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"Pals" departing from Preston railway station, August 1914. The pals battalions of World War I were specially constituted battalions of the British Army comprising men who enlisted together in local recruiting drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and colleagues, rather than being arbitrarily allocated to battalions.
Recruiting poster for the Football Battalion. This is a list of pals battalions (also called "service" or "locally raised" battalions) of the British Army during the First World War. Pre-war Territorial Force (T.F.) battalions have not been included, although they too usually recruited from a specific area or occupation.
On 17 July 1915 the Lord Mayor and City of London raised a second Pals battalion of the Royal Fusiliers from the financial community: the 26th (Service) Battalion (Bankers) was recruited from bank clerks and accountants across the country. It went on to fight in 41st Division on the Western Front and in Italy.
The 1st Gwent Battalion was a Welsh 'Pals battalion' formed as part of 'Kitchener's Army' during World War I.Raised by local initiative in Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, it became the 10th (Service) Battalion of the local regiment, the South Wales Borderers ('10th SWB').
Most regiments had two regular battalions, supported by associated battalions from the Territorial Force ('part-time' soldiers) and Reserve Battalions. After the start of the war, many new battalions were raised and called "Service Battalions". Service battalions raised from a single locale were often called "Pals battalions".
The Liverpool Pals were Pals battalions formed during the First World War as part of the King's (Liverpool) Regiment. They, along with the Manchester Pals , are commemorated at a small memorial in France .
The concept of a 'battalion of pals' serving together originated with the 'Stockbrokers Battalion' of the Royal Fusiliers raised in the City of London and was taken up enthusiastically as the 'Pals battalions'. These local and pals battalions formed Kitchener's Fifth New Army, or 'K5', authorised on 10 December 1914. [2] [3]
M. Manchester Bantams; Manchester Pals; 16th (Service) Battalion, Manchester Regiment (1st City) 17th (Service) Battalion, Manchester Regiment (2nd City)