Literature about Bantams?

[Guest wade1972]

Hi,

My great-grandfather was a "Bantam" - does anyone here know a place to read any articles about them, or know of any books that deal with this subject? Thanks...

And if this is in the wrong section, I'm sorry.

Wade

[Spud Trevor]

Hello Wade,

There is a book entitled 'The Bantams' - The untold story of world war 1. Its written by a chap called Sidney Allinson. It was first published in 1981. However, I'm not sure if the book is still in print, I was lucky to buy a second hand copy.

It may be available via the library, if of any use its ISBN is:

ISBN: 0 7030 0201 5

Its fairly comprehensive and not a bad read.

Hopefully of interest,

Spud

[Canadawwi]

The Bantams book is excellent . Here's a link to an overview of the book.

Bantams

Also, in case you are interested, the author of the above book is a member of the Canadian CEF forum. He was involved in a thread - here.

[Chris_Baker]

Sidney, the author, is a member of this forum.

[Muerrisch]

One bantam battalion has its own book, the 15th Notts and Derbys. The book is 'The Blast of War'. I have the honour to have co-authored it. Not bad, though I say it myself. Tom Morgan stocks it, I believe.

[Guest wade1972]

hi,

oh wicked!!! Thanks, I'm going to have to get that Bantams book...funny thing is, my gggf was a Bantam, but his son (my grandfather) was a very tall man, and I'm 6'7". I wonder what he would have made of us.

Thank you for the heads up, I'm going to order the book when I get the chance.

Wade

[Smith 565]

Hi,

Is anyone able to put me in contact with Sidney Allinson?

I bought his book years ago, probably about the time it was first published. Then some years later I was successful in buying the medals to Lt Col Harrison Johnston of the Cheshire Regiment, whose published diary is quoted at some length in Mr Allinson's book. I think Mr Allinson must have had contact with Johnston's daughter, judging by his acknowledgements.

Since then I have spent many fruitless hours trying to get a copy of the book. The IWM library has a copy and I've read it, but they won't let you have a full photocopy, only extracts!

Any assistance much appreciated,

Geoff

[Broznitsky]

Geoff, I sent Sidney an email asking him to look at this thread.

Peter in Vancouver

[Smith 565]

Peter,

I'm obliged, and will await developments !!

Geoff

[Guest Sidney]

Dear Geoff:

Thanks for your comments about THE BANTAMS.

You may be interested to know that a new revised

edition of it was published just three months ago,

It contains a good deal of additional information that

was not publicly available at the time I wrote the

the book originally.

For details, see:

www.xlibris.com/thebantams.html

Enjoy.

-- Sidney Allinson

Victoria, BC

[Smith 565]

Dear Sidney,

Looks like you have just sold another copy of your book. I'll look forward to getting a copy.

Are you able to tell me who gave permission to print extracts from Harrison Johnston's book? When I tried to get a complete photocopy at the IWM in London, they did say they could do it if I had permisson from the copyright holder (whoever that would be after 85 years!).

Since your book, Johnston has also been quoted in Lyn MacDonald's '1918', and also in TV history of the Great War.

As medal groups go, it is one of the stars of my collection. I think you were in contact with the collector Hal Giblin at some stage. I did write to him after I bought the medals, but he admitted he had never tracked down a copy of Johnston's book.

If you can gives me any pointers, it would be appreciated. You can do so 'off-forum' if you would prefer.

Regards,

Geoff