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, and 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 to form the 1st New Army ('K1').

Starting from Liverpool, Manchester and London, the phenomenon of 'Pals battalions' quickly spread across the country, as local recruiting committees offered complete units to the War Office.

A meeting held on 1 September 1914 resolved to form the Sheffield University and City Special Battalion of the local York and Lancaster Regiment.

For nearly three months the men lived in their own homes or lodgings in Sheffield, and drilled in their civilian clothes until the recruiting committee obtained uniforms for them.

Vickers Limited supplied 23 rifles and loaned a machine gun, which allowed some instruction to take place.

Soon after it was renumbered, the new 94th Bde was concentrated in May at Penkridge Bank Camp on Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, where it was joined by the Accrington Pals (11th East Lancashire Regiment).

Colonel Mainwaring was graded medically unfit for overseas service and gave up the command on 28 September, being replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel J.A.

Recruiting was carried out at Sheffield Town Hall in the third week of December and like the first volunteers the men were initially billeted in their own homes.

At the end of the year the 12th Bn took over Hyde Park Barracks (the Hallamshire Battalion's Drill Hall in St John's Road[4]) as its recruiting depot until April 1916.

[5][6][20] On 29 November 1915, 31st Division received warning orders to join the British Expeditionary Force in France, and advance parties set out for the embarkation ports of Folkestone and Southampton.

At the last minute, the destination was changed to Egypt, the advance parties were recalled, and on 7 December the troops embarked at Devonport, 12th Y&L aboard HM Transport Nestor of the Blue Funnel Line.

On 26 February orders arrived to reverse the process and the division began re-embarking at Port Said, 12th Y&L aboard HMT Briton on 10 March.

On 27 March the battalion arrived at Vignacourt, from where a party of officers and NCOs went into the line for instruction on Trench warfare by 8th Bn Worcestershire Regiment.

It then spent four periods in April–June holding the line in front of Colincamps, suffering its first battle casualties from enemy shellfire and trench raids.

On 5 June the battalion moved to Gézaincourt for a week's training, including a practice assault by the whole brigade over a mock up of the German trenches.

They then laid down in No man's land about 100 yards (91 m) in front of the trenches while the final intensive bombardment of the enemy positions was fired.

Thus alerted, the enemy put down their own heavy artillery barrage on the British line and their machine gun teams came out of their dugouts.

[14][15][27][28][29][30] Private A. Fretwell reported that 'When I got near the Gereman trenches I could see some of them coming out with their hands up, but when they saw how many of us had been hit, they changed their minds and ran back again'.

They disappeared from the Ancre Front on 24 February and 31st Division was ordered to send out strong patrols next day to regain touch with them.

On 9 April First Army captured Vimy Ridge, and next day 31st Division moved up in case it was required for exploitation as the Arras Offensive developed.

The assault was launched under a setting moon, which silhouetted the attackers to the enemy, and towards the darkness of Oppy Wood, in which the men could not see when their barrage lifted.

Information on the situation ahead was obscure, and at different times Lt-Col Riall was ordered to aid all four of 93rd Bde's battalions; the most alarming report came from the left flank of the brigade.

Late in June First Army began a series of feint attacks to draw attention away from the Ypres Salient where the BEF was planning a new offensive.

The British covering artillery was so powerful that the assaulting troops met little resistance, taking Gavrelle Mill and Oppy Wood with very few casualties.

Once it went 'over the top', the 12th Y&L suffered no casualties, and took its objective – Cadorna Trench – together with 50 prisoners, and immediately consolidated it for defence while the Germans fell back almost 1 mile (1.6 km), expecting a deeper penetration.

Lieutenant-Col Courtenay Hood was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his part in the Capture of Oppy Wood, and the York and Lancasters were later granted the Battle honour 'Oppy' for the work of the 12th, 13th and 14th battalions.

They also wore the 94th Brigade cloth sign of a square divided red-over-white, worn on the back beneath the collar, with a circle underneath (or possibly on each arm), which was green for 12th Bn.

Specialists wore a coloured band on the left forearm and shoulder straps: snipers green, signallers blue and runners red.

[79][80][81][82] Surviving members of the City Battalion erected a memorial plaque to their fallen comrades in Sheffield Cathedral.

Made from local Hopton Wood stone and Blue John fluorspar, it carries the bronze badge of the York & Lancaster Regiment and the coat of arms of Sheffield.