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Welcome to the '8th East Lancs' website.
The 8th (Service) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment was, in some ways, an unremarkable unit of the British Expeditionary Force.
Although raised at the same times as the ‘Pals’ movement swept the country, the 8th Battalion was not one of those flamboyant creations but rather one which required men not only from different parts of Lancashire, but also from several different regiments, to bring it to establishment.
Soldiers from the regiment came from all over Lancashire - sizeable contingents enlisting in Blackburn, Burnley, Preston, Bolton, Nelson, Accrington, Bacup and Rawtenstall. Large contingents came from Liverpool and Manchester, while significant numbers of men came from other northern counties.
From the beginning, Christopher Boardman and myself have dedicated ourselves to uncovering more about the battalion in which our relatives fought. This site serves mainly to explain about the 8th East Lancs and act as a contact point with those who would like to know more about the unit, be they relatives of soldiers, those interested in Lancashire history or in the Great War in general.
Through this process, we have learned much also about the activities of 37th Division and we may be able to help those with an interest there too. We are not experts, but are willing to help where we can.
News
1. The book launch at Towneley Hall took place successfully yesterday, 16th November. More about that in the future, but in the mean time here are a few pictures of the event.
Clockwise from the left: Christopher signing a few books; the event room at Towneley with a living history soldier; the mayor of Burnley listens to the band.
2. Two articles appeared in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph during the last week of October.
Click here to see the piece about Lancashire's Forgotten Heroes.
Click here to see the response from Margaret Riley, who recognised her grandfather in the original piece.
Some of the pages on this site have music linked to them. If this adds to your enjoyment of the site turn on your speakers.
For more information we can be contacted at:
dstephenbarker@hotmail.com
Stephen Barker updated 1st November 2008.
© Stephen Barker & Christopher Boardman 2008.
Forgotten Places.
Sidbury Hill, close to Tidworth, Wiltshire, the site of the inspection of 37th Division by King George V on 23rd June 1915. It was in this natural amphitheatre that the men of 8th East Lancs took their place alongside the other 11 battalions of the Division and other units.
20,000 men in all took part, entering the 'arena' from the four access roads. Walkers can just be made out close to the bushes at the centre of the picture and give a sense of scale.
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 'Lancashire's Forgotten Heroes'
Click here to order a copy of this new history of the 8th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment during the Great War.
by Stephen Barker & Christopher Boardman.
Published on November 1st 2008 by The History Press .
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Unpublished trench photos.
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Unique mapping.
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Original, unused sources.
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Interpretation of battles.
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Comprehensive narrative.
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Pen portraits and images of individual soldiers.
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Foreward by Dr Bill Mitchinson of Birmingham University, Great War Studies Department.
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Find out about the origins of the men who made up the battalion in its early days.
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Follow the lives of some of the men who served in the unit.
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Discover why the battalion went to France ahead of schedule in 1915.
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Learn about the real reason for the failure of the attack on Pozieres in July 1916.
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Read about the loss of ten officers to 'friendly-fire' on the Redan Ridge.
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Follow the men through their attack in the snow, alongside tanks and cavalry at Monchy-le-Preux, Arras in 1917.
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Find out about the battalion's role at Passchendaele.
8th East Lancs
War Diary.
On these days 93 years ago.
The complete diary entries for November 1915
FONCQUEVILLERS
2nd
The Battn relieved the 10th Bn. R. Fus Regt. in the trenches. Relief was started 4pm and completed 6.20pm.
4th
16444 Pte. J Kennedy was wounded in the stomach. Died of wounds 5.11.15 in 19 CCS Doullons. (see page Into the Trenches)
5th
17782 Pte Summerfield was wounded Rifle wound back of right shoulder.
7th
17753 Pte E. Grimes wounded left shoulder.
10th
The enemy bombarded our position with aerial torpedoes and high explosive. The weather was very wet and trenches were in an awful state.
Lieut. J W Parks was transferred to this Battn. from 1st Battn. He assumed duties of adjutant 11.11.15
17506 Pte. Worrall and 17649 Pte. Howarth were wounde by fall of trenches after bombardment with aerial torpedoes.
11th
22545 Pte. Barnes was wounded by aerial torpedo. 17269 Pte. thorburn was wounded by HE shell in left shoulder.
14th
The Battalion was relieved by 10th R. Fus. The relief started at 3.30pm and was completed 5.45pm.
16th
The Battalion was alloted the Baths at PAS.
18th
Fatigues of 500 men were furnished for work on the trenches at BIENVILLERS and FONCQUEVILLERS, these fatigues were found alternate days with 11th BN Royal Warwicks.
26th
The Battalion relieved the 10th Bn R. Fus relief was started at 3pm and completed at 5.30pm.
30th
The situation has been very quiet although the weather very vile and the trecnhes are in a very dilapidated state and almost impas sable.
The aerial torpedoes referred to in the text belonged to a class of weapons called Granatenwerfer by the Germans. This literally means 'grenade mortar'
See the image opposite also.
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