The Bantams of Bourlon Wood

Posted on February 19, 2022 by

16 Comments

Among the dark Oak trees of Bourlon Wood, the Bantam Battalions from England, Scotland and Wales experienced their baptism of fire. Who were The Bantams, and did all roads lead to Bourlon Wood in November 1917?

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Podcast Extras: The Bantams

Royal Fusiliers 1915
Royal Berkshire Regiment Bantam

Podcast Extras: Bourlon Wood

Category: Cambrai, Hindenburg Line, Podcast Episode

16 Comments on “The Bantams of Bourlon Wood”

  4. Another brilliant Pod Paul. I especially enjoyed this one as my Great Grandfather, Corporal Edward Kilby, was in the 12 SWB (119 Brigade) and died during the Gouzeaucourt Battle in 1917. He is buried in La Chapelette CWGC cemetery just outside Peronne (where the 34th CCS was). He was a big, strapping rugby loose forward from the Forest of Dean, so most likely one of the bantam replacements you allude to.
    I knew very little of the wider 40th Div history, so I’m really grateful to you.

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  5. Really enjoyed this one – I might as well just put that for every episode as I always do!
    Thanks for helping me with my question on French graves, I’ll make sure I take plenty of photos!

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  6. An excellent account of the history of Bantams and their battle at Bourlon Wood.

    Do you recall a BBC TV series in 1993 called “Tales from the Map Room”? One episode was presented by Richard Holmes and was called “A Wood called Bourlon”. A great episode, sadly though I can’t find it on YouTube anywhere.

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  9. Hello Paul,
    Thanks for this great episode. My reaction is quite late as I’m busy catching up (rapidly :-) )

    I have a question – at one point in this episode you mention the use of Bangalore torpedoes, which surprised me, as I thought this was a SWW invention (it’s not, it’s from 1912, I found out). In view of all the misery of advances underfire and into the barbed wire, what was the level of usage by the British troops during the FWW?

    Thanks,
    ruud

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      • Thanks for that Paul. I really wasn’t aware. Most accounts seem to be about shrapnel shot usage etc. I guess I may have overlooked the mentioning of it in the various books I read :-)

        Liked by 1 person

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