THE Queen's Lancashire Regiment earned 112 battle honours and 12 Victoria Crosses in what was said to be the war to end all wars. CAROLINE INNES looks back at the men who marched away

BETWEEN 1914-1918 a total of 2.5 million British soldiers were killed or wounded on the Western front as a rapidly advancing German army was finally halted by the British and French.

In the course of the Great War, the QLR raised 58 battalions, of whom 38 saw active service overseas, fighting in France and Flanders, Gallipoli, Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), Palestine, Macedonia and East Africa.

The sacrifices made were immense in the allied offensive which eventually brought this bloody war to an end.

The 11th service battalion East Lancashire Regiment, better known as the Accrington Pals, are probably one of the most remembered battalions in the conflict.

In their first major action, the attack on Serre on July 1, 1916 - the opening day of the Battle of the Somme - they, with the 1st East Lancashires who were fighting just a mile and a half away, suffered devastating losses.

Both battalions advanced steadily across open ground in the face of German machine guns and wire into the nightmare of No Man's Land. Most of them must have know that their chances of returning were remote.

Within hours the regiment suffered more casualties than on any other day in its history.

Of 722 men of the lst Battalion who went into action on that day only 237 came out, while the 11th Battalion, The Accrington Pals, lost 584 out of 720 in the attack.

Brigadier-General H C Trees, General Officer Commanding of the 94th Brigade, said at the time: "The shells, shrapnel, machine gun and rifle fire was such that hardly any of our men reached the German front trench.

"The lines which advanced in such admirable order, melted away under fire; yet not a man wavered, broke the ranks or attempted to go back. I have never seen, indeed could have never imagined such a magnificent display of gallantry, discipline and determination."

Their devotion to duty is commemorated annually. Three Victoria Crosses were awarded to men from the battalion.

John Downham, regimental secretary for the QLR, said: "The 1st battalion was part of the British expeditionary force in 1914 so had faced two years of fighting before even reaching the Somme.

"What amazes me was their ability again and again to reconstruct themselves and keep going.

"These soldiers had amazing morale and comradeship to keep coming back and even the wounded would rejoin the battle when they were fit enough."

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph has launched a campaign to save Lancashire's only remaining regiment. We have received more than 2,000 signatures from the county, and as far afield as Australia, backing our campaign.