Lives of the First World War

Portsmouth played a crucial role in the Battle of the Somme, with almost 1,100 local men killed and countless more wounded during the battle. Most of these came from the 14th and 15th Battalions of the Hampshire Regiment – officially the 1st and 2nd Portsmouth Pals battalions, but known locally as the 1st and 2nd Pompey Pals. Two days in September 1916 were notable for their high losses of Portsmouth men in the Pals battalions. 587 men from the 1st Pompey Pals went over the top on 3rd September, north of Hamel on the River Ancre, and 457 of them became casualties. But there was more tragedy for Portsmouth families when less than two weeks later, on 15th September, the 2nd Pompey Pals went into battle. They were successful in making their objective of the town of Flers, but with 302 casualties to the battalion. This community remembers the men of the Hampshire Regiment 14th Battalion (1st Portsmouth / Pompey Pals) who died on 3rd September 1916.

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