8th ( service ) Battalion Lincolnshire regiment The 8th ( Service ) Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment was established on 15 September 1914 . Initial Training . The Battalion trained at Grimsby during August 1914 , and Halton Park , near Tring later in November 1914 . The Battalion moved into billets at Leighton Buzzard for the winter of 1914 ( there are a series of photographs of the 8th Lincolns marching through Leighton Buzzard in the Imperial War Museum ' s photograph collection ) . They are in khaki uniform as opposed the hated Kitchener blue . Their kit is the old style leather webbing and they carry what appears to be the older long Lee Enfield rifle . In the spring of 1915 the Battalion moved to Halton Park Camp , Wendover and miniature rifle practice commenced . After completing the musketry course and a Review by Lord Kitchener , the Battalion moved to Witley Camp North , marching past His Majesty the King and Lord Kitchener , 12 August 1915 . It should be noted that all the Battalion commanders had been in retirement at the outbreak of war . Of the 21st Division in which the 8th Lincolns were attached only 14 officers had any previous experience in the Regular army . Active Service . The inexperienced Battalion entrained for overseas service at Milton Station on 9 September 1915 . On the 10 September 1915 the Battalion left England via Folkestone and sailed to Boulogne . The Battalion ’ s compliment was 28 officers , 2 personnel , and 993 Other Ranks . For a week the Battalion stayed in the Watten area before setting off for the front . The Battle of Loos - 25 / 27 September 1915 . The 8th Lincolns ( Lieut . - Colonel H . E . Walters ) were part of the 63rd Brigade ( Brigadier - General N . T . Nickalls ) , 21st Division ( Major - General Forestier - Walker ) from XI Corps ( Lieutenant - General R . C . B . Haking ) . They formed part of the General Reserve . The 21st Division had no previous experience of warfare . It should be remembered the 8th Lincolns had only landed in France on 10 September - just a fortnight before the Battle of Loos . A long and really arduous march took place which led the Battalion to the front and their first engagement of the war . Starting on the evening of 20 / 21 September the route led them from Watten via Bayenghem , Racquingham , Norrent Fontes , Cauchy , Nieux les Mines , Vermelles , the pit head Fosse 7 and finally beyond Loos . The Brigade ’ s objective was Annay about 1 ½ miles beyond the German ’ s second line of defence . They marched mostly through the night and camped during the day . It was cold and wet , pouring with rain , and the noise of the guns and bombardment kept the men awake . As they got closer to the front the advance was painfully slow . The roads were jam - packed with wagons , ambulances , walking wounded and German prisoners . The 8th Lincolns soon came under long - range shell - fire from heavy artillery . Tired , wet through and hungry they continued their painfully slow march toward Loos . They were carrying full equipment , including their greatcoat s which became even heavier with the rain . When the Battalion eventually reached the battle zone the advance was extremely difficult and tortuous . It was pitch dark , they had to cross the old British front - line and then the smashed German original front - line trenches . The frontline was littered with the dead and dying . They marched to the sound of rifle and machine - gun fire , the screaming of dying men , shells and loud explosions . 2nd Lieutenant Cragg of the 8th Lincolns described the sight , The situation for the officers was very confused . They were only given a compass bearing to march on – they had been told and thought they were pursuing a beaten enemy . This could not have been further from the truth . At midnight on 25 September there was a sudden burst of rifle and machine gun fire . It was thought from Chalk Pit Wood , the wood was cleared by A company , whilst supported by D company . A Company suffered many casualties . The night was spent preparing trenches . When dawn broke on 26 September the 8th Lincolns were in a position facing towards Hill 70 . Three Companies of the Lincolns opened fire on German targets retiring from Hill 70 . However , this action gave away their positions and German artillery responded . The shallow trenches gave the men a little protection but alas casualties ensued . The Germans continued shelling and their infantry made their way through Bois Hugo . The Germans attacked [ 153 Infantry Regiment ( 8th Division ) part of 106 regiment and 178 Regiment ( 123rd Saxon ) Division ] from both sides of Bois Hugo engaging A , B and C Companies of the Lincolns . There was a short controlled retirement . Hand - to - hand fighting took place , bayonet charges were tried but were unsuccessful . Lieut . - Colonel H . E . Walter was killed whilst leading his men forward . A counter attack by the Lincolns retook part of Bois Hugo . However , the Germans attacked again and gained complete control of Bois Hugo . In the late afternoon the Germans rushed the remaining entrenched Lincolns . The dwindling number of Lincolns were almost surrounded and were forced to retire . Under pressure from the German advance the few officers and men who survived withdrew . In fact , all officers of the Battalion became casualties , and only four remained . Capt . H . Pattinson being the senior surviving officer assumed command . He was promoted to the rank of major at the tender age of just 20 years old . The lack of experience caused many unnecessary casualties , and in the heat of the battle officers and NCOs found their training lacking . In their first battle the 8th Battalion lost 22 of their 24 officers . 471 other ranks were killed , wounded or missing . The 8th Lincolns were taken out of the line and into billets to receive replacements , for training , periods of work on trench defences , periodical tours of the trenches and working parties .