'Kitcheners Man' Armband

[ilkley remembers]

Trying to assertain if the below illustrated armband was in common use in 1914. It comprises a white piece of cloth with the words 'Kitcheners Man' stitched in red. This example comes from the Bradford Museums Service.

I have a number of photographs showing new recruits wearing the armband before they were issued with uniform. The photographs were taken in September 1914 and show men who had enlisted into companies of the 9th and 10th Service Battalions of the West Riding Regiment (Duke of Wellingtons) that were raised in Wharfedale, Yorkshire.

The second photograph shows men of the Ilkley Pals Company  (later 'A' Coy 9th WRR) wearing the armband, setting off on their march to Halifax on Sept 3rd 1914.