WWI: Tales from the Trenches (The Great War Series Book 1) by Daniel Wrinn

Author:Daniel Wrinn [Wrinn , Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: War History Journals
Published: 2020-02-25T00:00:00+00:00

Oblivion at the Somme

My journey began in the first few days following the outbreak of war. Most soldiers that took part in this great battle were volunteers who joined up at the beginning. We were dubbed Kitchener’s Army after the British war secretary, Lord Kitchener, who was on recruitment posters asking for volunteers all over Britain.

Millions of men flocked to join. We were enticed by the promise that we could serve alongside our friends in what became known as the PALs battalions. This was a great idea in theory. Soldiers within the regiment would be made up of men from the same village, town, or workplace. We trained and worked together, and when the time came, we fought together.

I was from a smoky, industrial town in Lancashire. We provided a PALs battalion for the East Lancashire Regiment. When the war broke out, the town hit hard times. There was a strike at the local textile machinery factory and at the cotton mill. They laid off over 500 men. Most men rushed to join up for the benefit of a soldier’s pay instead of any patriotic motive. The pay was twice what we got in the factory. Those not tempted by financial gain faced more subtle pressures. I remember one recruitment poster that said:

Will you fight for your king and country, or will you cower in the safety your fathers and brothers struggled to maintain?

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