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 Momčilo Gavrić, 1918 | |
| Born | 1 May 1906 Trbušnica, near Loznica, Kingdom of Serbia |
| Died | 28 April 1993 (age 86) Belgrade, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Serbia |
| Rank | Lance sergeant |
| Awards | Albanian memorial, World War I memorial |
| Spouse(s) | Kosara Gavrić |
Momčilo Gavrić (Trbušnica, 1 May 1906 - Belgrade, 28 April 1993), eight-year-old "warrior", the youngest soldier-participant in the First World War.
Biography
The youngest soldier of all armies in the First World War, Momčilo Gavrić was born in May 1906, in Trbušnica, near Loznica, on the slopes of the mountain Gučevo. He was the eighth child of his parents, Alimpije and Jelena Gavrić. It was noted that Momčilo took part in the Battle of Kolubara, Albanian Golgotha and was wounded at Kajmakčalan. He participated in the breakthrough of the Salonika front and was demobilized at the age of twelve, as the youngest lance sergeant in the world.
At the beginning of August in 1914, the Austro-Hungarian soldiers of the Croatian Home Guard 42 Division (known as the "Devil's Division") killed his father, mother, three sisters, four brothers and grandmother. His house was set on fire, but he survived thanks to his father who had sent him to his uncle. Being left without family and without a home, Momčilo went to the mountain Gučevo to find Serbian army. He found the Sixth Artillery Regiment of Drina Division, under the command of Major Stevan Tucović, brother of Dimitrije Tucović. When he told what had happened to his family, the same day Serbian soldiers took revenge, and Momčilo became a soldier in Drina division.
During the visit at Kajmakčalan, vojvoda Mišić was stunned when he saw in the trench an eleven-year-old boy in a uniform. He asked Major Tucović what the child was doing at Kajmakčalan. "Enemy killed Gavrić's parents, seven brothers and sisters, and he has been with us ever since Battle of Cer and Battle of Kolubara, crossed Albania, and wounded" - reported Major Tucović. On the same day, by the order of vojvoda Mišić, Corporal Gavrić was promoted to Lance Sergeant, and the order was read to all units of the Serbian army.
After the war he attended "Henry Wright" high school in London, and later he finished training for tipographer and training for drivers in Belgrade. He married Kosara with whom he worked in a paper mill factory "Vapa" in Belgrade.
In 1929, Momčilo was arrested by former enemies, the Austrian officers in the Yugoslav Royal Army. During The Second World War he was imprisoned twice in the concentration camp by German occupying forces. After The Second World War, OZNA arrested him for claiming that the Albanians were no brothers to Serbs, and at that time presidents of Yugoslavia and Albania, Josip Broz Tito and Enver Hoxha were great friends.
Momčilo Gavrić died in Belgrade in 1993.
References
- "Zaboravljen najmlađi kaplar Momčilo Gavrić". Retrieved 19. 8. 2011..
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Најмлађи каплар на свету". Retrieved 20. 8. 2011..
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ,,Најмлађи војник у Првом светском рату био Србин („Двери“, 03.09.2013)
- ^ Момчило Гаврић - најмлађи војник Првог светског рата („Вечерње новости“, 31. август 2013)