East Anglian Bantam Battalion, 1 August 1915 [Luton Times]
Friday 23rd July 1915: A new recruiting initiative has been launched by the Army Council under which the towns and villages of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire are to be asked to raise local Bantam platoons. These are to be along the lines of “Pals Platoons”, where young men from the same place will be able to train and fight together. These Bantam units will allow men to join up who are below the regulation height and chest size usually required for recruitment. Their height is to be between 5 feet and 5 feet 2 inches, with a chest measurement of 33 inches. The Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire youths are to be attached to the Luton Platoon of the 12th (Service) Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment.[1]
Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 23rd July 1915
[1] The 12th (Service) Bantam Battalion was mobilised in June 1916 as part of the 121st Brigade of 40th Division. It took part in various actions on the Western Front.
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