Leicester During the First World War

Recruiting at the Town Hall

Following the outbreak of war on August 4^th 1914 the part-time soldiers of the Leicestershire Regiment Territorial Force and the Leicestershire Yeomanry were mobilised. Magazine Square was used to enlist and drill local soldiers. It was soon obvious that many more men were needed and a recruitment centre was set up at the Town Hall. Recruitment parades were organised and public meetings were well attended. Eventually about 50,000 men from Leicester and Leicestershire served.

Uniformed recruiters outside Town Hall, c.1914. Leicestershire Record Office

Religious and political opposition

Leicester had a tradition of political and religious dissent. One of Leicester’s M.P.s, Ramsay Macdonald had initially opposed the war and continued to campaign for a ‘just war’. Others opposed the war on religious grounds and some were imprisoned as conscientious objectors

Leicester’s industry is mobilised for the war effort

Two of Leicester’s key industries at the outbreak of war were the footwear and hosiery trades. Hosiery companies such as Corah and Pick were able to produce large quantities of underwear, socks, hats and cardigans for the military. The footwear industry also went in to full time production of army boots and this provided regular work for men and a large number of women.

In the engineering sector companies such as British United Shoe Machinery Company were involved in weapon production and lens manufacturer Taylor Hobson produced photographic lenses and artillery range finders. 

Memorial plaque for employees of the Corahs St Margaret’s Works killed in the First World War

Everyone plays their part

The nature of the war meant that all sections of society were involved in some way. For many years women had played a key part in Leicester’s industry and more women replaced men who enlisted. Many more nurses were required especially for military hospitals both in Leicester and at the Front.

The Women's Land Army was a British civilian organisation created so women could work in agriculture, replacing men who had been called up. Seen here on parade outside the Town Hall. Leicestershire Record Office

Charities and the role of the Mayor and Mayoress

Many charities were launched to provide aid for wounded servicemen, Belgian refugees, war widows and later unemployed ex- servicemen. Women and children were amongst the most enthusiastic of charity volunteers. In 1919 their Majesties, King George V and Queen Mary paid a formal visit to Leicester and knighted the war time mayor, Alderman Jonathan North in a ceremony at DeMontfort hall.

9,348 men from Leicester and Leicestershire lost their lives during the five years of conflict. In 1925 a permanent War Memorial in Victoria Park was unveiled to commemorate their sacrifice.

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