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He was a powder monkey, which meant it was his job to rush heavy bags of explosive gunpowder to the men loading the cannons.

Historically, children often served in ancillary roles during wartime, as couriers, drummer boys, or “powder monkeys,” who ferried ammunition to cannon crews.

During the Napoleonic Wars, so-called “powder monkeys,” some as young as ten, helped arm cannons for the British Navy.

He was a drill runner and powder monkey before he became a blaster.

We learnt about powder monkeys when we visited HMS Victory so I was interested to read this poem.