The Sheffield Pals

This fortnight we’re revisiting an exhibition held at the Central Library a couple of years ago.  In it, we considered how Sheffield’s rich history had been shaped by conflict and major events in the wider world.  It is difficult to predict how our city may be changed by the current world crises of pandemic and climate emergency, but as history clearly shows, change will inevitably come…

In this series of blog posts we will pick out a selection of stories from our city’s past and hopefully whet your appetite for more.  You can delve deeper by visiting our website and view thousands of images at Picture Sheffield, the city’s depository of over 100,000 local images.

The Sheffield Pals

On the outbreak of the First World War, Lord Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War, realised that the small regular army was insufficient in size for the struggle ahead. On 7th August 1914 an appeal was launched for 100,000 volunteers but within a month 500,000 had signed up nationwide. These volunteers enlisted for the duration of the war and many were formed into what became known as ‘Pals Battalions’; localised units with the men often coming from the same social background or place of work.

Call up card for University and City Special Battalion (City Battalion) 

The Sheffield ‘Pals’ City Battalion was raised in 1914, and designated as the 12th (Service) Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment.  Initially the idea of two Sheffield University students; volunteers were sought from the professional classes, particularly the university, ex-public school, lawyers, clerks and journalists and within two days, 1000 men had been recruited.  The Battalion trained at a newly constructed camp at Redmires and later at Cannock Chase before embarking for Egypt in December 1915. They arrived in France in March 1916 destined for the Somme.  

A group of 'Sheffield Pals' while stationed in Egypt, 1915.

The Battle of the Somme began on the 1st July and ended on the 18th November 1916 and was intended to be a decisive strike against the Germans.  After a week of artillery bombardment over a 15 mile wide front, British and French forces climbed out of their trenches and marched towards the enemy.  Unfortunately for the soldiers attacking, much of the German barbed wire remained undamaged and the well-constructed and deeply dug German trenched were largely intact.  

At the far north of the offensive front, the Sheffield Pals fighting alongside the Accrington Pals had set out to capture the village of Serre.  However, moving uphill, through barbed wire and with no cover, they were instantly exposed and quickly mown down by volleys of machine gun fire.  A British survivor of the battle, John Harris later wrote,

"Two years in the making. Ten minutes in the destroying. That was our history."

James Reginald Glenn, a Sheffield Pal 

James Reginald Glenn enlisted in the Sheffield City Battalion on the outbreak of war in August 1914 and served with the Battalion until it was disbanded in 1918. Glenn was working as a Clerk in the Education Department when war was declared, though he soon enlisted alongside some of his ‘pals’. In 1918, when the City Battalion was disbanded, Glenn transferred to the North Staffordshire Regiment.  

After the war, Glenn returned to his job as a supplies clerk with the Education Department, where he worked until his retirement in 1958. 

James Reginald Glen.  Upon enlisting in 1914.  15 Platoon, Sheffield City Battalion, Redmires Camp, showing James R Glen with the flags.  

Population of Sheffield in 1911 -  524,564