More than 1100 men from Bamber Bridge served in the armed forces (mainly the Army) during the First World War.  More than 150 lost their lives.  This from a total population of 5-6,000.  The attrition rate of 13-14% was significantly higher than the national average (10-11%), so Bamber Bridge played a significant role in the war effort, her men and their families bearing more than their ‘fair share’ of the hardships.

 

Over the whole period of the War, the men from Bamber Bridge joined a wide variety of Regiments – before conscription was introduced in early 1916, men could choose which Regiment they would join and there was fierce competition between regiments for new recruits.  The largest block of recruits, though, was in May 1915 when about 100 men from the village all joined the Royal Field Artillery together.  This was similar to the phenomenon of ‘Pals Battalions’ and “C” Battery of 286 Brigade RFA is the closest Bamber Bridge came to having a ‘Pals Battalion’ of its own.

 

This surge in recruitment followed the sinking of the Lusitania on 7 May 1915, which at the time was considered an act of unparalleled barbarity.

 

At the time, the local newspapers carried adverts for Lord Derby’s recruitment campaign, with speeches and brass bands throughout the week in the Market Square and on Avenham Park, and local regiments also posted adverts in the papers and competed for recruits: 11th Battalion Loyal North Lancs: “Preston Lads for a Preston Regiment”; 4th LNL: “Join the Old Preston Territorial Battalion at the Front”.  The recruitment campaign also had an effect on surrounding villages, as the Preston Chronicle reported on May 22nd:

 

Fine Recruiting Record. 

 

A remarkable wave of patriotic fervour has swept over Bamber Bridge during the week, the recruiting efforts at Preston evidently being in a large measure responsible.  The district already possessed a fine recruiting record.  Officers have visited all the mills in the district and a good number of men have been secured, whilst workshops and business premises have added to the total…  A barber exhibited in his shop a notice saying: “Will all those who are going to enlist with me please sign their names on the opposite page?”  Fourteen names were obtained.  The women, too, have been very persistent in pointing out to the young men their duties.  Up to Tuesday evening no fewer than 125 men had been enrolled, the popular unit being the Lancashire Royal Field Artillery…  Although it is not possible to secure an official figure of the total number of recruits for the past week, between 250 and 300 can be taken as about correct.  Preston Chronicle 22 May 1915

 

Many men from Bamber Bridge and the surrounding area signed up for the Royal Field Artillery, joining the West Lancashire Brigades.   The local GP, Dr Trimble, had set up a recruiting and training centre for the RFA in 1908 and 11th Battery was established in the village.  The 2nd West Lancashire Brigade was later re-designated as 286 Brigade and 11th Battery became “C” Battery.  Since the men had all joined up en bloc, most of them stayed together throughout the War and almost all of them were in the same Battery – C Battery.