4º British: the youngest soldier of the British Army

A schoolboy, aged 12, who fought on the Battle of the Somme after lying about his age has been declared the youngest authenticated combatant of the First World War.

Private Sidney Lewis joined the East Surreys at Kingston in August 1915, with only 12 years old, and fought on the front for six weeks. He was sent home in August 1916 after his mother contacted the War Office in London.

“His story is quite phenomenal – not only did he enlist at the age of 12 and fight on the Somme at the age of 13, but he returned to service at the end of the Great War and worked in bomb disposal during the Second World War”.