“Bristol’s Own”

[Simon_Fielding]

There are now very many Battalion histories of the British Army during the Great War. As might be expected, they begin to tell a story which is in many ways very similar: we have the description of a city or area seemingly basking in Edwardian peace, but perhaps troubled by some civic and social unrest; we have the outbreak of war, and the mass volunteers who the answer "The Call", and the return of Boer War veterans to the colours. The territorial summer camp is interrupted by mobilisation, and city councils and civic movements equip their battalions of volunteers with comforts, billets and territory for camp. We have the training of a citizen army, as white-collar volunteers are turned into Great War soldiers. Then there's the inevitable transfer to France, the march through cheering French civilians, the introduction to the grim conditions of the trenches. Then comes the sequence of names: Somme, Passchendaele, Cambrai, this Spring Offensive, perhaps even these days Advance to Victory. Then the return, presentation of colours to the cathedral, and perhaps as the years go by, the bowler-hatted and cloth-capped veterans return to the battlefields in the years between the two world wars. The final pages perhaps outline memorials that stand proudly in some corner of a British city or town.

Every now and again a book comes out which reminds you why you are fascinated by the Great War, and why the story of the war and its effect on our country still, after a century, has a power to move and evoke deep feelings. Dean Marks’ excellent one volume history of the 12th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment from 1914 to 1918 is a book which evokes those very same feelings. It is, and I make no apologies repeating the phrase later on, a labour of love. It is a very handsome volume with an outstanding picture of a proud recruit against the backdrop of the Clifton suspension Bridge placing us very securely in time and place. Those with a particular affinity for the Gloucestershire Regiment will be delighted to see that this handsome front cover is matched by a "back badge" on the rear of the cover - an unnecessary but delightful touch.

Turning to the content of the volume, I have to declare a slight bias: my great-grandfather, whose service triggered my own interest in the Great War, served with the 14th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment who spent some time brigaded with the 12th Gloucesters, and served alongside them for most of the Great War in the 5th Division. The author has integrated a variety of sources, and these result in a lavishly illustrated volume that draws on photographs, poetry, advertisements from the Bristol press and an impressive range of portraits and postcards. A unique perspective is offered by the battalion’s first camp just outside Bristol, on the site of the Bristol International Exhibition Centre, which was still being used in August 1914, and was cleared use by the Battalion as a rather novel headquarters during the initial stages of their training. I particularly enjoyed the photographs of the Battalion still in civilian clothes marching through the Somerset countryside.

The author gives a thorough treatment of recruitment and training, but it is with a grim inevitability that the scene moves to France, and the first entry into the trenches at Maricourt. The Battalion, along with so many, are truly bloodied in action during the Somme, most specifically fighting a major action on the 29th – 30th July 1916 at Longueval, immediately west of Delville wood, and subsequent actions on 3 September 1916 in Guillemont (the reviewers great-grandfather was killed by shellfire during the preparation for the attack on Falfemont Farm described in this book). One of the more moving quotations from the book is by the Lieutenant-Colonel of the 14th Royal Warwickshire to his opposite number of the 12th Gloucesters who describes their attack "no troops could have carried through such a difficult attack with more dash, or indifference of consequences". Perhaps the most chilling description is of the fighting by the Battalion in May 1917 at Fresnoy, particularly the account by Cpl Harry Civil, firing 15 drums of Lewis gun ammunition point-blank at 50 yards into the advancing Germans and escaping with his life. After a brief but bloody encounter with Ypres during the Passchendaele offensive, the 5th Division moved to Italy for a brief respite to support the Italian armies. The 12th conclude their service fighting in the Spring Offensive back on the Western Front, and their fate is something of an anti-climax to the history of a fine Battalion.

Dean Marks has done them proud. There is an excellent chapter of vignettes, full portraits of more significant members of the Battalion; there is a touching account of the erection of the Memorial Cross at Longueval; full rolls of both officers and enlisted men, and of decorations won by the Battalion. Perhaps Dean's finest achievement is to give voice to veterans who he got no personally during the 25 years it took him to write this book. Their voices come through clear and true, and the reader almost feels like he's acquainted with them personally after reading this book. Criticisms are possible, but these are really limited to a bit of a weakness in proofreading, which would have had to have been considerably more severe for me not to enjoy this book a great deal.

This is a very important contribution to the history of the city of Bristol, a very necessary recruit to the ranks of Battalion histories of the British Army in the Great War, and above all a testament to a lifelong interest and commitment to the memory of some brave and very human young men who fought almost a century ago. A labour of love. Recommended.

[Roger H]

Simon

What an excellent review. Thanks for taking the time to write that. I might be tempted - once I have caught up on all my Christmas reading!

Roger

[simon2]

Already purchased waiting to dive in !

Simon

P.S. I hadn't read Simon's review before purchasing as my interest with the Glosters meant

purchase anyway, but if I had read it the purchase would have been forthcoming regardless.

[Seadog]

If this book was available through the normal outlets I would have had one by now. May have to visit the Glosters Museum to buy one. I do know that it is available by post but I am not prepared to trust such a delivery method.

Norman

[Roger H]

but I am not prepared to trust such a delivery method.

Norman

Why not? I've never had a problem.

Roger

[Seadog]

I am not "in" when the post or another carrier delivers and the resulting hassle makes such deliveries a major problem. These comments are in no way aimed at the author or the book but I am disappointed that the book cannot be purchased from at least the M Shed Museum of Bristol from where I purchased the excellent book "Trenches to Trams" telling the story of a Bristolian who served both with the 1/6th and 12th Glosters although the new book can apparently be got at the Glosters Museum in Gloucester a 60 mile round trip for me.

Norman

Added: A further problem is that the present sales system calls for the buyer to purchase "sight unseen" and at £20 (£25 inc p&p) for the book I would rather see the item before spending that sort of money.

[trajan]

On 2/22/2012 at 22:37, Simon_Fielding said:

There are now very many Battalion histories of the British Army during the Great War.... Criticisms are possible, but these are really limited to a bit of a weakness in proofreading, which would have had to have been considerably more severe for me not to enjoy this book a great deal.

 

I got this mainly because I have a 1914-1915 trio that belonged to one of the batallion's founder members (and who was also one of the 10% who went through the whole GW with 'Bristol's Own'), but also harking back to my fond memories as an archaeologist with 'Bristle' City Museum and Art Gallery in the 1960's and 1970's (although on a visit to that building in 2009 I was simply astounded to see that not one single archaeological display had changed since I left there in 1975!).

 

This is the first 'modern' battalion history that I have read, and although I would agree with Simon  that it is very readable (I read it in two goes, last night and this morning), I was astonished to realise a few pages in that there are no references to any of the source materials used in its preparation. Yes, obviously, some contemporary records or the other (a post GW published history? The War Diary? Newspapers?), and some recollections from surviving members - but where were these published? Moreover, no Index? These things I found thoroughly disappointing as in essence, I could have been reading a piece of fiction... Obviously I wasn't, and I learnt a lot, not the least that my man must have volunteered on or before the 18th September 1914 (that established from the date the next in sequence numbered man gave as his date of volunteering), and that he was initially assigned to 'D' company (that established via the listings in the nominal rolls of June 1915). But to me this absolute lack of references is a far more critical matter than the odd overlooked misspelling. All in all, to be honest, it does make me rather less inclined in investing in another of the 'very many Battalion histories' now available. 

 

Julian

[Simon_Fielding]

Sorry if you felt you'd been 'sold a pup' by my review Julian: I suppose there's a tension between academic rigor and subject enthusiasm when histories are written by non-professionals; I enjoyed the book and felt its heart was in the right place, but your criticisms are completely valid. 

 

Can Pals recommend modern Battalion histories as examples of good practice?

 

Simon 

[trajan]

6 minutes ago, Simon_Fielding said:

Sorry if you felt you'd been 'sold a pup' by my review Julian: I suppose there's a tension between academic rigor and subject enthusiasm when histories are written by non-professionals; I enjoyed the book and felt its heart was in the right place, but your criticisms are completely valid. 

 

Well, as I said, I did enjoy reading it, and I learnt a lot, and I do agree with all the main points of your review and I would recommend it to others - and so I wouldn't say for one moment that I thought I'd been sold a 'pup'! Yes, I guess I do come down hard on the lack of academic sourcing now and again in books or even in posts sometimes - but in this case it is frustrating, to say the least, not to be able to actually source and read the memoirs of - as one example - Ralph Ivor Smith, clearly a live wire who was there from start to finish!

 

Julian