The newly appointed Secretary of State for War, Earl Kitchener of Khartoum, issued his famous call to arms: 'Your King and Country Need You', urging the first 100,000 volunteers to come forward.

[7][12][13] In July orders arrived for the division to move to France to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Western Front.

[14][15] At the end of August 37th Division entrained for Doullens and then marched to Foncquevillers in the Somme sector, where the BEF was taking over more of the line from French troops.

From 23 to 27 September during the Battle of Loos the division was stationed at La Cauchie to act as reserve for the French Tenth Army's attack, but then returned to Foncquevillers and the routine of trench holding alternating with billets in Souastre through the autumn and winter.

[16] By June 1916 13th RF had been in France almost a year and had still not participated in any major action, but the BEF was now preparing for that summer's 'Big Push' (the Battle of the Somme).

Due east of La Boisselle some resistance was encountered that held up No 2 Company, and by the time this was overcome the right flank had lost touch with the neighbouring brigade.

A small party pushed on ahead and suffered severely, but in two days the battalion had pushed the line forward materially, captured a battery of field artillery, several machine guns and nearly 200 prisoners for casualties that were moderate by the standards of the Somme: 1 officer and 20 other ranks (ORs) killed, 4 officers and 127 ORs wounded, and 13 missing.

[18][19][24][25][26][27] 111th Brigade spent early August digging and wiring new trenches in the High Wood area, suffering casualties from enemy shellfire.

It then fell back 50 yards (46 m) before resuming the advance under harassing machine gun fire from Beaucourt to the first objective, still ahead of the rest of the brigade.

The attack was to begin on 9 April after four days of bombardment, with the assaulting formations taking a succession of objectives, the Black, Blue and Brown lines.

The fresh 37th Division waiting in the Arras suburbs would then pass through to capture the final (Green Line) objective, just beyond Monchy, but it was unclear whether this could be tackled on the first day.

111th Brigade followed and launched its assault about 12.00, 13th RF crossing the northern slope of Orange Hill in a snowstorm and then swinging half-left towards the outlying woods west of Monchy.

13th RB gained its objectives within two hours, then about 08.25 No 3 Company of 13th RF came up alongside, but could not contact any troops on the other (right) flank and a German machine gun was in action at the crossroads.

This was the only part of the Battle of Arleux or Gavrelle that went to plan: later in the day 63rd Bde attacked across the battalion's front, having lost direction, and a number of Fusiliers got caught up with them, until recalled.

The offensive began with the Battle of Pilckem Ridge on 31 July, in which Second Army played a minor role, advancing its line slightly.

[10][11][45][46][47] The brigade did further tours of duty in the front and reserve lines and provided working parties, suffering some casualties from Mustard gas shelling.

111th Brigade's role in the battle was to form a defensive flank, with 13th RF swinging forward to seize some dugouts across the north of Gheluvelt Wood.

By 14.00 the line was reorganised with parties from several battalions and the brigade trench mortar battery, and the Germans did not attempt to press home their attack.

This was the final day of the main offensive (the Battle of the Ancre (1918)), but intermittent shelling, raiding, and bombing by aircraft continued throughout April and May.

13th RF on the left met opposition from a brickworks west of Achiet, but Capt Whitehead skilfully outflanked it with No 2 Company, capturing 60 prisoners and 11 light machine guns (he was awarded the DSO).

However, laying down their own fire the company was able to work round and enfilade this position, one Lewis Gun team rushing forward to take the enemy in the rear.

On 4 September 13 RF attempted to carry on the pursuit from near Hermies to a line east of Havrincourt, but after only 200 yards (180 m) was held up by machine guns and trench mortars from the right flank.

However, the 1/1st Hertfordshire Regiment on the right was still lagging and 13th RF was under enfilade fire, so it halted to let the Herts catch up, then advanced and set up its Lewis guns along the canal bank.

[10][11][69][70] The Allies carried out a series of coordinated attacks along the Western Front on 26–29 September and on 5 October the enemy retreated again, going back to the Beaurevoir Line.

However, it then advanced so rapidly that it was within half a mile of its objective before the barrage had suppressed the enemy machine guns on the high ground south of the farm.

Finding no enemy in front, No 3 Company pushed forward and captured Bethencourt, throwing out a line of outposts to the east overlooking the Selle.

Shortly after 05.30 No 4 Company was held up by uncut wire, but the advance resumed at 07.00 and two platoons crossed the Écaillon river, wading across west of Ghissignies, where it captured some prisoners.

With thick undergrowth and spasmodic machine gun fire coming down the railway, the weak battalion made slow progress.

Green and his men, completely isolated, dug in and threw out patrols, finding neither friend nor foe, until 5th Division passed through to continue the advance next morning.

On 11 November the division moved back to Caudry, and during the march the men were told that the Armistice with Germany had come into force at 11.00, bringing hostilities to an end.