Same Age - 18

A Private with 54th (1/1st East Anglian) Casualty Clearing Station, Frank died on 13th of August 1915 at the age of 18.

Frank was born at Lowestoft in 1896, a son of Walter and Harriett Reynolds. In 1901 his family lived at Wards Cottages, Clapham Road, Lowestoft. By 1911 his family were living at 13 Clapham Road, Lowestoft. 

A Seaman with H.M. Trawler Laertes, Charles died on 25th of July 1942 aged 18. 

Charles was born at Lowestoft on 24 September 1923. By 1939 his father had died, and his family lived at 1 Factory Street and Charles was a fisherman.   

Charles was serving on the Laertes, off Sierra Leone, when it was sunk by a torpedo fired by submarine U-201. Nineteen crew, including Charles, were killed. 

A Trimmer with Steam Trawler Derwent (Boston), Albert died on 26th of January 1920 at the age of 18. 

Albert was born at Lowestoft on 26 September 1901, a son of William Henry and Sarah Elizabeth Rose. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 18 October 1901 and his family lived at 46 Raglan Street. Albert was a pupil at Saint Andrew’s School before joining Saint Margaret’s School on 11 January 1909 at which time his family lived at 53 Seago Street. By 1911 they were living at 75 Kimberley Road, and later they lived at 22 Essex Road. 

A Civilian, Doris died on 12th of May 1941 aged 18. 

Doris was born at Lowestoft on 4 May 1923, a daughter of John and Mabel Rose Runacres. In 1921 her family lived at 32 Norwich Road and, by 1939, at 18 May Road, and Gladys was a grocer’s assistant.  

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter Eyrie. William died on 2nd of September 1914 at the age of 18. 

William was born at Blundeston in 1896, a son of Ambrose and Gertrude Slater. He was baptised at Saint Mary's Church, Blundeston, on 1 March 1896. In 1901 his family lived at The Street, Blundeston. By 1911 they were living at 129 Rotterdam Road and William worked as a trawler fisherman.

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 10 August 1914. He died when H. M. Drifter Eyrie struck a mine in the North Sea.  

The Irish Times of Thursday 3 September 1914, page 6, has:

An Engineman with H.M. Drifter Launch Out. William died on 26th of October 1916 at the age of 18. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 2 September 1898, a son of John and Emma Jane Soanes. In 1901 his family lived at Boardley’s Yard, 1 East Street, Lowestoft. By 1911 his family were living at 6 Spurgeons Score.

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 16 August 1915. On 17 August 1915 he joined the trawler Orthes as a Deck Hand. On 2 September 1915 he was promoted to Engineman and joined the trawler Launch Out.  

A Deck Hand with H.M. Trawler Amy, Arthur died on 11th of April 1917 at the age of 18. 

Arthur was born at Hedenham, Norfolk, on 13 June 1899, a son of Charles and Eliza Spink. He was baptised at Hedenham on 24 September 1899. In 1901they lived at a cottage at Station Road, Tivetshall Saint Margaret, Norfolk. By 1907 Arthur’s mother had died and his father had married Harriet Hext. In 1911 they lived at Geldeston Road, Gillingham. Later his parents lived at Holy Farm Lane Mutford. 

A Private with the 7th Battalion, John died on 6th of June 1918 at the age of 18. 

John was born at Lowestoft on 1 August 1899, a son of John William and Alice Emmeline Spooner. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church, Lowestoft, on 25 August 1899, and his family lived at Kirkley Run. John attended Kirkley School from 19 June 1900 and then Morton Road School before, on 4 February 1913, joining Saint John’s School for a short time. 

A Private with 1st Battalion, Alexander died on 4th of November 1914 at the age of 18. 

Alexander was born on 11 April 1896, a son of Robert John and Ada Violet Gertrude Timoney. He was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Kirkley, on 1 May 1896 and his family lived at 92 Saint Leonard's Road. By 1901 his family were living at 135 London Road and, subsequently, at 14 Halcyon Crescent Lowestoft.

An Ordinary Seaman, Arthur died on 20th of May 1941 aged 18. 

Arthur was born at Kessingland on 3 March 1923, a son of Alfred and Ellen Mary Utting. His family lived at 8 The Ridge, Kessingland.

In May 1941 Arthur was serving on the S. S. Rothmere. The ship was part of convoy HX-126. On 20 May the Rothmere dispersed from the convoy and, when off Cape Farewell, was hit by a torpedo from submarine U-98 and began to sink. Twenty-two people, including Arthur, died, and another thirty-four were rescued.

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, Ernest died on 9th of October 1918 aged 18. 

Ernest was born at Rushmere in 1899, a son of William and Martha Ward. In 1901 his family lived at Rectory Cottages, Rushmere. By 1911 they were living at 424 London Road South.

Ernest enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Training Reserve, number TR/9/11987. He was transferred to the Suffolk Regiment, service number 42520, and posted to France to join the 2nd Battalion. 

A Private with the 10th Battalion, Edward died on 19th of August 1918 at the age of 18. 

Edward was born at Lowestoft on 27 August 1899, a son of John and Edith Anne Woolston. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church on 10 November 1899 and his family lived at 36 Stevens Street and this was Edward’s home throughout his life. 

Edward enlisted in the Army at Ipswich. He joined the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), service number 103380. He was posted to France to join the 10th Battalion.  

An Ordinary Seaman with R.N. Depot (Crystal Palace), William died on 8th of October 1918 at the age of 18. 

William was born at Kirkley on 4 September 1900, a son of William James and Lily Mary Youngman. In 1901 his family lived at 44 Ipswich Road, Lowestoft, and by 1911 they were living at 18 John Street, Lowestoft. Later his father lived at 5 Grosvenor Road, Lowestoft, and his mother at 18 John Street.

William was a munitions worker when he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 2 March 1918.