Not particularly the Accrington Pals ( more Chorley Pals), but last year we had a lecture, with the History Society, from Steve Williams entitled 'A Mother's Tears' which was a mother's feelings and fears for her son as he was serving with the army, linked with correspondence between them.
Don't know whether he would answer any questions as appears to make a small income out of his lectures, but this is him anyway:
http://www.stevewilliamstalks.co.uk/...HURE-2011-.pdf
My gran worked at Howard & Bulloughs during this war, but have no stories to relate. Why didn't we ask them more, eh ?