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Originally posted by jkmarler

Thanks for sharing. Yes, he would have only been 14 in 1917, so to be in the USNavy for service in WWI seems very young indeed. I'm pasting in a list of the Clifford Thompson heads of household from 1940 census. Do any of these look likely?

Surname Given Name Age Sex Race Birthplace State County Location Year
[b]THOMPSON CLIFFORD 35 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK SUFFOLK ISLIP TOWN 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 17 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER WHITE PLAINS CITY, WHITE PLAINS, WARD 1 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 50 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK ONEIDA ROME CITY, ROME, WARD 3 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 40 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK ERIE BUFFALO CITY, BUFFALO, WARD 25 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 24 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK QUEENS NEW YORK CITY, QUEENS, ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 4 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 4 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK QUEENS NEW YORK CITY, QUEENS, ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 5 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 32 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK QUEENS NEW YORK CITY, QUEENS, ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 5 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 18 MALE WHITE CANADA NEW YORK ERIE BUFFALO CITY, BUFFALO, WARD 22 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 14 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK RENSSELAER SCHAGHTICOKE TOWN 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 33 MALE NEGRO GEORGIA NEW YORK NEW YORK NEW YORK CITY, MANHATTAN, ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 19 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 19 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK NASSAU HEMPSTEAD TOWN, FLORAL PARK 1940

HOMPSON CLIFFORD 41 MALE WHITE CONNECTICUT NEW YORK NASSAU NORTH HEMPSTEAD TOWN, WESTBURY 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 47 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK QUEENS NEW YORK CITY, QUEENS, ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 1 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 4 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK RICHMOND NEW YORK CITY, RICHMOND, ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 1 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 54 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK WESTCHESTER MOUNT PLEASANT TOWN 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 21 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK ALBANY COEYMANS TOWN, RAVENA 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 0 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK BROOME DICKINSON TOWN, PORT DICKINSON 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 15 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK GENESEE BATAVIA CITY, BATAVIA, WARD 2 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 29 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK BROOME DICKINSON TOWN, PORT DICKINSON 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 23 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK GREENE JEWETT TOWN 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 45 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK KINGS NEW YORK CITY, BROOKLYN, ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 18 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 21 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK LIVINGSTON NORTH DANSVILLE TOWN, DANSVILLE 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 35 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK CHENANGO SHERBURNE TOWN, SHERBURNE 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 23 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK KINGS NEW YORK CITY, BROOKLYN, ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 11 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 23 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK CAYUGA AUBURN CITY, AUBURN, WARD 2 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 22 MALE WHITE NEW YORK NEW YORK JEFFERSON WILNA TOWN, CARTHAGE 1940

THOMPSON CLIFFORD 44[/b] MALE WHITE RHODE ISLAND NEW YORK NEW YORK NEW YORK CITY, MANHATTAN, ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 10 1940

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In the British Armed Forces during WW1 young men (children) mainly in the Army and Navy joined the colours:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/6472805/Boy-12-was-youngest-British-soldier-in-First-World-War.html

When, years ago, I was researching War Graves in Belgium and Northern France I stood alongside a headstone of a Private Condon. 14 years. Royal Irish Regiment. He was laid next to Private McCarthy. 47 years. Same regiment. Local knowledge at that time said they were the youngest and the oldest killed in that particular battle.

Thank-God we have now moved on from that terrible " War to end all Wars"..If only.