Halifax Hundred 1938-1946

[Dave1212]

I hope the New Year finds you all well. The past several months five additional families have been located in the '100' story.

One of these is that of Donald 'Donnie' Morrison. He enlisted March 1939, volunteered for the 5th (Ski) Battalion Scots Guards (Jan to March 1940) returned to the Manchesters when that unit disbanded & was later evacuated from Dunkirk June 1, 1940.

The family kindly shared today's attachment from Donnie's collection. Now, I don't know if this is a scanned newspaper article from the period or if it was copied from a book but I have seen the photograph before. In his own handwriting Don identifies the machine gunner on the right as himself & the other on the left as Gerald Walker from Dartmouth NS. Gerald also had enlisted in March 1939 & after Dunkirk remained with the 2nd Manchesters serving in Burma & India returning home in 1946. I have yet to locate his family.

At the time of Dunkirk I have both Gerald & Donnie serving in 'D' Company. Donnie was transferred to the Palestine Police Force in Sept 1941 where he served until returning home in the spring of 1945. He passed away in Halifax December 1999 at the age of 80.

As I mentioned, I'm sure I've seen this photo somewhere before - perhaps one of our experts has more details to add so I can share with Donnie's family.

Thanks in advance as always & look forward to hearing your thoughts

Dave

[Dave1212]

I came across the following link which features the photograph from my previous post:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205204879

The caption reads 'Vickers machine guns of 1/7th Manchester Regiment, 3rd Division, set up outside shops in St Pol, 8 March 1940.'

Don's family still has his paybook & he is in France during this time but the reference to the 1/7th Manchester Regiment, 3rd Division is confusing me. I'm pretty certain at the time of Dunkirk Don & Gerald Walker were with 'D' Company 2nd Manchesters which was 2nd Division I believe. The dates listed in his paybook for BEF service are as follows:

Sept 22 1939 - Feb 14 1940
March 2, 1940 - March 12, 1940
May 7, 1940 - June 1, 1940

We know he volunteered for the Ski Battalion Scots Guards in January 1940 & training for that unit took place in France & Scotland before being disbanded in March 1940. He did return to the Manchesters but how did he end up in the 1/7th?

Might the caption be incorrect about the unit? I would welcome your insight.

Thanks,

Dave

[Robert Bonner]

Dave. You are quite correct.
The IWM have got it wrong!  The 7th Battalion were not part of the BEF and remained in the UK at that time on coastal defences. The only Manchester Regiment machine-gun battalions in France with the BEF were the 2nd and the 9th.  Everything points to the photograph being of men of the 2nd Bn.

[Dave1212]

Thank you for the clarification Robert. One sad footnote to this photo (should the location of St Pol France be correct) Don's older brother & only sibling Flying Officer Air Bomber John Morrison 424 Squadron RCAF was shot down & killed on the morning of July 6, 1944 (Halifax Bomber). He & his six crewmates are buried at the St Pol War Cemetery.

Thanks again, I appreciate it.

Dave

[manchester48]

Hello Annie

Quite a few years later than your original post I am reading all about the Halifax Hundred and their involvement with the Manchester Regt.

Walter O'Hara married my Aunt Emily , nee Higham after his return from Singapore. My Uncle Eric (a.k.a. Edward "Teddy") was a friend of Walter and they returned together from Singapore to lodge at my grandparent's home at Gorton, Manchester, Lancashire.

I am only just learning about my Uncle Eric from the wonderful men on the Manchester Regiment Forum which I joined last week. Along with him I'm learning about his brother, Uncle Albert (a.k.a. Terence Higham) in the 2nd Regt and Walter.

Regards
Margaret

[Dave1212]

It's been far too long since my last posting but so happy you found us here Margaret as well as the FB '100' site. I've been looking so long for Walter's Canadian family to no avail so your post makes it seem like Christmas in May! Thanks for the clarification on Walter's POW photo - I had selected the incorrect one so some editing changes will be required. Much to share regarding Walter + so many questions.

Hope all my friends are well & we have a lot to catch up on - many wonderful photos & updates to share with you.

[manchester48]

Hello Dave 1212

Thank you for the newspaper item you posted.  How interesting that he requested enquiries to be posted to my Aunty Emily!!

I'm just pleased I am able to return in a small way the help and guidance I've received from gentlemen on the Manchester Regiment Forum
My interest is with my Uncle Eric Higham, friend of Walter O'Hara and although I didn't know either of the men in question, - or Aunty Emily for that matter as I was born 1948- I will post below all the knowledge I have from my family tree and bits of information gathered from my Mum, Miriam - Walter's sister-in-law who is now 92.

'Emily Higham born 6 Sep 1919 at 15 Laurence Street, Gorton, Manchester. Married James Brown in 1936 and lived at 40 Phelan Street, Collyhurst, Manchester, Lancashire. James died from peritonitis following a perforated appendicitis.
Walter O'Hara return from Singapore with my Uncle Eric and they both lodged with my grandparents at the Gorton address above.
Emily & Walter married at Gorton Monastery, Gorton, Manchester in the December quarter of 1945 (all a bit hasty lol) and lived at the Phelan St address.
Walter sailed from Liverpool to Montreal, Canada 1946
Emily sailed from Southampton on SS Queen Elizabeth to New York, arriving 21.10.1946 - Destined to join husband, Walter Ernest O'Hara
Address: 66 Munford Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
I believe from what I've learned from Aunty Jean, Emily's youngest sister, that they had a daughter, ? Maureen and a son ? Robert and that Emily worked as a nurse in Canada and its said that Walter was with the Canadian Mounted Police though I can't confirm that.

Walter died 15 April 1996 in Fredericton, New Brunswick
Emily died in 2001 in New Brunswick.

That is all I have on record I'm afraid. Hope it helps you fill in some gaps.

Regards

Margaret

[manchester48]

Dave 1212

I'm new to this forum.  Can't find how to post a photo.  Can you help please. Got a pic of Walter, Emily and Aunty Jean on holiday in Maine.
Margaret

[Dave1212]

Thanks for the response & additional info Margaret. Our dates differ slightly on their dod's but it's fantastic stuff - thanks for clarifying the 'Brown' surname. I had Walter serving in the Royal Canadian Artillery after the war but with no firm dates it's quite probable he later went to the RCMP. The names of their children is welcome & gives me a direction to look though Maureen O'Hara might prove interesting lol.

Thank's again Margaret.

[Dave1212]

Goto 'Addition Options' lower left in your Post Reply window & you'll see where to attach a file

[charlie]

Dave 1212

I'm new to this forum.  Can't find how to post a photo.  Can you help please. Got a pic of Walter, Emily and Aunty Jean on holiday in Maine.
Margaret

http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=682.0
Expains how to upload a photo

[manchester48]

Thanks Dave. Here we go. This one is Aunty Emily left, Walter and Aunty Jean right

[manchester48]

Second one is Aunty Emily with a man holding an Olympic torch but I don't know the dates of these pics. 

[Dave1212]

Wonderful photos - thank you so much for sharing them!

[manchester48]

I'm afraid that, apart from my Mum, Miriam, all my relatives are deceased. As I mentioned the info I gave you about their time in Canada and the pics came via my niece who was in touch with Aunty Jean about 10 years ago but I can't confirm any of the dates for you.  They are all tentatively entered in the family tree with ?? at the side. If you do manage to find anything definite I'd very much appreciate you letting me know so I can verify the tree details.

Ad yes, Maureen O'Hara should be interesting.  I was told she was named after the film star!!!  Good luck with that one. lol