THE story of a forgotten battalion that played a crucial role in the First World War has been chronicled in a new book.

The 11th Durham Light Infantry: In Their Own Names by Martin Bashforth tells the story of the pioneer battalion that provided skilled labour for the 20th Division.

Mr Bashforth, of York, was inspired after he began trying to learn more about his grandfather, Sergeant Thomas Bashforth, who was killed in action in France in March 1918.

The author, who is a University of York history graduate and retired archivist, spent 12 years working on the book using family histories and individual service records to provide details of how the men died, how families coped with their loss and survivors returned to civilian life.

The battalion was originally formed to provide “intelligent labour”, from digging trenches and laying barbed wire to creating the rail lines. They also took up arms when the need arose.

A major source of information was provided by the family of Robert Bennett, of Shotton Colliery, County Durham, who died on the Somme in 1916. Mr Bashforth said: “He wrote letters to his family throughout his time in service, particularly about the battalion when it was in training. His letters give insight into how the men adjusted from being miners to being soldiers and helped give a human face to the book.”

Mr Bashforth said: “It was one of the less celebrated battalions, but they played a crucial role.”

Several family members of Robert Bennett attended a book launch at the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery.

The 11th Durham Light Infantry: In Their Own Names (Amberley Publishing, £14.99).