WW2 age limit for joining?

[sally flynn via]

Good morning,

I am currently researching Robert Walter Beames born Warrnambool Vic who
enlisted in WW2 on the 22.6.1940, he stated he was born 11.7.1914 (making
him 36).

In fact he was born in 1901 (making him 39).

I am unfamiliar with army records and I wondered if in 1940 there was a cut
off age for joining up?

Robert got into trouble a couple of times for being drunk and disorderly
while in the Army, so I am also wondering if he enlisted to escape police
charges of some description. I have emailed the Victorian Police Museum to
see if any of their records are available to the public around 1939-1040.

Very sadly Robert was a POW at Rabaul and was on the ill fated Montevideo
Maru
which was bombed by American submarine USS* Sturgeon. *He did not survive.

Regards,
Sally Flynn

[Tony Moore via]

Dear Sally,

The cut-off age for enlistment for WW2 was 40.

My maternal grandfather was similar to your Robert. He put his age DOWN in
1940. Born May 1902
My paternal grandfather who served in WW1 put his age UP as he was only 16 at
the time.

Two of my uncles were knocked back on medical grounds; one with 'flat feet' and
one with a slightly deformed foot. Both re-tried at different recruiting
stations but were again knocked back.

It seems that for a variety of reasons they felt they wanted to serve. Perhaps
it was financial, perhaps an 'ego trip', perhaps it was perceived shame because
they hadn't answered the call.
I think my Dad enlisted in 1942 when just old enough because one cousin was
already in the navy and the other had already paid the supreme sacrifice as a
bomber pilot over Berlin.

Guess we'll never know the exact truth as to why, only an informed 'guess' in
hindsight.

Cheers,

Tony Moore
(Castle Hill, NSW)
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On 11 Sep 2015 at 10:44, sally flynn via wrote:

Date sent: Fri, 11 Sep 2015 10:44:15 +1000
Subject: WW2 age limit for joining?

Post by sally flynn via
Good morning,
I am currently researching Robert Walter Beames born Warrnambool Vic who
enlisted in WW2 on the 22.6.1940, he stated he was born 11.7.1914 (making
him 36).
In fact he was born in 1901 (making him 39).
I am unfamiliar with army records and I wondered if in 1940 there was a cut
off age for joining up?
Robert got into trouble a couple of times for being drunk and disorderly
while in the Army, so I am also wondering if he enlisted to escape police
charges of some description. I have emailed the Victorian Police Museum to
see if any of their records are available to the public around 1939-1040.
Very sadly Robert was a POW at Rabaul and was on the ill fated Montevideo
Maru
which was bombed by American submarine USS* Sturgeon. *He did not survive.
Regards,
Sally Flynn

[Alan.Eade via]

Hello Sally

Your question made me check my own records for the ages of people in my database who served in WW2. I was distracted however on the number who served in WW1 and also WW2. One of the following was 55 years old, although he stated he was 50. Most were born in the 1890s, five were born in the 1880s. Regards Alan.


1 BALLARD, Claude Arthur 21 March 1890, Bowraville, NSW - 14 BATTALION VDC
2 BERMAN, Leslie 3 May 1891, Bringagees, NSW - 31 AUSTRALIAN GARRISON BATTALION
3 BLUNDEN, Thomas Henry 27 March 1897, Wyalong ®, NSW - 17 BATTALION VDC
4 BROWN, Albert Robert Leslie 23 May 1896, Narrabri, NSW - (gave 1901) 5 Australian General Hospital
5 BULLUSS, Herbert Gordon 21 February 1893, Murtoa, Victoria - 29 BATTALION VDC
6 CLARK, George 29 December 1896, Hillston, NSW - 7 P W GD COY
7 DAWBARN, Harold Sydney 29 February 1896, St. Leonards NSW - 2 DIV A S C
8 DAWES, Reggie Richard 9 September 1884, Singleton, NSW - (gave 1891) 31 AUSTRALIAN GARRISON BATTALION
8 DAWES, Reggie Richard 9 September 1884, Singleton, NSW - (gave 1890) VDC
9 DEMPSEY, Harley 8 January 1896, Bathurst, NSW - HQRS EC
10 DOYLE, Vincent 7 November 1896, Harden, NSW - 2 PERSONNEL DEPOT (STAFF)
11 EAGLE, Alan James 19 June 1896, Horsham, Victoria - H Q E C
12 FARLEY, William Valentine 14 February 1895, Beechworth, Victoria - 16 BATTALION VDC
13 FULLER, Eric James 3 February 1900, Tumblong, NSW - 2 Field Survey Company
14 HILL, Henry James 11 April 1898, Petersham ®, NSW - HMAS Penguin
15 LYNCH, Henry James 9 August 1890, Bowraville, NSW - (gave 1888) VDC
16 MARGETTS, Frederick Herbert 31 January 1885, Charlton, Victoria - 13 BATTALION VDC
17 MASKELL, Arthur 21 September 1895, Mildura, Victoria - 21 BATTALION VDC
18 MATTHEWS, George Pengwerne 30 April 1898, Sandgate, Queensland - 2 EMBARKATION DEPOT
19 McCANN, William Walter 23 June 1895, Narrabri, NSW - 5 AUSTRALIAN BASE ORDNANCE DEPOT
20 McCARTHY, Gilbert Stanley 20 February 1897, Brunswick, Victoria - (gave 1898) - 17 BATTALION VDC
21 ROSS, Robert Walter 6 June 1887, Booligal, NSW - HAY PW GP
22 SEAL, Percy George Ranking 17 August 1901, Dandenong, Victoria - (gave 1900) 4 Australian General Hospital
23 SEYMOUR, James Allen 4 October 1891, Casterton, Victoria - (gave 1890) R & T CAMP
24 URQUHART, Robert Norman 5 October 1896, Alexandria, NSW - 113 AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL
25 WATSON, Victor Raymond 18 August 1885, East Maitland, NSW - (gave 1890) 2 GARRISON BATTALION
26 WEST, Isaac Thomas 28 September 1889, Brighton,Sussex, England - 2 BASE ORDNANCE DEPOT
27 WESTIN, Eric Charles Hugh 7 September 1896, Bourke, NSW - 17 GAR BTN