Barnsley Pals
Encyclopedia
The Barnsley Pals were two Pals battalion
s during the First World War.
They were formed as the 13th (1st Barnsley Pals) and 14th (2nd Barnsley Pals) Battalions of the York and Lancaster Regiment
. These two Pals battalions were brigaded with the Sheffield City Battalion
(12th Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment) and the Accrington Pals
(11th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment
)in the 94th Brigade of the 31st Division (United Kingdom).
The 31st Division was sent to Egypt
to guard the Suez Canal
before being shipped to France
in March 1916.
Both Barnsley Pals battalions took part in the attack on Serre
on the first day of the Somme campaign
. The 31st Division suffered 3,600 casualties and failed to achieve any of its objectives. The Barnsely Pals were the two reserve battalions for the Sheffield City Battalion and the Accrington Pals. The 1st Barnsley Pals suffered 275 casualties while the 2nd Barnsley Pals suffered 270 casualties on 1 July 1916.
Pals battalion
The Pals battalions of World War I were specially constituted units of the British Army comprising men who had enlisted together in local recruiting drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and work colleagues , rather than being arbitrarily...
s during the First World War.
They were formed as the 13th (1st Barnsley Pals) and 14th (2nd Barnsley Pals) Battalions of the York and Lancaster Regiment
York and Lancaster Regiment
-History:It was formed in 1881 through the amalgamation of two other regiments:*65th Regiment*84th RegimentThe title of the regiment was derived not from the cities of York and Lancaster, or from the counties...
. These two Pals battalions were brigaded with the Sheffield City Battalion
Sheffield City Battalion
The Sheffield City Battalion was a Pals battalion during the First World War .Raised in 1914, it was designated as the 12th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment.- Recruits :...
(12th Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment) and the Accrington Pals
Accrington Pals
The Accrington Pals was a British First World War Pals battalion of Kitchener's Army raised in and around the town of Accrington in Lancashire. When the battalion was taken over by the British Army it was officially named the 11th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment.Recruiting was initiated by...
(11th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment
East Lancashire Regiment
The East Lancashire Regiment was, from 1881 to 1958, an infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of two 30th and 59th Regiments of Foot with the militia and rifle volunteer units of eastern Lancashire...
)in the 94th Brigade of the 31st Division (United Kingdom).
The 31st Division was sent to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
to guard the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
before being shipped to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in March 1916.
Both Barnsley Pals battalions took part in the attack on Serre
Serre
Serre may refer to:* Claude Serre , a French cartoonist* Jean-Pierre Serre , a French mathematician active in algebraic geometry, number theory and topology* Serre Chevalier, a major French ski resort in the southern part of the Alps...
on the first day of the Somme campaign
First day on the Somme
The first day on the Somme, 1 July 1916, was the opening day of the Battle of Albert, which was the first phase of the British and French offensive that became known as the Battle of the Somme...
. The 31st Division suffered 3,600 casualties and failed to achieve any of its objectives. The Barnsely Pals were the two reserve battalions for the Sheffield City Battalion and the Accrington Pals. The 1st Barnsley Pals suffered 275 casualties while the 2nd Barnsley Pals suffered 270 casualties on 1 July 1916.