Pals battalion

Common card · No. 475853

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. While initially popular as a means to appeal to volunteers, heavy casualties to several pals battalions would devastate local communities throughout Britain; this became particularly apparent during the Battle of the Somme. With the introduction of conscription in 1916, the remaining pals battalions were either dissolved, reorganized with other forces, or reinforced by a regionally diverse group of conscripts, ending their local character.

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