THE WAR HISTORY OF THE 1ST/4TH BATTALION THE LOYAL NORTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT [Illustration: THE COLOURS] THE WAR HISTORY OF THE 1st/4th Battalion The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, _now The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)_. 1914-1918 “_The Lancashire foot were as stout men as were in the world and as brave plunderers as ever went to a field...._ “_It was to admiration to see what a spirit of courage and resolution there was amongst us, and how God hid us from the fears and dangers we were exposed to._” CAPTAIN HODGSON, WRITING IN 1648, ON THE BATTLE OF PRESTON. [COPYRIGHT] 1921 Printed by GEO. TOULMIN & SONS, LTD., Guardian Works, Preston. Published by the BATTALION HISTORY COMMITTEE. [Illustration: _Photo: A. Winter, Preston._ LIEUTENANT-COLONEL RALPH HINDLE, D.S.O. He commanded the Battalion from February, 1915, till wounded in action at Festubert, and again from August, 1915, till killed in action at Vaucellette Farm, on 30th November, 1917. “_What do these fellows mean by saying, ‘I’ve done my bit’? What is their ‘bit’? I don’t consider I’ve done mine yet._”--Lieutenant-Colonel Hindle in 1917.] Dedication. To The Main Body of our Comrades, who have gone forward in triumph to the Unknown Land, We, The Rear Party, left behind to clean up and hand over, Dedicate this book. PREFACE The purpose of this book is to supply to the people of Preston and district, for the first time, a complete and authentic record of the adventures of their original local Territorial Infantry Battalion during the Great War, such a record being a chapter of local history which must sooner or later be written; to put into the hands of the relatives and friends of those who have gloriously fallen the story of the unit with which they served faithful unto death, with its accompanying tribute from their surviving comrades; to supply to the latter ... maimed or whole a book which they may hand down to posterity to speak of their service; and last, but not least, to speak to those who shall succeed to our traditions, of Comradeship, Cheerfulness, Endurance, Devotion to Duty, and all the virtues which go to make up “the Spirit of the Regiment.”