A Key Stage 2 learning resource provided by Exeter UOTC for use in secondary schools. The aim of this resource is to remember the First World War on it’s 100th Anniversary by educating young people on it’s history and creating awareness of the conflict.
8. Sheffield Pals
• Battle of Somme 1st July -13th November 1916.
• Pals battalions fought here made from families and friends.
• At the memorial today you can still see the scared landscape from
shell hole and trenches.
Editor's Notes
The British planned to attack on a 15 mile front between Serre, north of the Ancre, and Curlu, north of the Somme.
To ensure a rapid advance, British artillery pounded German lines for a week before the attack, firing 1.6 million shells.
British commanders were so confident they ordered their troops to walk slowly towards the German lines. Once they had been seized, cavalry units would pour through to pursue the fleeing Germans
However, unconcealed preparations for the assault and the week-long bombardment gave the Germans clear warning.
When the bombardment began, the Germans simply moved underground and waited.
Around 7.30am on 1 July, whistles blew to signal the start of the attack. With the shelling over, the Germans left their bunkers and set up their positions.
As the 11 British divisions walked towards the German lines, the machine guns started and the slaughter began. Although a few units managed to reach German trenches, they could not exploit their gains and were driven back. By the end of the day, the British had suffered 60,000 casualties, of whom 20,000 were dead: their largest single loss. Sixty per cent of all officers involved on the first day were killed.
It was a baptism of fire for Britain's new volunteer armies. Many 'Pals' Battalions, comprising men from the same town, had enlisted together to serve together. They suffered catastrophic losses: whole units died together and for weeks after the initial assault, local newspapers would be filled with lists of dead, wounded and missing.
Armies 31st division at pals memorial made up of 3 brigades 92nd (east Yorkshire regiments), 93rd ( west Yorkshire regiments and durham light infantry) and 94th (Lancaster regiments)
Pals battalions were formed from people who already knew each other well and it was said it would be good for the army as they would look after each other and keep each others' spirits up during the hard times.
The idea was a success and soon groups of men from the same workplaces, villages, churches and even football teams were joining the army together.
The men were happy to fight with people they knew, and their families were pleased. They knew the friends would be there to look after each other during the war.
By the end of September 1914, over 50 towns had formed Pals battalions.
Larger towns and cities formed several battalions each.
One of the most famous Pals Battalions was a group of around 700 men from Lancashire called the Accrington Pals.
On 1 July 1916, the men were in northern France ready to fight along with thousands of other British soldiers. It was the first day of a battle near the river Somme, and it would be one of the worst days of the whole war.
In just 20 minutes, 235 of the Accrington Pals were killed and over 350 were wounded.
By the end of the Battle of the Somme in November, over one million men had been killed or injured.
Everyone in the small town of Accrington was shocked and extremely sad. Men had joined with their brothers and cousins and friends. In some families, all the men died on the same day.
The memorial you can see if for the Accrington pals, and is made from Accrington ‘NORI’ bricks, they are very red in colour from the iron oxides in the clay the bricks were shipped over to make the memorial, this shows how proud accruing ton is of there fallen.
Explain photos showing shell holes and trenches and say that there are 7 cemeteries and memorials
