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| Front cover of first edition limited to 600 copies and signed by the author | ||
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| The Lonsdale Battalion 1914-1918 | ||
| Author | Colin Bardgett | |
| Country | Great Britain | |
| Language | English | |
| Volumes | This copy is no. 576 of 600 | |
| Format | Hardcover | |
| Subject | Military history | |
| Genre | Non-fiction | |
| Published date | March 1993 | |
| Publisher | G.C. Book Publishers Ltd. | |
| Pages | 138 | |
| ISBN | ISBN 1872350607 ISBN 9781872350608 |
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The Lonsdale Battalion 1914–1918 is a comprehensive study relating to the formation of Lord Lonsdale’s battalion for service with Kitchener's Army. This history reveals the battalion's early days of training, their arrival in France and Flanders, and eventual disbandment on 31 July 1918. Contained within are eyewitness accounts and a full listing of the Lonsdale Battalion Roll of Honour, which has been fully transcribed. In addition to this are extracts from Record of the XIth (Service) Battalion (Lonsdale), furnishing the reader with a glimpse of original documentation contemporary with the war, and a selection of photographs of the young men who made up the battalion. A half-sized full-colour reproduction of the infamous "Are You a Man or Mouse" poster is included.
Colin's writing is also inspired by his poignant visit to the Somme Battlefields, and to Lonsdale Cemetery where buried and commemorated are 1,545 Commonwealth casualties (729 identified, and 816 unidentified), a number of Lonsdale men from the towns and villages of Cumberland and Westmorland. On the reverse cover of the book is Colin, pictured standing behind the grave of his relative, John Bardgett (15309), who is also the great grandfather of this website's creator and administrator. Many local people from Penrith and the surrounding area, the Border Regiment Museum at Carlisle, the Penrith Museum, and the families of the men who served in the Lonsdale Battalion are gratefully acknowledged for their help during the research of this book.
The primary published sources were:
- The Border Regiment in the Great War, by Colonel H.C. Wylly
- Tried and Valiant, by Douglas Sutherland
- The Somme, by John Harris
Dedication
From the author: "This book is dedicated to my friends Tom Milburn, Fred Francis, and all of the other brave men who fought and suffered so much during the 1914 – 1918 War."
Chapters
- "Mice and Men"
- France Nov. 1915
- The Big Push
- 1st July 1916
- Press on
- 1917
- Battle of Nieuport
- Paeschendaele
- 1918, Beginning of the end
Additional material
- Roll of Honour
- Illustrations
- Appendices
- Gallantry Awards
- "Man or Mouse" poster
Although limited to only 600 copies, this book does appear in online antiquarian bookshops where the price can range from £20 to £50 depending on seller and book condition. This, along with Wylly's history of the Border Regiment, of which the 11th Battalion's actions are included, would be considered seminal reading for anyone with an interest in Lord Lonsdale's short-lived pals battalion.