295:, provided for the enlistment, with parental consent, of boys between the ages of 15 and 18 (i.e. not past their 18th birthday) until their 21st birthday. Each boy enlisted has to be "of robust frame, intelligent, of perfectly sound and healthy constitution, free from any physical defects or malformation; and not subject to fits." The boys also had to be at least 5 feet 1 inch high and measure 30 inches around the chest. The boys would be enlisted as second-class boys and be paid $ 10.50 per month and one ration. Boys were not permitted to make allotments to their parents and were allowed to draw only one dollar per month for "pocket money". This practice was officially called a "minority enlistment" and remained in effect, except that the minimum age of enlistment was increased, until the 1960s.
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208:– a boy aged 14 to 18 who served either as a domestic (waiter, steward) aboard the port flagships or as a junior clerk or storekeeper in the ports. He would be eligible for entry to a training ship as a Boy 2nd class from age 15 if he met the physical requirements. The majority of such boys were enlisted from homes in the ports and were not wholly resident on ships or in the dockyards.
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traditional method was that many of the new "landsmen" (i.e. inexperienced sailors) were unable to adapt to Navy life or were sometimes criminals. The apprentice program, Luce hoped, would give the Navy the opportunity to make good sailors during their formative years which, in the long run, would provide better trained and more disciplined sailors in the enlisted ranks.
202:– a boy aged 15 to 17 rated as such on entry to a training ship of the Royal Navy. Such entry was conditional on a boy's adequate physical height, weight, medical fitness, and evidence of being of 'good character'. The boy's parents or guardians would sign a declaration that the boy would serve in the navy for a minimum period (usually 12 years).
196:– a boy aged 16 to 18 under training, who had previously served for between 9 months and 18 months rated as "Boy 2nd class", shown sufficient proficiency in seamanship, and accumulated at least one good conduct badge (the requirements varied between training ships). His rate of pay was increased on being promoted.
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apprentices learned fundamental skills which included basic literacy, gunnery, seamanship and shipboard maintenance. The next phase of training was assignment to a cruising training ship where the apprentice was expected to complete both a winter and a summer cruise before being sent to ship in the fleet.
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In 1828, ships were allowed to have boys between 14 and 18 at the ratio of one boy for every two guns the ship carried. (i.e. a 44 gun frigate could have up to 22 boys in its crew.) Article 464 of Naval
Regulations published in 1833 stated, "A recruiting officer shall enter no boy under thirteen
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Luce's theory behind the apprentice training program was to provide the Navy with young sailors who were already trained and adapted to shipboard life. This was in contrast to traditional recruiting which would take any able bodied applicant and have them learn on the job. The problem with the
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established an apprentice training program in the U.S. Navy where males as young as 15 could be enlisted, with their parents' permission, and then serve an apprenticeship on training ships before being assigned to the fleet. The first six months were on a stationary training ship where the
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In 1909, Navy regulations were changed so that the minimum age for enlistment was raised to 17 with parental permission and 18 without. Recruits enlisted under age 18 served until they reached age 21 at which point, they could be discharged or, if they chose, re-enlist for four years.
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Neither the Royal Navy nor the
British government have ever confirmed this to be true, although shortly afterwards, Boy seamen were withdrawn from front line service and the Royal Navy thereafter only sent Boy seamen into battle in 'drastic circumstances'.
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in 1911. In the few years prior to World War I, the Navy rapidly expanded and needed new sailors in large numbers as quickly as possible. The result was the abolition of the apprentice program and the establishment of an 8-week
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Prior to the First World War, the United States Navy allowed males under the age of 18 to serve on ships who were officially referred to as "boys".
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could be promoted to First Class Boy. The boys would be transferred to a sea going vessel upon their 18th birthday.
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II known as a 'junior') – aged between 15½ and 18. On a Boy's 18th birthday he automatically became rated as an
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years of age; nor any person under twenty-one years of age, without the consent of their parent or guardian".
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caused the Royal Navy to reconsider its position on Boy seamen in combat, such was the uproar in
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The apprentice program ended with the establishment of the
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It is widely believed that the loss of 134 Boy seamen in the 1939 sinking of
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and was subject to the Naval
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Circular
Relating to the Enlistment of Boys in the United States Navy
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The training of the boys was to take place on the steam frigate
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British boy sailors receiving instruction on how to use a
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Possibly the most famous Boy seaman is Boy 1st Class
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214:was a role for younger boys to service artillery.
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291:issued on 8 April 1875 by Secretary of the Navy
316:In the 1880s, Captain (later Rear Admiral)
309:. Boys who proved their abilities onboard
356:Origins of the U.S. Navy Apprentice System
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386:Military ranks of the United States Navy
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