BOY SOLDIERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 141, 17 June 1941, Page 4

BOY SOLDIERS

ONE REPATRIATED

ENLISTED AT AGE OF 15 (0.C.) SYDNEY. June 11. While his mother was at army headquarters signing an application to have her son in the A.I.F. returned to Australia because he is i under arrr. the son. unknown to her. was alrcadv hack and waiting for her at home for a dinner he had ordered for his home-coming when lie left. Her son. Hoy Mclnnes, of Paddington. Sydney, is claimed to lie the youngest soldier in the A.I.F. Tall, lean and quiet-mannered, he enlisted last year at the age of 15, giving his age as 20. Later his patriotic deception was discovered and he was repatriated. He said he had seen no real action—only a few air raids in Palestine. He is staying in the army on home duty until he comes of age. When Roy Mclnnes enlisted his mother thought he was merely enlisting for home service, and did not know he had gone abroad until she got a letter from him. Publication of his story brought five £1 notes and the offer of a good job from an anonymous philanthropist who prefers to be known only as "a Queensland cockie," but Roy declined the olfer with thanks, i "While the war is on I'm not interested in any job except the army, thanks," he said. The "cockie" is described as a wealthy station and city property owner who likes doing good anonymously. He has lent £35,000 to the Federal Government, free of interest, his wife £15,000 and a son £10,000, and another son is on active service. More than 40 employees from his various stations have enlisted and for each one he made provision for £50 to be available at his London agent's office, but not one of them has claimed it. "Baby of Bardia" Another very young soldier, Signaller Jack Downes, is known as the "Baby of Bardia." He enlisted in October, 1939. and as he is 6ft 3in had no difficulty in passing for more I than his 16 years. He, too, may be repatriated because he is under age. He has been through every campaign from Libya to Crete. However, the authorities are not bound to repatriate him as he enlisted with his parents' consent. Cyril William Barlow, 29-year-old musician of Eden near the Victorian border, is another example of keenness to enlist. He tramped nearly all the 400 miles to Sydney, arrived with 3/ and enlisted in the R.A.A.F. as an observer. When he left Eden he had only 25/ in the house. He left half with his wife for herself and two children and took the other 12/6 for his journey. Sergeant Hull, who served with the R.A.F. as an observer, has also been repatriated because it was discovered that he became airsick every time he went on a stunt. He hid his disability until he had taken part in heavy raids on Valona and Durazzo (Albania) and Brindisi (Italy). During the raid on Brindisi a bullet got the oil sump of the starboard engine, which soon after seized. Then one propeller dropped off. The pilot got control when the bomber was only 300 ft above the sea and by climbing to 2000 ft on the remaining engine, gliding, and climbing again, just managed to make home. Complacency Condemned Despite these examples, it is a fact that last week only about two-thirds-of Australia's weekly quota of 2500 recruits was obtained. The i Federal Government is now reviewing the list of reserved occupations which was compiled on the lines of the British list on the outbreak of war, when officialdom apparently thought the war could be fought on business-as-usual lines. In a speech to the Farmers and Settlers' Association district council at Young, the Assistant Minister. Mr. Collins, declared there were still far too many people who looked on the war as something to be read about in the newspapers and made no sacrifice to help the war effort. Compared with the people of Britain, he said, any Australian who complained about petrol rationing should feel ashamed of himself.