15017 Sgt. John Hindle (left) and 15385 Sgt. James Bridge outside Accrington Pals Battalion Headquarters at 5 Whalley Road, Accrington (formerly a butcher's shop). The Accrington Pals is probably the best remembered of the battalions raised in the early months of the First World War in response to Kitchener's call for a volunteer army. Groups of friends from all walks of life in Accrington and its neighbouring towns enlisted together to form a battalion with a distinctively local identity. When recruitment began on 14th September, 104 men were accepted in the first three hours. Brothers, cousins, friends and workmates enlisted together, and by 24th September the Accrington battalion had reached a full strength of 36 officers and 1,076 other ranks.
