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When the call for soldiers came in August 1914, men queued to sign up in their thousands. However some were turned away for being under the minimum 5 foot 3 height.

These were not necessarily weak men, they were strong and willing. There were reports of a man in Birkenhead being refused, and it took a group of men to remove him from the sign up hall.

MP for Birkenhead, Arthur Bigland, heard about this and appealed for the government to allow him to form his own battalions of men under the regulation height. These were to be named the Bantams after the hardy fighting cock.

Three thousand men from around the country travelled to the north west to become a Birkenhead Bantam – from London Dockers, to Welsh miners; they were all healthy and keen to do their bit for their country.

The Bantams trained at Bebington Oval where they had no official uniform, so they tore the covering off the seating in the stadium to create red putties for themselves. They also trained at Ionic Street School before becoming part of the Cheshire Regiments.

Location: Bebington Oval, Wirral CH63 7LF
Image: The Cheshire Bantams, courtesy of Steven McGreal

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