Page 30 - History of War - Issue 30-16

SOMME
1916 2016
diets and inadequate housing. There were also
keen recruits from the upper classes with ive Eager recruits at Southwark Town Hall, 1914. The poet Philip Larkin
‘Public School Battalions’ consisting of public later decried scenes like these describing the men’s, “Moustached
archaic faces/Grinning as if it were all/An August Bank Holiday lark…”
schoolboys and university graduates.
The enthusiasm of the industrial areas for
the Pals Battalions was relected in the speed
and numbers of recruitment. Communities
would compete to attract the greatest amount
of new recruits. A battalion required 1,000
men to become operational but this number
proved no obstacle. In Accrington, recruitment
began on 14 September 1914 and 104 men
were accepted in three hours. Within ten days,
the Accrington Pals had reached full strength
but this was slow compared with Shefield
which raised a whole battalion in two days. In
Tyneside, there was a race between the Irish
and Scottish communities to see who would be
the irst to raise a brigade – the Irish won.
The enthusiasm did not dim when news
arrived about mounting casualties at the front.
The bad news strengthened community resolve
as volunteering became a duty, with social Regiment to, “A kind of brave rabble.” This Infantry Regiment. Even before the attack the
pressure inluencing individuals to join. There scepticism was well founded. Thanks to the Pals arrived in shell-damaged British trenches
was also a heavy propaganda campaign, which hasty recruitment process, British society was and were pounded by enemy artillery before
was aimed at coercing potential volunteers thrown together in a military melting pot and daylight broke. At Zero Hour the leading waves
with the most famous example being the ‘Your were led by men of vastly differing ages. Henry were torn by machine-gun and rile ire.
Country Needs You!’ poster depicting Lord Webber was a 67 year-old oficer in the 7th Some of the Accrington and Shefield Pals
Kitchener pointing accusingly at the viewer. South Lancashire Regiment, whereas Reginald got through to the German frontline but the
Such was the success of this and other Battersby, a Second Lieutenant in the 11th attack was in vain. Brigadier Rees recorded,
placards that an Asquith lady of the early 20th East Lancashire Regiment, was only 15. “The result of the shells, shrapnel, machine-
century remarked, “If Kitchener was not a great For most in these battalions, their irst gun and rile ire was such that hardly any of
man, he was, at least, a great poster.” action would be the Somme offensive, and its our men reached the German front trench. The
Kitchener had done his job too well and the disastrous irst day. An eight-day barrage had lines which advanced in such admirable order,
inlux of volunteers meant the army could not failed to destroy the deeply entrenched German melted away under ire; yet not a man wavered,
process them all at the same time and some positions and the British commanders, who broke the ranks or attempted to go back. I
battalions had to be temporarily administered were concerned about maintaining discipline in have never seen such a magniicent display of
by magistrates. They were well trained, but it the new recruits, instructed the soldiers to walk gallantry, discipline and determination.” 584
was often done with outdated equipment under in formation when the attack began at 7.30am. out of 720 Accrington Pals became casualties.
the supervision of elderly oficers or non- Unfortunately, this made them easy targets for The irst day saw the death of the Pals
commissioned oficers. Much of what the Pals the emerging German machine gunners and Battalions, but news of their destruction was
learned was more appropriate for the colonial they were cut down in their thousands. slow to reach Britain. Relatives often only
wars of the 19th century than a global conlict, The Pals Battalions took huge casualties; discovered the fate of their loved ones when
so the new recruits training took until 1915-16. many units recorded grim statistics on 1 July. letters reached the families of the dead.
The irst three ‘New Army’ divisions (around The Tyneside Brigades suffered terribly, with The casualty lists did not reach Grimsby
35,000 men) landed in France in May 1915. the Scots enduring 2,400 casualties and the until 10 July and rumours gripped panicked
Reinforcements were desperately needed Irish 2,100. Most were killed within the irst communities. In Accrington, the brother of
to reinforce the BEF, but many regulars had hour of battle. Both the Grimsby Chums and the one volunteer recalled a scene of grief that
reservations about the potential performance Shefield City Battalion lost around half their would have been replicated across Britain, “I
of the Pals (or ‘Kitchener’s Mob’ as they were men. The Leeds Pals lost 750 out of 900 men. remember when the news came through that
nicknamed). British grafiti was often found Many of the Pals’ casualties occurred when the Pals had been wiped out. I don’t think there
with variants of the slogan, ‘Lost or Stolen- battalions of the 94th Brigade tried to capture was a street that didn’t have their blinds drawn,
Kitchener’s Army-£5 Reward to Finder’. the hilltop fortress of Serre. Units that led and the bell at Christ Church tolled all day.”
Some of the ‘Mob’ were sceptical, including the attack included the Accrington Pals and After the Somme campaign was done,
the future author and playwright JB Priestley Shefield City Battalion and were supported the Pals Battalions survived in name only.
who had volunteered in September 1914. He by the Barnsley Pals, but they were marching Enthusiasm decreased and newly introduced
likened his battalion in the Duke of Wellington’s towards the experienced 169th (8th Baden) conscripts replaced the volunteers. When
WWII began conscription was immediately
“RELATIVES OFTEN ONLY DISCOVERED THE FATE OF THEIR LOVED implemented. The wasteful death of the Pals on Images: Alamy
1 July 1916 left a sad legacy. As one surviving
ONES WHEN LETTERS REACHED THE FAMILIES OF THE DEAD” Pal put it, “Two years in the making. Ten minutes
in the destroying. That was our history.”

A support company of the Tyneside Irish advance
opposite La Boisselle on 1 July 1916. The
brigade would suffer 2,100 casualties that day

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