Soldiers of the Two World Wars
We researched the lives of soldiers whose names are recorded on the memorials in Newport and Wellington. They were mostly very young men, often old school friends and their regiments were known as the 'Pals'.
The Pals
On the reverse of this photograph it says, "The Pals 1914-1918". We can assume that this refers to the 6th Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, as this battalion was known as "The Pals", and the photograph was taken at the Quarry, Shrewsbury. Sometimes several members of the same family or groups of friends joined up at the same time, although not necessarily with the same regiment. In places like Oakengates and Dawley, they were often people who worked in the mines together. The memorial gates in Oakengates were paid for by the Oakengates Miners Welfare Committee.
First Time in the Trenches
This is a photograph of an officer and his men in the trenches during the First World War. You can read the diary here, along with diaries and letters from other soldiers.