MOTG_OP_Brochure_2018-01-19_V1_Proof

At the beginning of August, Lord Kitchener and General French (Chief of Staff) had discussed the
possibility that the volunteer army could be recruited from men who knew each other. It was
thought that this would encourage enlistment. The men would have common bonds forged from
coming from the same area rather than being strangers. At first the names ‘Comrades’ or’ Friends’
were being considered until Lord Derby suggested the term ‘Pals’. This was soon adopted and
quickly became fixed in the public consciousness.
On 24 August, Derby and Kitchener decided to try and recruit Pals in Liverpool first, drawing
from the men working in the offices, shops and businesses. Three days later, Kitchener placed
a recruitment advertisement in The Liverpool Echo. The next evening, thousands of men keen
to enlist, arrived at the Drill Hall on St Anne’s Street. Lord Derby gave a speech praising their
patriotism and encouraged others to join up to form the ‘Pals Battalions’, where men from the same
community, workplace and friends could enlist and serve together. Over the next few days men
from all over the city answered the call and, by 1 September, four battalions had been raised: the
17, 18, 19 and 20 City Battalions King’s Liverpool Regiment, ‘The Liverpool Pals’.
| The Oswestry Pals 5