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Pioneer Battalions in the Great War
Pioneer battalions, created as an expedient in 1914, were a new concept in the British Army. Intended to provide the Royal Engineers, with skilled labor and to relieve the infantry from some of its non-combatant duties, Pioneers became the work horses of the Expedentiary Forces. The Coldstream Guards and over three dozen Country regiments each created at least one pioneer battalion. Several New Army battalions were raised specifically as Pioneers, while others were converted Territorials or Kitchener units formed originally as conventional infantry. Adopting a badge of a cross rifle and pick, these battalions wired, dug and reverted in all weathers and in all terrain. On many occasions they abandoned their working tools and fought alongside the infantry in repelling enemy attacks. In their efforts to stem the German offensives of 1918, several Pioneer units fought themselves to virtual annihilation. Often confused with the Pioneer Corps of the Second World War, the work of the Pioneer battalions has been largely ignored or misunderstood. Far from being the units of the ages and inform, these sixty-eight battalions played a major role in the Allied victory. Pioneer Battalions in the Great War traces the reasons behind the creation of these units, the work they performed and the dramatic transitions many of them had to undergo. It also examines how and why Pioneers have never received the recognition they deserve.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1997
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March 20, 2014
A Forgotten History
It is great to see the Pen & Sword are publishing Pioneer Battalions in the Great War by K. (Bill) W, Mitchinson one of the UK’s brilliant lecturers and researchers on the First World War. While journalists et al seem to be producing books about the Great War it is nice to see in print an academic who has dedicated years of study to the subject sharing his knowledge. As a history graduate who over the years has read many history books some good others bad this is one of the better ones. While much has been written about various battles, the start of the war and famous battalions not much or more honestly very little has ever been written about the Pioneer Battalions and how important they were and the sacrifices they made.
Mitchinson brings the misunderstood history of the 68 battalions that were crucial to the Allied victory through his research using all the primary sources that are available to him that are scattered around Britain in various archives. So much of this is original research using war diaries that have never been published to official publications.
Pioneer Battalions were vital in the assistance in the work that they did for example in supporting the work of the Royal Engineers acting as their labour. The book also explains the search for various skill sets that were required by various battalions to aid their work. They could be digging trenches, building roads or railways or driving the trains that carried armour to the front, or that were being used by the artillery.
This is a fantastic book, well researched that is a brilliant and enlightening read. Buy this book and learn something about the forgotten Pioneer Battalions.
It is great to see the Pen & Sword are publishing Pioneer Battalions in the Great War by K. (Bill) W, Mitchinson one of the UK’s brilliant lecturers and researchers on the First World War. While journalists et al seem to be producing books about the Great War it is nice to see in print an academic who has dedicated years of study to the subject sharing his knowledge. As a history graduate who over the years has read many history books some good others bad this is one of the better ones. While much has been written about various battles, the start of the war and famous battalions not much or more honestly very little has ever been written about the Pioneer Battalions and how important they were and the sacrifices they made.
Mitchinson brings the misunderstood history of the 68 battalions that were crucial to the Allied victory through his research using all the primary sources that are available to him that are scattered around Britain in various archives. So much of this is original research using war diaries that have never been published to official publications.
Pioneer Battalions were vital in the assistance in the work that they did for example in supporting the work of the Royal Engineers acting as their labour. The book also explains the search for various skill sets that were required by various battalions to aid their work. They could be digging trenches, building roads or railways or driving the trains that carried armour to the front, or that were being used by the artillery.
This is a fantastic book, well researched that is a brilliant and enlightening read. Buy this book and learn something about the forgotten Pioneer Battalions.
Displaying 1 of 1 review