During World War II, the official minimum age for enlistment in the Canadian military was initially 18, but it was raised to 19 in November 1939. However, many underage youths still managed to enlist by lying about their age. It's estimated that around 700,000 Canadians under the age of 21 served in uniform during the war2. Some boys as young as 13 attempted to join, and if they looked old enough, they were sometimes accepted. Those who were rejected often found other ways to contribute, such as serving in the Merchant Navy or supporting the war effort on the home front.
copyright © Wartime Heritage Association Website hosting courtesy of Register.com - a web.com company
Wartime Heritage ASSOCIATION
Remembering World War II
Canadian Casualties of WWII Aged 14 to 17
Return To WWII Links
Service Number:
Name:
Rank:
Service
Date of Death:
Age at Death
Place of Birth
Brooks, Robert Cyril Claude Mosher, Maxwell Dore, Gerard Garrett, Alan Edward Harbidge, Terrence Albert Keating, John Murray Keay, Lorne George Martell. Gerald Roy McGuigan, Barney Ruben McManus, William Milmine, John Ott, Gordon Pageau, Victor Peters, Roy Donald Starkey, Paul Sweeney, George Raymond Taylor, Roy Francis Tyrrell, Harold Edward Wright, Edward James Anderson, John E Ash, Ralph Leonard Blanchard, Hubert Boudreau, Eudore Boutet, Bruno Gerard Brewster, Arnold Derry Callahan, John Cremeens, John Wilbur Cross, Donald Leslie Currie, Archibald William Currie, Standley K. Danielson, Herbert DesJardins, Evan James Douglas, Ronald Albert Ferguson, Ian Hamilton Granger, Albert A. Grant, Hector Grant Haney, Horace R. T. Hoare, Dennis Huggins, John Reginald Innanen, Victor Lowell, Alex Stewart MacVicar MacKay, Leigh Matte, Thomas Murray, John C. Osborne, James Paiement, Lucien Patterson, Gordon J. Piercey, Ralph Poupart, Joseph Theophile Paul Rose, Alexander McEachern Ross, Aiden John Sissons, Robert Roy Steed, Thomas Walter Stewart, Lloyd Joseph Stewart, Roger A. Walton, Harvey W. Bright, Jerome Denny Clifford, Arthur Ernest Couture, William Currie, Roy Garfield Davies, Garnett Arthur Dowding, John Frederick Fedi, Eric Fortin, J. E. Robert Gaudet, Romeo Habib, Fred Hanson, Frederick Joseph Hughes, David James Jansonn, Lars Cyril Jonasson, Leonard Norman Kaminsky, Harry Kearney, George Bernard James Kirlin, Joseph Russell Arnold Mann, Robert Arnold Mason, Ernest May, Harold Benjamin Dennis McFaulds, Ronald David Mombourquette, George Moyes, Lorne Thomas Olsen, George Frederick Pageau. Romeo Pollon, Joseph Raymond Post, Eric James Tooker, Charles Whitelaw, Douglas Charles
F/402903 CMN E/584 CMN K/22459 CMN D/77738 CMN F/82574 CMN CMN B/131708 CMN R/143149 CMN CMN B/129570 CMN R/287664 B/41645 D/145624 L/13126 E/101478 D/144365 F/35806 B/8085 K/48936 G/414790 L/110962 L/106776 D/145261 C/32956 B/149332 D/21214 L/13700 F/66173 H/195027 F/44048 B/117774 A/62168 V/66817 F/79602 H/6014 C/124536 B/44685 D/61918 B/149285 D/145637 V/55394 D/137276 813 M/7503 B/87584 V/ 55394 L/103248 C/38287 V/17524 B/138530 CMN CMN R/255739 J/46041 R/172702 CMN CMN CMN CMN V/41353 R/270690 R/180403 CMN CMN R/288537 CMN CMN CMN V/45918 CMN R/269912 CMN CMN R/250815 R/283140 CMN CMN
Boy Ordinary Seaman Private Panty Boy Private Waiter Private Ordinary Seaman Private Mess Room Steward Galley Boy Private Mess Room Boy Sergeant Able Seaman Cabin Boy Private Able Seaman Flight Sergeant Private Private Private Private Private Private Gunner Rifleman Private Trooper Private Private Private Private Signalman Private Private Riflemen Trooper Trooper Private Stoker Gunner Private Private Gunner Private Private Private Ordinary Seaman Private Private Private Private Steward Rifleman Trooper Ordinary Seaman Boy Steward Mess Room Boy Aircraftman 2nd Class Pilot Officer Flight Sergeant Ordinary Seaman Fireman Second Cook Able Seaman Ordinary Seaman Leading Aircraftman Sergeant Fireman Boy Aircraftman 2nd Class Ordinary Seaman Deck Boy Third Radio Officer Assistant Cook Mess Room Boy Aircraftman 2nd Class Pantryman Mess Room Boy Sergeant Sergeant Saloon Messman Panty Boy
17th (R) Armoured Regiment, SS Hoegh Silverdawn (Norway),Canadian Merchant Navy Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal SS Nereus (Montreal) Canadian Merchant Navy Canadian Army General List SS Suecia (Sweden) Canadian Merchant Navy Royal Montreal Regiment MV Victolite (Victoria) Canadian Merchant Navy North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment SS Vancouver Island (Montreal) Canadian Merchant Navy SS Carolus (Canada) Canadian Merchant Navy Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment SS Proteus (Montreal) Canadian Merchant Navy 57 Squadron SS Nereus (Montreal) Canadian Merchant Navy SS Charles J. Kampmann (Canada) CMN Calgary Highlanders SS Lady Hawkins (Halifax) Canadian Merchant Navy 428 Squadron; RCAF Perth Regiment Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) South Saskatchewan Regiment Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal Le Regiment de Maisonneuve General List, Canadian Army Royal Canadian Artillery Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Royal Canadian Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada Royal Canadian Ordnance Sorps General List, Canadian Army Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Winnipeg Grenadiers West Nova Scotia Regiment Regina Rifle Regiment South Alberta Regiment, 29th Armd. Rec. Regiment Royal Canadian Armoured Corp Canadian Special Service Battalion HMCS Regina, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Canadian Artillery, 11th Field Regiment Winnipeg Grenadiers Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Royal Canadian Artillery, 1st Anti-Tank Regiment Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal South Saskatchewan Regiment Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada HMCS Donnacona, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Carleton and York Regiment Newfoundland Regiment General List, Canadian Army Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, 45th General Transport Coy. HMCS Queen Charlotte, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Regina Rifle Regiment South Alberta Regiment, 29th Armd. Reconnaissance Regiment HMCS Windflower, Royal Canadian Naval Reserve Royal Canadian Armoured Corps SS Nereus (Montreal) Canadian Merchant Navy SS Raceland (Panama) Canadian Merchant Navy Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force 77 RAF Squadron; RCAF SS Proteus (Montreal) Canadian Merchant Navy SS Donald Stewart (Montreal) Canadian Merchant Navy SS Bic Island (Montreal) Canadian Merchant Navy SS St. Malo (Canada), Canadian Merchant Navy HMCS Prevost, Royal Canadian Naval Reserve Royal Canadian Air Force 76 RAF Squadron; RCAF SS Donald Stewart (Montreal) Canadian Merchant Navy SS Brant County (Norway) Canadian Merchant Navy Royal Canadian Air Force SS Rose Castle (Canada) Canadian Merchant Navy SS Eugenie Livanos (Greece) SS Cornwallis (Vancouver), Canadian Merchant Navy HMCS Venetre, Royal Canadian Naval Reserve SS Sirikishna (Leith, Scotland), Canadian Merchant Navy Royal Canadian Air Force SS Cornwallis (Vancouver), Canadian Merchant Navy SS Proteus (Montreal) Canadian Merchant Navy Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force MV Victolite (Victoria) Canadian Merchant Navy SS Nereus (Montreal) Canadian Merchant Navy
September 23, 1944 June 15, 1943 July 23, 1944 December 10, 1941 January 14, 1942 August 16, 1942 October 28, 1941 February 11, 1942 February 26, 1945 October 15, 1941 October 9, 1942 January 30, 1944 November 23, 1941 July 24, 1942 December 10, 1941 November 3, 1942 August 1, 1944 January 19, 1942 April 30, 1945 February 5, 1944 March 2, 1945 February 16, 1942 October 5, 1944 March 2, 1945 June 25, 1943 July 25, 1942 September 9, 1944 July 19. 1945 August 11, 1945 September 18, 1944 March 9, 1945 December 27, 1942 May 30, 1944 February 21, 1941 December 19, 1941 Decembr 14, 1943 July 9, 1944 October 28, 1944 November 1, 1943 January 11, 1944 August 8, 1944 December 11, 19423 December 20, 1941 May 1, 1945 July 21, 1943 October 1, 1940 Octopber 14, 1944 April 5, 1945 July 18, 1943 February 17, 1944 December 12, 1942 December 6, 1943 April 9, 1943 May 28, 1942 August 16, 1944 August 21, 1944 December 7, 1941 July 7, 1943 December 10, 1941 March 28, 1942 July 24, 1943 October 17, 1944 September 7, 1943 November 23, 1941 September 3, 1942 October 29, 1942 October 12, 1940 September 12, 1942 October 30, 1944 April 17, 1943 September 3, 1942 March 11, 1943 May 29, 1944 November 2, 1942 December 7, 1942 December 3, 1944 September 29, 1942 February 24, 1941 September 12, 1943 December 3, 1944 November 23, 1941 May 28, 1944 October 17, 1944 February 11, 1942 December 10, 1941
14 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17
Union Corner Cemetery, Prince Edward Island Halifax Memorial Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France Halifax Memorial Fort Langley Cemetery, British Columbia Halifax Memorial Prospect Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario Halifax Memorial Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands Halifax Memorial Halifax Memorial Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, Italy Halifax Memorial Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom Halifax Memorial Halifax Memorial Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France Halifax Memorial Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire, United Kingdom Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, Italy Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands Brookwood Military Cemetery, England Schoonselhof Cemetery, Belgium Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands Pereau Cemetery, Pereaux, Kings Co., Nova Scotia Brookwood Military Cemetery, England Calais Canadian War Cemetery, France Fernhill Cemetery, Saint John, NB Barrie Union Cemetery, Ontario Coriano Ride War Cemetery, Italy Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands St. Finnan's Cemetery, Alexandria, Ontario Woodlawn Cemetery, Hamilton, Ontario Brookwood Military Cemetery, England Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong, China Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, Italy Beny-sur-Mer Canadian Wae Cemetery, France Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands Lake View Cemetery, Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan Cassino War Cemetery, Italy Halifax Memorial Agira Canadian War Cemetery, Sicily Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong, China Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands Agira Canadian War Cemetery, Sicily Fossvogur Cemetery, Reykjavik, Iceland Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery, Montreal, Quebec Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, Italy Mount Carmel RC Cemetery, St. John's, Newfoundland Bon Accord Cemetery, Alberta Brookwood Military Cemetery, England St Dunstan's RC Cemetery, Charlottetown, PEI Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France Halifax Memorial Prospect Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario Halifax Memorial Halifax Memorial Ottawa Memorial, Canada Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Yorkshire, UK Runnymede Memorial, United Kingdom Halifax Memorial Halifax Memorial Halifax Memorial Halifax Memorial Ingersol Rural Cemetery, Ontario Moose Jaw (Rosedale) Cemetery, Saskatchewan Liesse Communal Cemetery, Aisne, France Halifax Memorial Halifax Memorial Montreal (Notre Dames des Neiges) Cemetery, Quebec Halifax Memorial Halifax Memorial Halifax Memorial Woodlawn Cemetery, Gueph, Ontario Halifax Memorial Hamilton (Woodland) Cemetery, Ontario, Halifax Memorial Halifax Memorial Harrogate, (Stonefall) Cemetery, Yorkshire, UK Runnymede Memorial, United Kingdom Halifax Memorial Halifax Memorial
Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia Quebec Quebec British Columbia Nova Scotia Ontario Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Quebec Quebec Ontario Quebec Saskatchewan Quebec Quebec Ontario Nova Scotia Quebec Ontario Quebec British Columbia Quebec Quebec Nova Scotia Ontario Ontario New Brunswick Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Quebec Ontario Ontario Quebec Saskatchewan Nova Scotia Manitoba Nova Scotia Saskatchewan Ontario Ontario Prince Edward Island Manitoba Quebec Ontario Quebec Ontario Quebec Quebec Quebec Newfoundland Alberta Ontario New Brunswick Saskatchewan Ontario Ontario Ontario Quebec Ontario British Columbia Ontario Manitoba Quebec Quebec Quebec Nova Scotia Ontario Saskatchewan Manitoba Quebec New Brunswick Quebec England New Brunswick Nova Scotia Guelph, Ontario Nova Scotia Ontario Nova Scotia Quebec Ontario Ontario Nova Scotia Ontario
Cemetery/ Memorial
During the Second World War, the official minimum age for enlistment in the Canadian military was initially 18, but it was raised to 19 in November of 1939. Some boys under 19 who enlisted at age 18 could serve in non- combat roles or in training units within Canada, but they were not permitted to be deployed overseas until they turned 19. Despite these regulations, many underage boys successfully enlisted by falsifying their age. Underage boys were sometimes accepted if they looked old enough. Those who were rejected often found other ways to contribute, such as serving in the Merchant Navy, or supporting the war effort on the home front. The Wartime Heritage Association has identified 85 Canadian Second World War casualties who died in service of the Canadian Army, Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Merchant Navy between the ages of 14 and 17.