Quietly in England, the last of the war raised service battalions was getting ready for war.
The 12th (East Anglian) (Service) Battalion was a 'Bantam' Battalion. Comprising of men of short stature who did not meet the minimum height requirement of 5ft. tall for regular service, in June 1915 the War Office, after much protestation from volunteers who were short in height, authorised the creation of the Bantam Battalions.
The country of Suffolk alone however, did not have the necessary numbers of recruits to form a complete Battalion, so recruits were drawn from the neighbouring counties of Essex, Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely.
On 7th July 1915, the Battalion was formally created at the Depot at Bury St. Edmunds. From the outset, these lucky recruits did not suffer the logistical nightmares of the forebears. They received immediately khaki uniforms and leather equipment but the older rifles remained until the newer SMLE could be issued. By the end of July, Lieutenant-Colonel R.E.P. Pigott arrived form the Essex Regiment to assume command of the Battalion.
In adherence of the strict rules that came from the War Office, all officers and NCOs were of "normal" height, and the first senior NCO to be posted to the Battalion; R.Q.M.S. Williams, was himself over 6ft. tall. The initial nucleus of some 60 men were supplemented by a draft of 200 men from the Middlesex Regiment and by November 1915, the Battalion was some 800 strong and on its way to new billets at Bordon in Hampshire.
Whilst here the serious matter of training began. Senior NCOs and retired officers not allowed to serve with other Battalions, were utilised for their skills and leadership, but by far the biggest problem was numbers. With the Battalion's move to Pirbright in December and fresh drafts from other units, they were gradually getting close to their 'war establishment' strength of around 1000 men, but in the New Year, a rigorous comb out was conducted to remove all those who were both unfit and underage. Of the latter, nearly 130 were returned to their families after repeated letters from anxious mothers, asking for the return of their sons, some of whom, were as young as 13.
At Pirbright they became part of the 40th Division; a division they were to remain in almost until their disbandment. As the training continued, they found themselves getting one step closer to active service overseas. The Division, which was already proving a name for itself in the Corps athletics, showed that though these men were short in stature, they punched above their weight and outran most of their contemporaries. Would it be the same on the battlefield?
Welcome to our online 'blog' charting the history of the many Battalions of the Suffolk Regiment and the part they played in the Great War.
Starting back in March 2014, we have recorded the events of 100 years ago on the centenary of their happening.
Keep checking back to see how the Great War is progressing for the men of the Suffolk Regiment.