Leeds Pals were formed by the Lord Mayor and the city in September 1914. They were members of the 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Leeds) of The Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire Regiment): 93rd Brigade/31st Division. They trained at a special camp site in Colsterdale, near Masham, in the Yorkshire Dales. Initial duties were patrolling the coasts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire then North Africa. The men saw action at Ypres and the Somme, where 750 of 900 of the Leeds Pals perished. The policy of encouraging men to join the same units as friends and family extracted a terrible price on communities. Multiple losses were inflicted on neighbours and families when groups of Pals died together. It is said every street in Leeds lost at least one man. This photo gallery of memories tells the story of the recruitment process and training as well as personal stories and commemorations down the decades. READ MORE: The story of the Leeds city centre character known as 'Woodbine Lizzie' LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia
7. Leeds Pals
The Leeds Pals pictured during their training camp at Breary Banks at Colsterdale | YPN Photo: YPN
10. Leeds in the First World War
William Maxwell, left, in the uniform of the 9th Lancers. He and his brother Arthur, right, joined the regiment in 1914 and, tragically, both lost their lives. William died of wounds on May 11, 1915. They were likely to have been sustained near Ypres. Arthur was killed in action at Mons on August 30, 1914. The CWGC records show them both as being sons of George and Margaret Maxwell who had, by the time the records were compiled, moved to 9 Stainbeck Road Chapel Allerton. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
11. Leeds Pals
The village sign of Bus Les Artois in France where the Leeds Pals set off to battle. | YPN Photo: YPN
12. Leeds Pals
A poignant photo from September 2005 taken during a memorial service in Colsterdale for the Leeds Pals killed during the First World War. | YPN Photo: YPN