he wants to read! In this installment of the bestselling history series, young readers learn about World War I's major battles along with the modern inventions such as airplanes and tanks that were part of "The Great War"--nicknamed not because the conflict was good, but because its losses were so devastating. Among the dozen battles covered are: Tannenberg: outnumbered German soldiers pull a sneak attack and destroy Russian forces, capturing 150,000 prisoners of war. Somme: Among military history's worst follies, this battle ended with more than one million casualties--and yet achieved almost nothing for either the Allies or the Central Powers. Cantigny: A little-known battle that proved late-arriving and novice American forces came to the Western Front to win this long-suffering war. Other chapters cover WWI's most fascinating figures, such as Lawrence of Arabia, Sergeant York, and the Harlem Hellfighters. Boys also gain an understanding of the world events shaped by this monumental conflict, including the Russian Revolution of 1917. Filled with historic photographs, maps, and notable biographies of ordinary soldiers who accomplished extraordinary feats against all odds, Great Battles for Boys: WWI explains the weapons, tactics, and strategies that helped the Allies topple the Central Powers. Each chapter also concludes with suggestions for further age-appropriate books, internet sites, and movies that the whole family can watch together. If your son likes action-packed accounts, authentic details, and short chapters, he will love this book. Pick up Great Battles for Boys today--and march to the front lines of history! PRAISE FOR THE GREAT BATTLES FOR BOYS SERIES: "This book should be in school libraries everywhere. It is a treasure trove of information that is engagingly written that makes one feel they are in a great classroom with a great instructor sharing his knowledge in a fun way." --Hall of Fame Amazon Reviewer

A new edition of a book that has changed the way we think about sexual conduct and combat.

Between 15,000 and 20,000 underage youths, some as young as ten, signed up to fight in Canada's armed forces in the First World War. They served in the trenches alongside their elders, and fought in all the major battles: Ypres, the Somme, Passchendaele, Vimy Ridge, and the rest. Many were injured or suffered psychological wounds. Many died. This is the first book to tell their story. Some boys joined up to escape unhappy homes and workplaces. Others went with their parents' blessing, carrying letters from fathers and mothers asking the recruiters to take their eager sons. The romantic notion of a short, victorious campaign was wiped out the second these boys arrived on the Western Front. The authors, who narrate the fighting with both military professionalism and humanity, portray many boys who, in the heat of battle, made a seamless transition from follower to leader to hero. Authors Dan Black and John Boileau combed the archives and collections to bring these stories to life. Passages from letters the boy soldiers wrote home reveal the range of emotions and experiences they underwent, from the humorous to the unspeakably horrible. Their parents' letters touch us with their concern, love, uncertainty, and often, grief. Meticulously researched and abundantly illustrated with photographs, paintings, and a collection of specially commissioned maps, Old Enough to Fight is Canadian military and social history at its most fascinating.

In the First World War of 1914-1918, thousands of boys across Australia and New Zealand lied about their age, forged a parent's signature and left to fight on the other side of the world. Though some were as young as thirteen, they soon found they could die as well as any man. Like Peter Pan's lost boys, they have remained forever young. These are their stories. This extraordinary book captures the incredible and previously untold stories of forty Anzac boys who fought in the First World War, from Gallipoli to the Armistice. Featuring haunting images of the boys taken at training camps and behind the lines, these tales are both heartbreaking and rousing, full of daring, ingenuity, recklessness, random horror and capricious luck. A unique perspective on the First World War, The Lost Boys is military history made deeply personal, a powerful homage to youthful bravery and a poignant reminder of the sacrifice of war.