Wandsworth's links with France
The 'Pals' battalions of Wandsworth and Battersea in World War I
Wandsworth's links with France date back to when the 'Pals' Battalions of Wandsworth and Battersea freed the villages of Villers-Plouich and Flers, respectively, from German occupation during World War I.
How the Battalions were formed
Wandsworth Battalion's
first parade ground in
Young's brewery
In 1915, Secretary of State for War Lord Kitchener, asked the Mayors of the London local councils to help him recruit local men to serve in the army.
The Mayor of Wandsworth, Alderman Archibald Davis Dawnay JP, agreed to support the raising of a full infantry battalion of over a thousand men for the East Surrey Regiment. Wandsworth Town Hall was designated the battalion headquarters. This new battalion was numbered the 13th (Service) Battalion (Wandsworth) of the East Surrey Regiment.
Alderman Dawnay, Mayor of
Wandsworth at the Battalion's
sending off event,
Wandsworth Common, 1915
(P.Loobey)
The Battersea Battalion, The 10th (Service) Battalion (Battersea) of the Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, was also raised in 1915 by the Mayor of Battersea, Councillor TW Simmons JP.
The battalions were among many specially constituted units of the British Army made up of men from the same locality who were friends, neighbours or work colleagues; hence, they became known as 'Pals' battalions. In the mood of optimism that still prevailed in expectation of a relatively short war, few paused to consider the highly concentrated local impact that would result should the battalions suffer heavy losses.
