Controversy about the use of boy soldiers in WWI
The first British boy soldiers arrived in France in 1915 to fight in the Battle of Loos. This battle cost the British army 50,000 casualties - 36,00 (72%) of which were underage soldiers.
During the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, British boy soldiers experienced 2500 casualties. By the end of this battle, this number rose to 18,000.
Although some parents encouraged their sons to join the war, others were upset by the fact that their children left their homes without their consent.
During the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, British boy soldiers experienced 2500 casualties. By the end of this battle, this number rose to 18,000.
Although some parents encouraged their sons to join the war, others were upset by the fact that their children left their homes without their consent.
The song "I Didn't Raise My Boy to be a Soldier", whose lyrics were written by American lyricist Alfred Bryan, criticizes war from the point of view of a mother of a boy soldier. It supports the idea that a mother cannot be consoled of the loss of her son by victory. This song helped intensify the anti-war sentiment in America during World War One.