Momčilo Gavrić - the youngest soldier of WWI (8 years old)

Momčilo Gavrić (1 May 1906 - 28 April 1993)

He was born in Trbušnica, near Loznica, on the slopes of the mountain Gučevo in Serbia, as the 8th child of eleven.
In the beginning of August 1914, Austro-Hungarian soldiers killed his father, mother, grandmother, his three sisters, and four of his brothers. His house was also set on fire. Momčilo survived because he was not at home when it happened—his father had sent him to his uncle earlier.

Left without family and without a home, Momčilo went to find the 6th Artillery Division of the Serbian army, which was near Gučevo at the time. Major Stevan Tucović accepted Gavrić into his unit after hearing about what what had happened, and assigned Miloš Mišović, a soldier in the unit, to be Gavrić's caretaker. The same evening, he took revenge by showing his unit the location of the Austro-Hungarian soldiers, and participated in the bombardment.
At the age of 8, after the Battle of Cer, he was promoted to the rank of kaplar (Corporal) by the commander of his unit, and given a military uniform.
When his unit was sent to Thessaloniki, Major Tucović sent him to Sorovits where he hastily went through the equivalent of four grades of elementary education.
In Kajmakčalan, vojvoda Mišić was stunned when he saw a uniformed ten-year-old boy in the trenches. Major Tucović explained the situation to him; that Gavrić had been with them since the Battle of Cer, and that he had both been taught discipline and been wounded during his time in the unit.[SIZE=11.2px] [/SIZE]Mišić promoted Gavrić to podnarednik (Lance Sergeant), and the order was read out to the whole division.

Here are a few pictures of Gavrić:

 

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Interesting!

Even younger than John Clem.

 

A very fascinating story. Thanks for sharing it.

 

Thanks guys!