The Sheffield Pals
We've all seen the posters of Kitchener, pointing out at a generation - "Your country needs YOU". Kitchener's recruits were to be formed into localised "Pals" battalions, men drawn from the same area, social background, and often from the same place of work. The thinking behind creating "Pals" battalions was that if the people that fought together were the same people that had lived and worked together, there would be a more cohesive bond between them and they would therefore become a more effective fighting force.
Not many in Sheffield took much notice of Kitchener's call at first, but the retreat of the British Army at the Battle of Mons changed that. A swirling tide of patriotism and determination prompted more than the required number to sign up, and on the 14th September, the Battalion's first parade took place at the Norfolk Barracks. The Barracks were loaned to the Battalion by the Territorials, and Territorials being weekend only soldiers there was no accommodation, so for the first few months the recruits continued to live at home. After a couple of months though, a new camp was completed in Redmires on the outskirts of the city.
