11th (Accrington) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment

   11th (Accrington) Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, more commonly known as The Accrington Pals, was raised in September 1914 in Accrington, Lancashire. After training in the local area the Battalion departed with a great send off in February 1915 for Caernarvon. In May they moved to Penkridge Bank Camp near Rugeley and joined the 94th Brigade, 31st Division. In July they moved to Ripon and then in September to Hurdcott Camp near Salisbury and in December the Division proceeded Egypt to defend the Suez Canal against the Turkishh threat. At the end of February 1916, the 31st Division was ordered to France, to prepare for the attack on the Somme. They were in action at Serre in The Battle of The Somme, suffering very heavy casualties. In 1917 they were in action in the Battle of Arras and in 1918 they transferred to 92nd Brigade, 31st Division and fought at St Quentin, Bapaume and Arras before moving north to counter the German Spring Offensive on the Lys. Towards the end of the conflict they were in action in the the Final Advance in Flanders.



Accrington Pals "The men are a good deal rattled" by Rory MacColl

In January 2021 East Lancashire Concert Band were delighted to be contacted by Rory MacColl, the grandson of Lt. Col. Arthur Rickman. He was working on a documentary film about the Pals and his grandfather's role. His plan was to use some of the Band's music in the sound effects, the band provided an array of music for him to choose from, not least of all, Letters for Home, which was specially commissioned by us to commemorate the Pals and WW1 Centenary. He has made this film as a labour of love for use without any commercial application, a condition of much of the copyright material used, and all the music has been provided by the East Lancashire Concert Band. Founded in 1842 as Accrington Old Band they became the Accrington Pals Band in 1914.

12th May 1915 Accrington Pals leave Caernarvon  The 11th Btn, East Lancashire Regiment, the Accrington Pals marched out of Caernarvon.
pals.org.uk

16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme

1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets

11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment

10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens

9th February 1916 Call Ups

30th Jun 1916 On the March

1st Jul 1916 In Action  Front Line 0700. Beginning of Battle of Somme. The Objective of 18th DLI line running S.E. of Serre.
0450. 18th Battalion DLI reached assembly trench Maitland. HQ near Warley, Maitland junction. 11th East Lancs on left, West Riding on right.
At 0505. Special bombing parties of 18th DLI proceed to Sap A to report to 15th West Yorks.
0600. German guns appear to be inferior to our artillery. Our aircraft patrol lines effectively.
0720. Mine sprung at Beaumont Hamel by British.
0730. Men begin crossing to German lines carrying artillery discs but smoke prevented good observation.
0920 Brigade instruct 18th Battalion DLI to move to line Monk trench to support 18th West Yorks.
0947. A Coy. 18th DLI leave Maitland and advance to Monk.
1000. B Coy. 18 DLI leave Maitland and advance to Monk with C Coy. 18th DLI in Maitland ready to advance. HQ in Maitland between Bleneau and Grey. 18th West Yorks in Languard east of Maitland, Brigade HQ on Legend.
1100. A & B Coys 18th DLI are heavily shelled in the open between Monk and Maitland.
1130. German artillery very effective and appearing to predominate. Brigade instructs B Coy 18 DLI to reorganise in Dunmow.
1157. Message to Brigade reporting dispositions of 18th DLI. 2 Platoons A Coy. in Monk. 1 Platoon A Coy. in Flag, 1 Platoon A Coy. in Maitland, B Coy. west of Monk, C Coy. in Maitland, Btn HQ as at 10am. Heavy casualties in all Coys.
1232. Brigade instructs B Coy. 18th DLI to hold Sackville in conjunction with 4th Div.
Brigade instructs ------ to hold New Dunmow.
1353. C Coy. 18th DLI with 60 men of 18th West Yorks in New Dunmow, A & B Coys garrison Maitland with bombing parties on right and left of New Dunmow and Languard and Lewis guns north and south of New Dunmow.
1511. 1 Coy. 11th East Yorks move to Maitland and are under O.C. 18th Durham LI to cover 159 Bty RFA.
1540. O.C. 18 Durham LI moves 11th East Yorks from Maitland to take over defence of Languard.
1543. C Coy. 18th DLI reports
(1) Front line trench blown out of existence as fighting trench,
(2) Front line full of East and West Yorks
(3) Recall of bombing parties working with 15th West Yorks.
1550. 18th West Yorks are collected by 18th Durham LI in New Dunmow. A & B Coys 18th DLI are being reorganised. Stragglers of 16th West Yorks are being collected.
Casualties in 18th DLI approximately (less D Coy.) 5 Officers wounded, 11 OR killed, 126 OR wounded. 4 Officers D Co. wounded, 17 OR D Co. reported Btn HQ.
18 Durham LI instructed by Brigade to hold front line for the night and expel counter attack. C Coy. manned front line, A & B in Maitland. 16th West Yorks in Dunmow. C Coy. 18DLI has bombing parties Sap A & Sap B
1745. 11th East Yorks reported in position in Languard.
1830. Major Tilly reported at 18th DLI HQ.
The National Archives 18DLi War Diary WO95/2361/1 Appendix 1

1st Jul 1916 Attack Made

1st Jul 1916 In Action

1st Jul 1916 Attack Made

1st Jul 1916 In Action

2nd Jul 1916 Reliefs Completed

4th Jul 1916 Reliefs

21st Sep 1916 Shelling  18th DLI took over left subsector from 18th West Yorks with 3 Coys. B, C and D, Right, Centre & Left in front line and A Coy. in support at Windy Corner. Very quiet afternoon. 15th West Yorks on right of 18th DLI, 11th East Lancs on left of Battalion. A fair amount of Minenwerfer activity on both sides.
18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1

1st Oct 1916 In the Trenches  18th Durhams are in the trenches of the Givenchy Sector. Weather is fine. Quiet on the whole. 11 East Lancs relieved 13 York & Lancs on their left during the night. Mutual rifle grenade & trench mortar activity in late afternoon. 60 reinforcements reported to 18th DLI, Capt. J. B. Hughes-Game was wounded.
18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1

18th Jan 1917 Court of Inquiry

19th July 1917 Diary

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There are:5249 items tagged 11th (Accrington) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Those known to have served with
11th (Accrington) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Allsup Percy. L/Cpl.
Ashworth Frederick. Pte . (d.1st Jul 1916)
Bell Albert. 2nd Lt. (d.27th March 1918)
Bradshaw DCM. Joe. Sgt.
Clegg Ernest Horatio. Sjt.
English Thomas Francis Malone. Pte.
Fell Frank. L/Cpl.
Flynn Charles . Pte.
Gotts Clarence Augustus. Pte. (d.27th Mar 1918)
Green Jesse. Pte.
Grills George Moss. Pte.
Hindle John . Cpl. (d.1st July 1916)
Horsfall VC. Basil Arthur. 2nd Lt. (d.27th Mar 1918)
Johnston Peter James. Pte. (d.8th Nov 1918)
Maugham Thomas. Sgt.
Pilkington Harry. Pte. (d.28th June 1918)
Robinson Thomas W. . Pte. (d.1st July 1916 )
Taylor Thomas. Pte.
Tyrer Albert. Pte. (d.27th Mar 1918)
Wild James Edward. Cpl. (d.9th May 1917)
Wixted James Clarence. Pte. (d.29th Dec 1915)

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Pte. Harry Pilkington 11th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment (d.28th June 1918)

Harry Pilkington died of wounds on 28th June 1918, aged 19. He was the son of Albert James and Lucy Pilkington, of 70, Disraeli St., Burnley Harry enlisted in February 1917 and had been in France since September of the same year. His mother, Lucy, received the following letter from the Rev. Dennis Sudall, Army Chaplain;
"Dear Mrs Pilkington, I am more sad than I can say to hear the news that has just reached me, that your son, Pte. Harry Pilkington (30657), 11th East Lancashire Regiment, has died of his wounds in hospital. Our battalion made an attack on the morning of June 28th, and your boy was wounded early in the fight. We found him lying in a trench, and did all that we possibly could for him, getting him to the doctor, and we all hoped he would recover. He was one of the best, brightest, most splendid lads it has been my fortune to meet, and I personally feel that in losing him I have lost one of my greatest friends out here. For him I know we need not grieve, since we Christians do know that what seems to us to be death is in reality but the beginning of a fuller and freer life beyond the grave. I do know that your boy has already met the Saviour, whom he served so faithfully here on earth. I like to think that God needs lads like your son to teach others, who in this life have not had the chances he had of learning this exceeding love. He will no doubt in previous letters told you I prepared him for confirmation and he was confirmed. It is the greatest joy to me to think of that, and of the fact that just before the fight he and many others came to Holy Communion, which was celebrated in the corner of a field. Everyone was fond of him, as he never shirked anything, but gave all he had to give unselfishly and happily for us all, cheerful always in spite of adversity. I cannot say all that is in my heart, but I hope you realise what I really wish to convey to you. With my earnest prayers and sympathy, believe me, yours sincerely, Dennis Sudall, Army Chaplain."
s flynn

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Pte . Frederick Ashworth 11th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment (d.1st Jul 1916)

I discovered Fred Ashworth while researching my family tree. Records state his death location as France and Flanders. He was 21 years old and deserves recognition for his actions.
Ruth Collins

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Pte. George Moss Grills 11th (Accrington) Battalion East Lancashire Regiment

George Moss was taken as a Prisoner of War in the early part of 1918 in Arras. I have obtained a copy of his record from the Red Cross. He was first taken to Parchim I/Meckl and then to Friedrichsfeld.
I also have his war record. I believe he was made to stay at home in the first part of the war as he worked in essential services. He was born in 1880 so he was about 34 when the war broke out. He was not happy at having to remain at home whilst his contemporaries joined up. He did eventually join them though as he enlisted in the 11th East Lancashire Regiment, otherwise known as the Accrington Pals.
Suzanne Nicholas

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Sgt. Thomas Maugham 11th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment

Thomas Maugham enlisted with the 20th Battalion, Manchester Regiment on 16th of November 1914. He was posted to the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 15th of December 1916 and transferred to the 8th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. On 26th January 1917 he was transferred to the 11th Battalion, other wise known as the Accrington Pals. On 13th November 1917 he was wounded, receiving a gun shot wound to his left thigh. Thomas was sent home to the 3rd Northern General Hospital in Sheffield and was eventually demobbed on 21st January 1919.
Peter Maugham

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Pte. Jesse Green 11th (Accrington Pals) Btn. B Coy. East Lancashire Regiment

Jesse Green was an original Accrington Pal enlisting in Sept 1914, aged 16. He is listed in the Accrington Observer on 23rd Feb 1915 as serving in B Coy.
After training he went to guard the Suez Canal on the 25th Dec. 1915, then to France on the 2nd March 1916. Jesse was promoted to Sergeant on the battlefield but this is not recognised by the MOD.
Jesse went over the top at the Somme on the 1st of July 1916. He was wounded in the left thigh and the bullet exited his lower left calf. The wound was Class 1x1. The date for admission of ailment was 4th July 1916 and he was transferred for a sick convoy on 4th July 1916 on the good ship Panama. On recovery he was posted to the 7th Btn. and later to the 2nd Btn. At some time Jesse was gassed and was possibly taken prisoner. Jesse received payment in German Marks whilst a POW.
Mark Green

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Pte. Thomas W. Robinson 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment (d.1st July 1916 )

Tom William Robinson was from Eccleston near Chorley in Lancashire. Before joining the 11th East Lancashire Regiment as a "Chorley Pal" he worked as a weaver at Carrington & Dewhurst's Mill in the village.
On 1st July, 1916 Tom, along with the other members of "Y" Company, Chorley Pals, 11th East Lancs Regt went over the top from Campion & Monk trenches to attack the German defences on the outskirts of the French village of Serre. The German defenders alerted by the previous waves of the British advance by "W" Company (Accrington Pals) and "X" Company ( Accrington & District) laid down heavy and accurate machine-gun and rifle fire rifle onto "Y" Company as soon as they went over the top. Tom barely reached more than 20-30 yds before he suffered a direct hit from a German shell. Pte.15841 Richard "Dickie" Barrow, saw Tom get "blown to bits by a shell" and said there was "nothing left of Tom to find". In the same advance Pte Barrow was seriously wounded after being hit in his head by German fire. Although badly wounded Pte Barrow managed to crawl back to the British lines from no-mans land. Tom is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval, Northern France. Tom Robinson was my grandfather's elder brother.

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Pte. Clarence Augustus Gotts 11th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment (d.27th Mar 1918)

Clarence Gotts was the son of Augustus James and Emily Louisa Gotts, of 60 Lea Bridge Gardens, Leyton, London. He served with the 11th Bn., East Lancashire Regiment and died on Wednesday, 27th March 1918. Aged 19.
Ian Gotts

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Pte. James Clarence Wixted 11th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment (d.29th Dec 1915)

James Wixted died 29th December 1915, aged 24. He os commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. He was the son of Mrs. Mary Wolstenholme (formerly Wixted), of Lower Hugh Edge Farm, Crawshawbooth, Manchester
s flynn

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Cpl. James Edward Wild 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment (d.9th May 1917)

James Wild was my great uncle who was killed in action. He has no known resting place but I believe he was killed near Oppy Wood.

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Pte. Peter James Johnston 11th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment (d.8th Nov 1918)

Peter Johnston served with the 11th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment during WW1 and died on the 8th November 1918. He is buried in Vichte Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Jenny Scott

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Pte. Charles Flynn 11th (Accrington Pals) Btn. East Lancashire Regiment

Charles Flynn served with the 11th (Accrington Pals) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. Charles was born in Accrington in 1882 and lived in Augusta Street, Accrington. He was employed at H&B in the town as an Iron Turner before enlisting.
Charles died after the war in 1925, partly due to the effects of being gassed during the war. He is remembered on the Sacred Heart RC Roll of Honour. The Roll of Honour is now at St Mary's RC Church Oswaldtwisle. No known photo remains of Charles.

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2nd Lt. Basil Arthur Horsfall VC. 1st Btn. East Lancashire Regiment (d.27th Mar 1918)

Second Lieutenant Basil Arthur Horsfall was born on 4 October 1887 in Colombo, Ceylon. He left a position with Barclay's Bank, London, to become a rubber planter back in Ceylon, where he also held a civil service position with the Public Works Department and served with the Ceylon Engineers. During the Great War, he served as 2nd Lieutenant with the 1st Battalion, attached to the 11th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. The citation to his VC reads:
"On the 21st March 1918 between Moyenneville and Ablainzevelle, France, the enemy attacked Second Lieutenant Horsfall's centre platoon, his three forward sections were driven back and he was wounded in the head by enemy fire. Ignoring the wound, he immediately reorganised what remained of his troops and counter attacked to regain his original position. Despite the severity of his head wound, he refused to go to the dressing station, as the three other officers in his company had been killed. Later, he made another counter attack, but was ordered to withdraw. The last to leave his position, he was shot soon afterwards."
S. Flynn

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Sgt. Joe Bradshaw DCM. 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment

Joe Bradshaw was my husband's grandfather and was revered as a legend in the family. He originally joined up in 1910 giving his name as Jack Bradshaw, and re-enlisted at the start of the war. He appears to have been in Egypt when he was awarded the D.C.M., and I have yet to find out the reason for the award. I am not sure whether the family actually knew as he was a very self-effacing man, so much so that on hearing that the Accrington town dignitaries and population were waiting to greet him on is return when it became known of his medal, he got off the train at the station before so avoid the fuss. If anyone knows how I can find details of the reason for the award I would be most grateful.
Norma Bradshaw

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Cpl. John Hindle 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment (d.1st July 1916)

John Hindle was my paternal grandfather's brother and I can't remember there being any stories except that he died in WWI. I found the details on checking UK, Soldiers who had died in the Great War. I would like to find out more and am continuing to 'dig'.
Liz Newton

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11th (Accrington) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment
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11th (Accrington) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment

Want to know more about 11th (Accrington) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment?

Those known to have served with11th (Accrington) Battalion, East Lancashire Regimentduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 11th (Accrington) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
11th (Accrington) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment
during the Great War 1914-1918.