Hello Christhope,
The Sportsmen were famously raised in 1914 at a hotel on the Strand, in London, I suppose you could suggest that they were a "pals" battalion, in as much as half the gentlemen's clubs in the West End began to empty, but, that is not the really the same as, for example, the Accrington Pals.
The battalion was filled with a large portion of men who might more naturally have been officers, although, of course, many would ultimately go onward and receive commissions before the war ended in various regiments and corps.
They had distinctive shoulder titles, but, I would think they did not last long after 1916, being replaced by the basic regimental titles, I have never really understood the rational for this, simply because each man also wore the identity of his battalion around his neck.
Regards Frank
Quote:
Originally Posted by verdun
hello
very nice title! but sorry for my ignorance what's "the original Sportsmen"?? pals btn?
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