Название: The Manchester Bantams: The Story of a Pals Battalion and a City at War
Автор: Caroline Scott
Издательство: Pen & Sword
ISBN: 1783463899
Год: 2016
Формат: EPUB
Страниц: 352
Размер: 69,6 МБ
Язык: Английский
In May 1916 Major Eustace Lockhart Maxwell, a former Indian cavalry officer, was given command of an infantry battalion in France. After 48 hours with his new unit, Maxwell wrote to his family: 'The outstanding characteristic of those who belong to it seems to be their extraordinary self-complacency!
Esprit de corps is a fine thing, but the satisfaction with which they regard themselves, their battalion, its internal economy, its gallantry, its discipline, its everything else, is almost indecent! If at the end of a month my opinion of them is half as good as their own, I shall think myself uncommonly lucky.' This was the 23rd Manchester 'Bantam' Battalion, a unit entirely composed of men of a height between 5ft and 5ft 3", and its esprit de corps was about to be severely tested. The 'Bantams' left colorful, characterful, moving and often amusing records of their experiences.