Leighton Buzzard does it's bit

[Hedgehog]

WW1
Major John Storer (on horseback) observes the 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, marching through Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. Formed in September 1914, the battalion trained in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire in the winter of 1914-1915, when this photograph was taken.
The Battalion landed at Boulogne on 10 September 1915.
Major Storer was killed a few weeks later, on 25 September, at the Battle of Loos. His name can be found on the Loos Memorial to the Missing. The inexperienced battalion lost 22 out of its 24 officers at Loos, while 471 other ranks were reported as killed, wounded or missing. Commanding officer lieutenant colonel Harold Walter was among the casualties.

 

[Nelson1812]

Good job they never had hedgehogs for mascots in those days Ted!

Wonder how many were volunteers?

Edit:
In the United Kingdom, conscription has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1920, the second from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963. Known as Military Service from 1916 to 1920, the system of conscription from 1939 to 1960 was called National Service, but between 1939 and 1948, it was often referred to as "war service" in documents relating to National Insurance and pension provision.

Guess they were all volunteers...