During the first world war, Lord Kitchener came up with the brilliant idea of getting pals from work,sporting clubs etc to all join up together.
It was very successful, particularly in northern England were men/boys flocked to join what became known as the 'Pals' battalions.
However, when exposed to the slaughter of the western front, most notably the battle of the Somme, the flaw in the plan was revealed. Such were the casualties on the first day that whole towns lost their men folk.
( a similar thing happened to the american boys from Bedford on Omaha beach)

The following is is dedicated to my long lost Uncle Pvt Clement May and all his Pals.


THE BRADFORD PALS



The Songbirds sang on that one sunny Day,
when at 7.20am the whistles were blown,
and into Battle the brave Pals were thrown.
To advance on Serre the enemy to slay.

For seven Days before the Guns did fire,
explosions and thunder igniting the Black,
then over the Top carrying Rifle and Pack,
but the wrong Shells hadn't cut the Wire.

On they walked to the slaughter,as One,
in perfect lines up that long grassy slope,
stumbling on the fallen, knowing there's no hope,
bravely facing the Scythe of shell and Gun.

They didn't falter over Ground stained Red.
“Our Barrage will win this” they'd lied
so our young White Roses walked and died
French soil soon smothered with our dead.

The cold grey Northern Land left to mourn,
so many Widows and Houses draped in black.
All knew a Man that wouldn't be back
to see again the Town where they were born