Not having much interest or success in school, and never satisfying his father’s expectations, twelve-year-old Patrick Condon flees his erratic job on the docks in Ballybricken, Ireland, for an idealized army life. A not-so scrupulous recruiter simply winks when Patrick adopts his brother John’s identity and age—seventeen—to enlist. When war is declared, Patrick again lies about his age and identity so that he can be sent into action. Based on factual material and two years of research, Spillebeen relates the story of the youngest casualty of World War I. Patrick’s grave in Flanders Field is simply marked, “Age 14.” lmp

Originally published as Age 14 in Dutch by Averbode The Netherlands, in 2000. Translated by Terese Edelstein.

It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Patrick Condon wants to escape his unexciting life in Ireland. So he hatches a plan. Not wanting to wait until he is old enough to join the army, Patrick lies and says he seventeen years old, and that his name is John Condon. Assuming the identity of his older brother, Patrick enlists.

John fits in quickly, though it is obvious that John is not 17, or even 16. That doesn’t matter. John is strong, fast, and a hard worker. He loves military life. This man’s world is just what John wanted. But when WWI begins in 1914, John gets all he has been looking for, and more he does not expect, as he is just a boy...