When men from a small area decided to enlist, it was difficult not to enlist too, without being ridiculed or called a coward. The main disadvantage was that whole boys battalions could be wiped out on the battlefield. Many villages and city areas suddenly found that a whole generation was no longer there.
because they fought in the war
Pal's Battalions were units in the British Army during the first world war. It's basic idea was that people could be enlisted in local recruiting drives in order to fight with their family, friends, etc. The word "pal" meaning friend in British English (:
"Pals" battalions in the British Army were formed as part of the effort to keep men enlisting, thus avoiding the need for conscription (a "draft"). The early pre-war British professional army was soon shot to pieces in the first few battles, and a much larger new force was needed right away. Posters appeared all over England of a bristling-moustachioed Field Marshal Kitchener, glaring out and pointing at the viewer, informing that viewer that Kitchener wanted YOU. So men volunteered for "Kitchener's Mob", and to induce them to do so these Pals battalions became a thing, allowing men from the same town, or from the same trade or profession in larger cities, to enlist to serve together (there was even a battalion of accountants from London). This proved to be not such a good idea when "Kitchener's Mob" with its many Pals battalions first went into heavy action on the Somme, July 1, 1916. It made for a very, very bad day in many towns and villages, as all their boys were shot up at the same time. Unsurprisingly, enlistment soon slowed to a trickle as well, and the British had to resort to conscription after all, after the war had been going on for about a year and a half. See related links below for more information on the Bradford Pals.
The concept behind pal battalions started in World War 1. It was aimed to create a battalion of troops that knew each other as civilians before coming into service.
The brigade headquarters can control up to six battalions of field artillery.
All of the Pals Battalions died in world war 1 but 1 of them survived called Mr T.Akins
liverpool
because they fought in the war
Pals battalions were specially constituted units of the British army. General Sir Henry Rawlinson suggested that men would be more willing to enlist in the Army if they knew that they were going to serve alongside their friends. He appealed to London stockbrokers to raise a battalion of men from workers in the City of London to set an example. 1600 men enlisted in the 10th (Service) Bn Royal Fusiliers, the so-called "Stockbrokers' Battalion", within a week in late August 1914. Lots of people went on to make pals battalions like Liverpool and Kitchener promoted the idea of organizing similar recruitment campaign. By the end of September 1914, over fifty towns had formed Pals battalions, whilst the larger towns and cities were able to form several battalions. Several battalions suffered heavy casualties during the Somme offensives of 1916. With the introduction of conscription in January 1916, further Pals battalions were not sought. Most pal battalions were decimated by the end of 1917/ start of 1918
We are all familiar with the view that the idea of 'Pals' Battalions was a badly conceived idea which ultimately resulted in tragedies where men joined together, served together and died together and whole communities had their menfolk wiped out on a single day. This is, it seems, all wrapped up in the same folk memory of incompetent generals, 'lions led by donkeys' etc etc Is there a counterargument to this? Without wishing in any way to ignore the loss to local communities, wasn't the idea of locally raised Pals battalions just an extension of the tradition of 'county regiments' supplemented by local territorial groups and, at the time, was there an alternative when the army had to be expanded so quickly? Would there have been the facilities to train men away from their local area and then organise battalions in a different way? The logistics sound horrendous. So was there an alternative, given the circumstances in 1914? Would the British Army have been able to expand so quickly using another, better method? And is there any evidence to suggest the 'Pals' Battalions were more or less efficient fighting units by, say, 1st July 1916 than other non-regular units. Or that the tactics used by the generals differed depending on whether the units to be used were 'Pals' or not?
Pal's Battalions were units in the British Army during the first world war. It's basic idea was that people could be enlisted in local recruiting drives in order to fight with their family, friends, etc. The word "pal" meaning friend in British English (:
The plural possessive is pals'.
"Pals" battalions in the British Army were formed as part of the effort to keep men enlisting, thus avoiding the need for conscription (a "draft"). The early pre-war British professional army was soon shot to pieces in the first few battles, and a much larger new force was needed right away. Posters appeared all over England of a bristling-moustachioed Field Marshal Kitchener, glaring out and pointing at the viewer, informing that viewer that Kitchener wanted YOU. So men volunteered for "Kitchener's Mob", and to induce them to do so these Pals battalions became a thing, allowing men from the same town, or from the same trade or profession in larger cities, to enlist to serve together (there was even a battalion of accountants from London). This proved to be not such a good idea when "Kitchener's Mob" with its many Pals battalions first went into heavy action on the Somme, July 1, 1916. It made for a very, very bad day in many towns and villages, as all their boys were shot up at the same time. Unsurprisingly, enlistment soon slowed to a trickle as well, and the British had to resort to conscription after all, after the war had been going on for about a year and a half. See related links below for more information on the Bradford Pals.
Security Battalions ended in 1944.
Security Battalions was created in 1943.
Brats in Battalions was created in 1987.
Pals Is Pals - 1929 was released on: USA: 27 July 1929