The new British army

Sir John French's small army disappeared in the fighting of 1914 and 1915. Under the impulse of Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, a new army, always professional, made up of volunteers often from the same neighborhood or village, was created. These were the Pals Battalions. This army was young, untrained and, above all, untested; its officer corps was just as inexperienced. Troops from the Commonwealth: Australians, South Africans, New Zealanders and Canadians made up a large part of the British troops. On the right, young recruits of the new army during a review of their kit.