|
Date: |
|
Description: | 1915.
In this view Lieutenant Colonel S.C. Taylor and officers of Leeds Pals stand in front of the decorated tram in the June of 1915. Over 800 recruits passed through the tram, the Leeds Pals recruited approximately 2,000 troops, the average age was 20/21. Over four hundred individual battle honours were awarded. The policy of encouraging men to join the same units as friends and family extracted a terrible price on communities. Multiple losses were inflicted on neighbours and families when groups of Pals died together.
Britain's involvement in the First World War began on the 4th August 1914. In response to Lord Kitchener's call for volunteers to join the army, Leeds solicitor, Colonel Walter Stead suggested a City Battalion. A recruiting office was located on City Square and this illuminated tram was one of the means used to draw attention to the campaign. It was decorated with patriotic and emotive posters, as seen directly in the centre; 'Remember Scarborough' This refers to the shelling of the east coast. Also displayed are the words 'More men and still more men until the enemy is crushed' and 'Boys, come over here'. There was an enthusiastic response from Leeds men and by the end of September over 1,000 had joined the Leeds Pals (15th Battalion). In addition to the 1st Leeds Pals it is important to remember other Leeds battalions including Leeds Rifles (7th and 8th battalions West Yorkshire Regiment) who were established and ready for duty before the Pals. The men were sent to Colsterdale Camp near Masham for training, to become the 15th battalion West Yorkshire Regiment. Initial duties were patrolling the coasts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire then North Africa. The men saw action at Ypres and the Somme, where 750 of 900 men of the Leeds Pals perished. In remembering the men of Leeds who fought in the First World War we must also pay tribute to the "Leeds Bantams". On the 8th December 1914 the Lord Mayor of Leeds raised a Bantam Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment, the 17th (Service) Battalion. It was also known as the 2nd Leeds Pals and many working class Leeds men eagerly joined up. They had previously been employed as shepherds, miners and also as woollen workers in the mills of Leeds and Bradford. Many had worked in the mills of Holbeck and initially drilling of the new Battalion took place on Holbeck Moor. In 1915 the 17th became part of the 106th Brigade along with other Bantam Battalions. The war saw tragic losses suffered by the 17th Battalion West Yorkshire which amounted to over a quarter and the Leeds Bantams were awarded the Victoria Cross, a Destinguished Service Order, three Military Crosses, 24 Militery Medals and Distinguished Conduct Medals. After merging with the 15th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment(1st Leeds Pals) to become the 15th/17th Battalion the men of the Leeds Bantams continued to fight on the Western front under their original Leeds capbadge. | License: | http://www.leodis.net/article.aspx?id=12 | Rights holder: | Leeds Central Library | Subjects: | Leeds Pals Recruiting Tram | Source: | Leodis - A photographic archive of Leeds | Identifier: | http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?id=20... | Go to resource |
|
|