The Bantams

The Bantams tells the factual but well nigh incredible story of how the British and Canadian armies recruited over 50,000 short men to serve as front-line soldiers. Such Bantam battalions eventually numbered over twenty units in Britain, plus two battalions from Canada. The movement spread all over Britain, particularly the coal mining regions of Wales and Northern England, then to Canada, particularly among British immigrants there. 

Canadian military historian Sidney Allinson's researches took him to Britain, Canada, the U.S., and the old battlefields of Flanders. He contacted over 300 survivors of the Bantams, to gather the many first-hand accounts of battle told in his book.

It reveals disturbing new information about battlefield executions by firing squads that was only recently released from British official records long held secret from the public. It adds even more poignancy to the story of how thousands of patriotic 'Bantams' -- not much taller than a rifle themselves -- well below the Army's 5ft. 3ins. minimum regulation height, flocked to the colours.

This book also describes the social conditions in Britain and Canada during the First World War. Patriotic fervour enabled many famed British regiments to recruit eager volunteers for bantam-designated battalions. English and Scottish Bantams fought along the Somme front, while Welsh Bantams helped win the Battle of Bourlon
despite hideously large casualties. 

In Canada, the 216th Bantam (Toronto) Battalion was recruited within a few weeks, and the 143rd B.C. Bantams was quickly raised on Vancouver Island. Soldiers from both these now-forgotten Canadian units served at Vimy Ridge and in other later battles.

---

Some books that may interest you

An Anzac on the Western Front By: John Grehan, Martin Mace, H.R. Williams	The Normandy Air War 1944 By: Anthony Tucker-Jones	Hamel By: Dr Peter Pedersen
Fallschirmjager: Elite German Paratroops in World War II By: Diane Canwell, Jon Sutherland	French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861 By: Stephen S Roberts, Rif Winfield	The Germans on the Somme By: David Bilton
The English Electric Lightning By: Martin Bowman	Sejanus By: John S McHugh	The Fatal Fortress By: W H Clements