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With Bayonets Fixed: The 12th & 13th Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry in the Great War Kindle Edition

by John Sheen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
In August and September 1914 the Regimental Depot of the Durham Light Infantry at Fenham Barracks in Newcastle was overwhelmed by the number of men enlisting. Accommodation was tight so the men were formed into batches and sent off to training grounds in the south of England. Over 2,000 men were sent to Bulllswater near Woking in Surrey where they became the 12th and 13th Battalions of the DLI serving in 68 Brigade of the 23rd Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Sir James Babington KCB KCMG. The Division never failed to take an objective between 1915 and 1918.After initial training around Aldershot and Ashford, in May they embarked for France on 25 August 1915. In November Private Thomas Kenny, of the 13th DLI, a miner from Wingate, County Durham, won the Victoria Cross rescuing his wounded officer. In the summer of 1916 they joined the fighting on the Somme and took part in the capture of Contalmaison on 10 July. In October the two battalions took part in the capture of Le Sars before being sent north to the Ypres Salient. In Flanders they took part in the Battle of Messines and the 3rd Battle of Ypres. In November 1917 the 23rd Division was ordered to the Italian Front. The 12th and 13th Battalions were initially deployed on the Montello before moving into the mountainous region of the Asiago Plateau. They were attacked by the Austrians on 15 June 1918, however, the only enemy soldiers that entered the Durhams' trenches did so as prisoners, brought in by men of the two battalions. The 13th DLI was ordered back to France in September 1918 where it took part in the advance to victory; the battalion suffered many casualties in the last six weeks of the war. The 12th DLI remained in Italy and took part in the crossing of the River Piave in October 1918 and the Battle of Vittorio Veneto that led to the end of the war in Italy.The book uses unpublished memoirs and diaries along with letters from officers and men of both battalions. Using the soldiers personal documents this book reveals many of the tragic stories that led to unnecessary loss of life. Lists of gallantry awards and nominal rolls of officers of both battalions are included.
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  1. Print length
    621 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pen & Sword Military
  4. Publication date
    June 19, 2013
  5. File size
    14.5 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Sheen is an author and historian.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00FOGG3NI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Military (June 19, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 19, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 14.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 621 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

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John Sheen

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4.6 out of 5 stars
21 global ratings

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Top reviews from other countries

  • Scott
    5.0 out of 5 stars Proud.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I was brought up in County Durham, in the same village as the late Thomas Kenny incidentally, who received the Victoria Cross for his heroic efforts during WW1. He was known to my Grandparents and for this and many other obvious reasons I feel really attached to the history of the Durham Light Infantry.

    My mother loves her history, especially local history, and so I've bought her all of the books John Sheen has wrote involving the DLI, and she absolutely loves them! She's always telling me the things she's read about, piecing bits together from each book and painting a picture which fills me with pride, as I hear of individuals as well as groups of local men who contributed an amazing and selfless effort in securing the freedom that each and every one of us knows and enjoys today.

    At the time of writing this, Durham County Council are planning to close the DLI museum based in Aykley Heads, Durham, in a cost cutting measure, much to my and thousands of others utter despair! It's essential that museum remains, not only as a monument of respect to the regiment and its fabulous achievements, but as a means of teaching everyone, from local children to tourists from thousands of miles away of the bravery and sacrifice of those who gave everything so that we could enjoy life as it is today!

    Unfortunately there are only a few weeks to go until the 01/04/16 deadline, let's hope the museum's safety is secured before then, however unfortunately that doesn't seem likely. :'(
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  • kath forcer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The photographs are great and I was even able to identify a couple ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is a gem of a book if you are interested in the 12th & 13th DLI. I was particularly interested as my grandfather was with C Coy of the 12th DLI. Whilst a lot of the information is taken from the Official War Diaries, the build up and background information is so thorough and interesting and I learned a lot. The photographs are great and I was even able to identify a couple of my family photos and identify locations that matched similar photos in the book. As the author readily acknowledges, there is a wealth of anecdotal tales of the men in the 13th DLI, but sadly this kind of information was not a big feature of the 12th DLI diary. The other great piece of information was the lists of names of the men and officers from each of the Regiments, along with their service numbers and brief description of each persons career. Thank you John for taking the time to write this fabulous book and keeping the memory of these men alive.
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  • 2101bob
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for detail
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    As someone trying to track a 13/DLI officer through WW1 I found this an excellent and helpful work. I would have liked more about what was happening on the overall Western Front, to place the numerous actions in context, and as a pause between the relentless narratives.
    (For Kindle readers clearer maps are essential, those included being far too small to decipher).
    A lot of research evidently went into this, and it isn't surprising other reviewers have complimented Sheen's books.
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  • mirobola
    5.0 out of 5 stars Entirely gripping
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    My grandfather, a miner, was in the Durham Light Infantry and won the DCM in 1917. I was moved to find the account of this in the book - even more struck to learn that he had previously been sentenced to hard labour for falling asleep while on sentry duty, a sentence which was expunged because of his valour. He died of meningitis in Marseilles in September 1918. This book not only gives the big scale accounts of the battles, the strategy, the outcomes, but details the human stories - sometimes very sad, sometimes very funny. I have bought copies for various members of my family, and they all love it. My son on Madrid said that he has a morning and an evening book when travelling to and from work, but he couldn't put this one down John Sheen is to be congratulated on the thoroughness of his research.
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  • Hugo J Vaux
    5.0 out of 5 stars With bayonets Fixed
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is a very clearly written and concise observation of the 12th and 13th battl DLI in WW1. Harrowing detail of the conditions the brave men of those battalons fought in. Contains info about my Grandfathers MC award, and details of his experience in Italy
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