Subdeacon Joe Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 The runaway boy hero of D-day Unknown to Lieutenant Jack Watson, commander of the 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion’s ‘A’ Company, one of his men on board, Private Robert ‘Bobby’ Johns, was about to make history – he would become the youngest soldier to parachute into Normandy on D-Day. Pte Johns may have been tall and broad-shouldered, with a fierce, defiant stare, but he was just 16 years old – two years below the minimum age for active service. Lieut Watson was also unaware that his young charge was the subject of the British Army’s own real-life version of Saving Private Ryan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruff Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Cool. O wonder how many youngsters served. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted May 24, 2014 Author Share Posted May 24, 2014 In WWI, looks like about a quarter million from England: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zcvdhycI saw one article, which I didn't bookmark, darnit, that said "tens of thousands" for WWII.And, it looks like it is still going on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zcvdhyc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoken D Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Dad was 18 when he jumped on D-Day 0400 hrs behind enemy lines and 5 miles off their mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.