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
14. Leeds Pals
The Leeds Pals monument at Colsterdale. Pictured is Frank Fieldsend with the standard in September 2005. | YPN Photo: YPN
16. Leeds Pals
Members of the Great War Society sing the Pals recruiting song during commemorations in Bus-les-Artois in June 2006. | YPN Photo: YPN
17. Leeds Pals
A memorial to the Leeds Pals was unveiled at Victoria Gardens in the city centre in July 2006. | YPN Photo: YPN
18. Leeds Pals
Edward Allen Brotherton the Hon Col of Leeds Pals in 1915. He left his vast book collection to Leeds University and gave money to build the Brotherton Library | YPN Photo: YPN