And certainly into this century I can recall some TG9 graduates from Shawbs who arrived on their first Station - as LACs - still short of their 17th birthday.
This is a change from the 50's.
Our passing out trade test was the SAC test. If aged 17 1/2 or over, we went to our units as LAC's and were promoted to SAC after 6 months.
I passed out of Boys Service under age. As such I still held the rank of B/E, but didn't wear my 'wheel', and as a qualified tradesman in a Radio Trade, I did wear my 'sparks badge'.
So I looked like and AC1, but I was paid AC2's money
I could not sign a F700 until I was 17 1/2 and a LAC. I'm very surprised to hear that 16 year old's were allowed to work on a/c.
At the age of 17 1/2 I became an LAC, and a SAC 6 month from pass out.