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Western Mail, Thursday, 26 December 1929, p. 2
Youngest Pensioner
E. Bowers, Warralakin, via Burracoppin, writes:- I have been reading your article (W.M. 12/12/29) referring to the baby of the AIF. I would like to state that I am a member pf the R.S.L., Perth. I was born on September 16, 1900; joined the Royal Navy as a second-class boy on May 31, 1916; left the training ship Powerful as a first-class boy, and joined the Collingwood in the Battle Fleet on February 2, 1917. I passed accelerated advancement and commenced man's time at 17½ years of age; was invalided from Chatham Hospital on February 10, 1919, and pensioned, but have since had the pension taken away. I emigrated to Western Australia on November 30, 1923, and am now farming one thousand acres in the wheat belt. I think I am one of the youngest ex-service farmers in this state.
Mr. Bowers is now aged 29, and was only 18 when the Armistice was signed, so it does not look as if there will be a crowd to contest his claim. At present the Navy is one up.