The 16th (Irish) Division first saw serious action in September 1916, still as part of the long drawn-out Somme campaign.

They arrived in France on August 12, in time to participate in the closing days of the 1916 Somme campaign.

The Pals character of the battalion would never be regained, losing many more casualties before the end of the Somme campaign.

Recruitment remained fairly steady through 1914 and early 1915, but fell dramatically during the later years, especially after the Somme campaign, which resulted in 500,000 casualties.

Though subsequently assigned a staff position, Ged transferred back to a combat posting soon after the start of the Somme campaign and was killed in a night assault on German line in late July.

In July, bad news from the Somme campaign swept concern over Jutland from the British consciousness.

Before the Somme campaign, the spirit of patriotic young Britons was epitomised by the poetry of Rupert Brooke - a belief in the justice of their cause and their hope for a better world.

The 2nd Battalion fought through the later battles of 1915 and was involved in the first battle that used tanks toward the end of the Somme campaign in 1916.

Eleven battalions of the regiment fought during the Somme campaign.

Both Barnsley Pals battalions took part in the attack on Serre on the first day of the Somme campaign.