Age Range of Soldiers & Officers

[robsnicta]

Hi can anyone tell me please between which age ranges were soldiers and officers recruited during the Napoleonic war?

Thanks
Robsnicta

[Peter Goodey]

12 years old rings a bell for boy drummers but I've a nagging feeling they could have been younger. 16 for officers but do you know that officers generally purchased their commissions?

[robsnicta]

What was the upper age limit and at what age were they considered to old to join? I'm just trying to work out if a forbare of mine was within the age range.