"PRIVATE 12-975."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 85, 11 April 1933, Page 8

"PRIVATE 12-975."

SCHOOLBOY SOLDIER.

ENLISTED WHEN FIFTEEN.

NEW ZEALAND'S YOUNGEST ?

Believed to be the youngest member of: the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to serve overseas during the Great War, Mr.: F. J. Ewart, formerly Private No. 12-975, is still smiling, even though today he is a unit in Auckland's regiment of unemployed. He enlisted when only fifteen years of age, and his certificate of discharge shows over four and a half

years' service overseas. Over at Birkenhead there is a relief worker who enlisted in the Imperial Army at the age of fourteen years. Details of his record were published last week. It is claimed for Mr. Ewart that he was the youngest New Zealand soldier to serve overseas, and the claim is supported in writing lay Colonel A. Plugge, commandant of the Auckland Battalion, Main Body, who says that, as far as his knowledge goes, Private No. 12-975 is entitled to the record.

Private Ewart, who was -bom in Auckland, enlisted at Epsom on September 7, 1914. At that time he was one month under the age of sixteen, and attending school. He was on board the steamer Waimana, as drummer boy with the Auckland Infantry Band, when the ship sailed for Egypt with the Main Body.

Landed On Gallipoli. Following intensive training in Egypt, Private Ewart embarked with his battalion on the steamer Lutzow, which carried him into tlie Aegean. On the morning of April 25, 1915, he paraded on the deck of the Lutzow for the landing at Gallipoli. Hiding his excitement as best he could, he waited his turn to descend the ladder into the ship's boats. At last it came, but he was to be disappointed. Colonel Plugge was watching his men file into the boats, and he recognised ft rii rrmur bo^-H©-.called

him back. "You're too young, my iad," he said. "I cannot take the responsibility of allowing you to land. Go and report to your bandmaster." Young Ewart protested strongly, but in vain. He was still on the troopship when his pals landed at Anzac Cove that morning. The bandmaster, by the way, was Lieut. A. J. Clareburt, wlio is to-day a member of the staff of the " Auckland Star," and set this article into type.

On the evening of the same day came a message that all the ship's boats were to report at Anzac immediately, a.rd in the crew of the first boat that ran up on the beach was Private No 12-975. His ambition was realised.

j Subsequently Private Ewart was [Ordered to return to trie Lutzow, which was converted into a hospital ship. It was a severe blow to his boyish enthusiasm, but orders were orders, and it was no use arguing. For two trips between Anzac and Alexandria, where so many of New Zealand's wounded soldiers were placed in hospital, his main duties were to do what he could to comfort those of his lhates who were casualties during the first weeks of Gallipoli. Then he returned to the Peninsula from Lemnos with the band, and served ashore until the evacuation-of Gallipoli in December, 1915.

Three Years in France. From Alexandria young Ewart travelled witti the New Zealand Division by the steamer Franconia to Marseilles. From the time of Tiis landing ot the French port until the cessation of hostilities he was "with the boys." He served right through the Western Front campaign, and marched with his battalion through Belgium and across the Rhine after the signing of the Armistice in 1918. With four years and 207 days' active service overseas to his credit, Private Ewart returned to New Zealand by the Northumberland. Despite his long service in France he was discharged as "fit", on June 7, 1919. It was a record of which he might well be proud, even ! though the fact that he was classed as "fit" meant that he could claim no pension. Then twenty years of age, he started out to learn the intricacies of cabinetmaking. A few months later this veteran of the Woria War celebrated with youthful enthusiam his twentyfirst birthday at the home of his parents in Ponsonby. A humorous point in connection with Private 12-975's war service is shown in r hifr^esTsficato^<)£

enlisted at Epsom he frankly entered h ; s trade or occupation as • "Schoolboy." Apparently the officer in charge of the issue of the discharge certificates thought that "Schoolboy" ill-fitted -a' man who had gone right through the greatest war of all time, for he substituted'the word "student."

Still Smiling. When the depression first-appeared.in the Dominion, Private Ewart, iike many other ex-servicemen, was taking advantage of of a State loan-to make himself a home. The hard times • meant a steep falling away in the cabinetmaker's busi-. ness, and a few months ago Private No. 12-975, with a wife . and ? two . young children to support, was forced to turn from his trade. To-day,, as a ratepayer of Grey Lynn, he receives. 15/9 per week sustenance pay to feed and; clothe himself and his family. >• -As - a boy soldier his weekly pay was 35/, and his rations and clothing were supplied' free of charge. "Boy" Ewart, as he-is known among his old pals of the trenches, is still smiling, for he looks forward to. the time when regular work will come again. Old soldiers, it is said, never die. .The same, Private No. 12-975 claims,, may be ■ said ] of soldiers who were. young. ; . . :