About 'on this day': Difference between revisions

'''On this day''' is a listing of historical events associated with the actions of the [[Lonsdale Battalion]], from formation in 1914 through to its [[Glossary:Disband|disbandment]] in 1918. The Lonsdales were a 'Pals' battalion, volunteers answering Field Marshal Earl Kitchener's call to arms - to fight for King and Country.

On the [[6 August|6th August]] Kitchener's plan to swell the ranks of the regular army with volunteers was approved by Parliament to an of increase of 500,000 men. Each man would sign up for no less than three year's service or the duration of the war (whichever the longest option) and thus, agree to be sent anywhere the army required them.<ref name="1914-1918">''[http://www.1914-1918.net/kitcheners.htm Kitchener's Army 1914-1918]''. 1914-1918.net. N.p., 2016. Web. 9 July 2016.</ref> On the [[11 August|11th August]] 1914, the official 'Your Country Needs You' call to arms was publish and the first 100,000 men became known as [[Glossary:K#K1|K1]] of [[Glossary:K#Kitchener's Army|Kitchener's Army]]. Just two weeks later on the [[28 August|28th August]] 1914, Kitchener asked for another 100,000 men. These became [[Glossary:K#K2|K2]] and with news of the British fighting in retreat on the front the number of volunteers enlisting in Kitchener's New Army increased. Soon after there were enough enlistees to fill [[Glossary:K#K3|K3]] and some of [[Glossary:K#K4|K4]], which were to be reserves. The numbers were filled with men from Regular Army units serving elsewhere in the Empire.<ref name="1914-1918" />

Details of Kitchener's Army are beyond the scope of this piece but suffice to say, K4 becomes a little convoluted at this point. K4 did not become a reserve force but were trained as regular fighting units. Then it was reconverted into reserve units. But by the [[10 December|10th December]] 1914 an order was issued to create the Fifth New Army as it was apparent there were still enough volunteers coming in. The Fifth New Army was subsequently titled K4 and was made up of men raised from from localised communities, which were later referred to as 'Pals'.<ref name="1914-1918" /> Men that grew up together enlisted together, trained together, fought together and in many cases, died together. K4 comprised of six Divisions - the 30th through to the 35th and the Lonsdales belonged to the [[Glossary:Brigade, 97th|97th Brigade]] of the [[Glossary:Division, 32nd|32nd Division]]. The actions of Lonsdale Pals battalion throughout its four year's existence are included here as daily events 'on this day'.

[[Category:ContentsOn this day]]