On 6 August 1914, less than 48 hours after Britain's declaration of war, Parliament sanctioned an increase of 500,000 men for the Regular British Army.

The new 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.

[3] The formation sign of 20th (L) Division was a white circle bearing a black cross with a red bull's-eye at the centre.

[5] In the summer of 1917 the division adopted a comprehensive scheme for battalion identification signs worn on both sleeves.

Before the adoption of the divisional scheme the 7th SLI wore a Rifle green horizontal rectangle on the right sleeve.