The Badges of Kitchener’s Army (Hardback)
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Pages: 351
Illustrations: 300
ISBN: 9781473833661
Published: 2nd October 2018
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Badges of Kitchener's Army is based on thirty years research in museums, archives and collections. It is an exhaustive study of the development of the battalion, brigade and divisional signs of the thirty divisions raised by Kitchener's appeal for men.
While the divisional signs are well known, there has been little authoritative work on the signs worn by the infantry battalions. The book will illustrate the unique cap and shoulder titles used, as well as cloth signs worn to provide easy recognition in the trenches. Each service battalion, of each regiment has a listing, which provides a brief history of the unit and detailed information on the badges worn.
It is prodigiously illustrated and contains much information, like why a shape or colour was chosen, when it was adopted, what size it was, whether it was worn on a helmet, what colour the helmet was and even what colours were used on horse transport; the majority of this rich and detailed information has never been published before. What helps make the information accurate and authoritative is that much of it comes from an archive created at the time and from personal correspondence with hundreds of veterans in the 1980s, many of whom still had their badges and often had razor-sharp recollections about wearing them. The book will also provide some comments from these veterans.
A further unique aspect of the book is that it will look at the uniforms and badges worn before the battalions left the country, providing much new information that will enable people to identify any photographs they have lying around.
"...highly recommended for collectors, curators, re-enactors, historians of uniforms, and those interested in trying to identify soldiers in photographs."
Argunners
Read the review here
An excellent reference work which will surely find a place on the shelves of students of the British Army in the Great War.
Stand To! Journal of the Western Front Association
At a minimum this is an important addition to the ever-growing body of reference works about the war. However the book also offers much more than this; genealogists, military history enthusiasts, military modellers, collectors, and re-enactors will all benefit from consulting this invaluable record.
WW1 Geek
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Excellent work has been done on museums and regimental archives and journals to illustrate as many as possible.
Society of Friends of the National Army Museum
The comprehensive help the author received from institutions and individual collectors is fully credited – and the end result reflects the considerable labours involved.
A much needed work.
Badges of Kitchener's Army is based on thirty years research in museums, archives and collections. It is an exhaustive study of the development of the battalion, brigade and divisional signs of the thirty divisions raised by Kitchener's appeal for men.
In The Footsteps
While the divisional signs are well known, there has been little authoritative work on the signs worn by the infantry battalions. The book will illustrate the unique cap and shoulder titles used, as well as cloth signs worn to provide easy recognition in the trenches. Each service battalion, of each regiment has a listing, which provides a brief history of the unit and detailed information on the badges worn.
Read the full review here
In all of this, the work done by Bilton is great.
Old Barbed Wire Blog
Read the full Italian review here
This attractive book with excellent colour and black and white illustrations is based on over thirty years research. The authors interest was stimulated when he was shown the important IWM collection which saw its beginnings in 1917 when units were invited to provide details of the badges they were wearing. Over the years the author was able to interview many veterans, now long since gone, who could recall will great clarity the badges they wore. The book is clearly laid out and firstly takes the reader through the formation badges worn by the 9th to the 41st Divisions, then on through their constituent brigades and then Service battalion by Service battalion of 69 different infantry regiments in order of seniority, from The Royal Scots to The Rifle Brigade. There is no doubt this elegant book, packed with information will fast become an essential reference work on this subject and perfectly complements the latest MHS Special Number. Most highly recommended to all First World War badge enthusiasts.
Military Historical Society
There is no doubt that this is a vital reference book on the Great War, whether it be the military or family historian.
Jon Sandison, Freelance
Documentary masterpiece Without a Doubt.
Miniaturas JM
Read the full Spanish review here
Editor's Choice
The Armourer, February 2019
It's a hugely informative and visually impressive work, and a fantastic resource for general enthusiasts and those who collect old photos.
In terms of the scope / objective of the book the author’s work cannot be sufficiently
Military Archive Research, Dr Stuart C Blank
praised. It is a superb book given the array of insignia considered and must have taken
hundreds of man-hours to prepare / collate. The book certainly meets the objective of
Kitchener Battalions and it is a shame that those of the other types of Battalion have not
yet received the same coverage. Let’s hope that the author tackles this potential future
work in the same excellent manner that he has done with the Kitchener’s. You simply
can’t get a better book on Kitchener Battalion insignia.
This is a book that has been many years in the researching and it will be an extremely important reference resource for anyone with an interest in the Great War and in particular those pedantic individuals like me who want to analyse every last pixel of a military photo.
Army Ancestry Research, Paul Nixon
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This book will be of interest to many people from the person with a passing interest to the most knowledgeable collector. I defy anyone who picks it up intending to look at one regiment to put it down with out looking at a few more.
Clash of Steel
We highly recommend this invaluable research tool.
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This is one of those books which I can not only enjoy, but simple sit back in admiration for. This is one to keep among any reference collection for detail on British Army Uniforms, particularly in this case for WW1.
Military Model Scene, Robin Buckland
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About David Bilton
David Bilton is a retired teacher who spends his time looking after his family, working as a university lecturer and researching the Great War; an interest ignited by his paternal grandfather’s refusal to talk about his experiences at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He is a prolific author whose books includes works on the British and German Army, the Home Front and Great War badges; this is volume three of the badges of the British Army in the Great War. Since he started writing he has contributed to television and radio programmes, appeared on Country File and Look North, and given talks on his work.
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