Barnsley Pals

The Barnsley Pals were two 'Pals battalions' formed as part of 'Kitchener's Army' during World War I. Raised by local initiative in the town of Barnsley in the West Riding of Yorkshire and recruited largely from coalminers, they became the 13th and 14th (Service) Battalions of the local York and Lancaster Regiment (13th and 14th Y&L). After almost two years of training, the battalions suffered heavy casualties in a disastrous attack on the village of Serre on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. They continued to serve on the Western Front, including the Battle of Arras (1917). Combined into a single battalion in early in 1918, the Barnsley Pals were reduced to a remnant during the German spring offensive, but the battalion was rebuilt to participate in the final victorious Hundred Days Offensive.

On 6 August 1914, less than 48 hours after Britain's declaration of war, Parliament sanctioned an increase of 500,000 men for the Regular British Army, and the newly-appointed Secretary of State for War, Earl Kitchener of Khartoum issued his famous call to arms: 'Your King and Country Need You', urging the first 100,000 volunteers to come forward to form the 1st New Army ('K1'). A flood of volunteers poured into the recruiting offices across the country and were formed into 'Service' battalions of the county regiments.

However, these were soon joined by groups of men from particular localities or backgrounds who wished to serve together. Starting from Liverpool, Manchester and London, the phenomenon of 'Pals battalions' quickly spread across the country, as local recruiting committees offered complete units to the War Office (WO). After a series of public meetings, the Mayor of Barnsley offered to raise a battalion of 1100 men from the town and its surrounding district: this offer was accepted by the WO and recruitment opened on 17 September 1914. Joseph Hewitt, a local solicitor, made a half-time speech at the football match between Barnsley F.C. and Grimsby Town F.C. at Oakwell football ground on Saturday 19 September, which attracted numerous recruits. Many local miners joined, the men from Houghton Main Colliery arriving from Darfield by motor bus and then marching to the Public Hall to enlist (they formed the bulk of B Company). Hewitt, who had some experience in the Territorial Force, was appointed commanding officer (CO) with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. The other officers were nominated by the mayor, including Alderman William Raley as acting Major and second-in command. Battalion Headquarters (HQ) was established at the Harvey Institute.

By 3 October the Barnsley Battalion had enrolled 1043 men of all ranks, and with recruits still coming in on 27 November the Borough Council offered to raise a second battalion. This was accepted by the WO on 30 November with the proviso that a reserve company should first be raised for the 1st Barnsley Battalion. After that was completed, the 2nd Barnsley Pals were officially launched on 9 December with Alderman Raley as CO.

The rush of Kitchener recruits had overwhelmed the Army's ability to absorb them, so the Pals Battalions (mainly in the Fifth New Army, 'K5') were left for some time in the hands of the recruiting committees. The men of the 1st Barnsleys were billeted at the Public and Arcade Halls and Harvey Institute in town or in their own homes, and food was supplied by the Barnsley British Co-operative Society. Each day the men paraded in the square in Regent Street, then marched to the Queen's Ground for drill, still in civilian dress until temporary uniforms could be obtained. These were described as a 'blue serge uniform with grass buttons and a little cocked hat', and were worn until khaki uniforms arrived at Easter 1915. A number of retired Regular Army non-commissioned officers (NCOs) were taken on to drill the men. Men from the building and construction trades were sent to work building a hutted camp at New Hall at Silkstone, outside Barnsley. Small batches of obsolete rifles were obtained for training, including Lee–Metfords, Long Lee–Enfields and Canadian Ross rifles. On 10 December the two battalions were designated the 13th (Service) Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment (1st Barnsley) and 14th (S) Bn Y&L Regiment (2nd Barnsley). The WO assigned them to 115th Brigade of 38th Division, formed of Pals Battalions from across Northern England: the other battalions in the brigade were the Grimsby Chums (10th (S) Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment) and the Sheffield City Battalion, (12th (S) Bn, Y&L Regiment). On 20 December the 13th Y&R marched out to Silkstone Camp, where more varied training could begin.

In January 1915 there were concerns that enlistments to the 2nd Barnsleys were slowing down, and a renewed recruitment drive was undertaken. By Easter the 2nd Bn was close to its full establishment, including a 250-strong reserve company, and had outgrown the accommodation at the Public Hall, so D Company was housed in the schoolroom of the Regent Street Congregational Church. In late February 1915 about 50 former coal miners from the 1st Barnsley were seconded to form a nucleus for the new Tunnelling companies of the Royal Engineers (RE), including 171st and 173rd Tunnelling Companies,. These dug the Hill 60 mines near Ypres, fired on 17 April in the first major British mining operation of the war.

In April 1915 the WO converted the Fourth New Army (K4) into reserve units for K1–K3, and the K5 formations took over their numbers: thus 115th Bde became 94th Bde in 31st Division. The new 94th Bde was concentrated in May at Penkridge Bank Camp on Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, where it was joined by the Accrington Pals (11th East Lancashire Regiment) in place of the Grimsby Chums. On 13 May the 13th Y&L marched into Barnsley from Silkstone and then both battalions entrained for Cannock Chase. Training was stepped up at Penkridge. While there Lt-Col Raley's health broke down, and after a spell under Maj T. Carter Clough of the Sheffield City Battalion, 14th Y&R came under the command of Lt-Col Walter Hulke, a former Regular officer of the Lincolns.

The 31st Division concentrated at South Camp, Ripon, at the end of July 1915, where the Barnsley ex-miners built the rifle range on which the men of the division fired their General Musketry Course. In September the division moved to Hurdcott Camp where it carried out final intensive battle training on Salisbury Plain. In November, Lt-Col Hewitt of 13th Y&R resigned, having been graded medically unfit for overseas service. He was replaced by Lt-Col Edmund Wilford, formerly of 30th Lancers (Gordon's Horse) of the Indian Army. Both battalions formed bands before they left Hurdcott, the instruments being supplied by the Raising Committee.