Transfers of Manchester Regiment Officers to RFC/RAF

[PhilipG]

The Magazine of the Manchester Warehousemen and Clerks' Schools for November 1917 has the following entry therein:-

"Corporal G.R.Heeley, 17 Eldon Square, Reading, after twenty months with the Manchesters, has been transferred to the RFC." 

Alas, it does not indicate in what capacity he will be serving with the RFC.   As regards his previous service with "the Manchesters", I wonder if his battalion can be traced?   PhilipG.

[Tim Bell]

Philip,
3186 Pt G H Heeley received 1914-15 Star with 1/6th Bttn (14/8/15 2b) and is shown on the Roll as transferred to RAF 14/6/16.
His MIC gives the first name as George and RAF No as 26067.  The BWM/VM Roll names him George Haynes Heeley. His medals were unclaimed. 

Brother 2637 Arthur Edward Heeley was killed:-
Killed in action 23 Sep 1915 at Gallipoli. Buried at TWELVE TREE COPSE CEMETERY, Turkey.  Born 24/11/1893.  Son of late Arthur Heeley and Elizabeth Heeley, of  4 Norbreck Avenue, Chorlton-cum-Hardy.  Resident Waterloo, Liverpool.  Estate left to his mother and Thomas Wilkinson, cotton goods manufacturer. �Mentioned in the Battalion War Diary as having �behaved very gallantly�,Sept 20th 1915. �Letter received giving particulars of the death� �He was shot by a sniper whilst crawling from the bombing pit to his dug-out. There were five of them who had been throwing these bombs, and he was the last to leave. He was killed instantly. You will be proud to hear that the Colonel has recommended him for the D.C.M.; but as so many are recommended and nothing is heard further of it, we are not thinking any more about it.� � (Nov 1915 School Mag, p17-18) �Stanley Cooke was one of the men� �Bombs were flying thickly and I had some narrow shaves. Poor Ted Heeley met his death about 5:30am, shot through the head.� (6th Battalion the Manchester Regiment in the Great War � John Hartley, p135)

I've only seen a few extracts from the WACOS Magazine.  Are they on-line somewhere I haven't spotted?  My Grandad was a foundationer with his brother & sister.

Tim

[timberman]

John Edwin Herbert Chadwick
2nd Lieut 2/6th Bn
Transferred to RFC
possibly an observer with number 2 Sqn

Timberman

[PhilipG]

Tim,
Thank you & how sad. The mags. are in a book.

Timberman, Thanks to your post I think I have found the officer you mention.  Thank you.
 PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

                                                      Corporal G.H.Heeley  1/6th Manchesters.

As regards this NCO, it would now appear that initially his transfer to the RFC was to undertake duties as a clerk, but later he was commissioned, presumably in the RAF for non-flying duties.  PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

                                  2nd Lieutenant J.E.H.Chadwick : 2/6th Manchester Regt. & No. 2 Squadron RFC

I have traced this officer to some flying operations in which he was engaged when acting as an Observer on the 10th October 1915 and also on the 11th November of that year.

October 1915 established the superiority of the Fokker E-Type aircraft, an aircraft whose capabilities the Germans were able to exploit in the air to the disadvantage of the RFC, particularly by Immelmann, (the inventor of the manoeuvre "Immelmann Turn" or "roll off the top", the 10th October being the occasion of his 4th "victory").

On the afternoon of the 10th October, Lt. Chadwick was airborne in a BE2c aircraft No.1703 over what appears to be the La Bassee front, with Captain Babington piloting their machine.  Their flying duties were classed as "Air Observation".   At 3.15 p.m. whilst flying at an altitude of 8000 feet, they were in combat with a Fokker aircraft, the result of which was inconclusive and Babington and Chadwick returned safely to base.

On the 11th November the two flyers were again in the air in BE2c No.1703, this time in the morning and engaged on photographic operations.  They had reached a height of 7000 feet when they fired on three enemy Albatros machines, the engagement being inconclusive.  Babington and Chadwick later returned to their airfield with their machine undamaged.  PhilipG.

[Pete Th]

The War Diaries of the 11th Battalion include the following entry for 31st December 1917

"2/Lt H.W. Cattrall to RFC"

[PhilipG]

Pete,

Thank you. I will see if I can find anything about him at this end. PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                 Lieutenant F. Leach : 1/8th battalion Manchester Regiment & RAF (additional)       
   
Further research into the military career of this officer (see previous post), now reveals that he was an employee of the Central Argentine Railway in Rosario and that his forename was "Frederick".  He left the country on the 20th November 1914 and joined the Hon. Artillery Company in England.  It would seem that in due time he obtained a commission in the Manchesters, subsequently transferring to the RAF.

The notice concerning his death states that he was "killed in action".  However, it now seems that his RAF appointment was that of "Equipment Officer" and that he died of heatstroke on the 16.6.18 and was buried in Bombay, India. He was 29 years of age. PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

                                        2nd Lt. Henry Leslie Cooper Morley : 1/8th Manchesters & later Captain RFC

I have not been able to trace some of the details of the military career of this officer, but it would appear that he was serving in Egypt in November 1914.   There is no indication that he was engaged with the RFC in flying operations, so it may be that his contribution to the Junior Service was in a supporting role.  Post-war, he gives a forwarding address in Buenos Aires, but his name does not appear in the "Register of Volunteers from Argentina".  It would interesting to learn of his civilian occupation which required him to join Messrs.Bartlome Fritre in that city in May 1920.

As regards his service with the 1/8th Manchesters, this battalion sailed for Egypt on the 10th September 1914, arriving there on the 25th September of that year.   The records state that Morley joined (or even re-joined) the battalion on the 4th November, suggesting to me that he was already in some employment requiring him to work in Egypt.

A further question could be posed as to whether or not he went to Gallipoli with the battalion and was wounded, for there is evidence of the issue to him of a SWB.  An interesting case.   PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

                                      Captain A.G.Moore AFC (later Major) Manchester Regiment and RFC.

Despite an intensive search, I have not been able to discover either in which battalion of the Manchester Regiment this officer served or the details of the award to him of the Air Force Cross.

Upon his transfer to the RFC, Captain Moore was posted to No. 14 Squadron which had been formed on the 3rd February 1915, the unit departing for the Middle East in November of that year.  However, before that squadron's departure, Captain Moore was transferred to No. 24 Squadron RFC where he was briefly made Commanding Officer, a unit which was being formed at Hounslow Heath airfield, he taking up this appointment on the 1st September 1915 prior to his posting to France on the 23rd September.

An interesting aside is that Moore handed over his command of the squadron to Major L.G.Hawker, an "air ace" and a recipient of the VC and DSO.   This intrepid airman was killed in action on the 23rd November 1916, a victim of the German "air ace" Manfred von Richthofen.

Captain Moore, this time with the acting rank of Major, again took command of No. 24 Squadron RFC on the 23rd March 1917, finally relinquishing this command in August 1917.  The records indicate that he was still serving in April 1918 when the RFC became the RAF.   PhilipG.

[Robert Bonner]

2nd Lt. Henry Leslie Cooper Morley : 1/8th Manchesters & later Captain RFC

Philip.
Confirmation that your man was at Gallipoli.

The Ardwicks and 7th Manchesters, their comrades from the Burlington Street Battalion, landed under heavy fire from the Turkish guns on 7 May 1915 at ‘W’ and ‘V’ beaches sustaining a few casualties.  The battalion remained in the front line trenches under constant fire from snipers in the trees and dense brushwood close to the trenches and Lieutenant Morley was wounded on the 15th.

[PhilipG]

Thank you Robert for that information.  Philip.

[charlie]

Phillip, this thread on the GWF
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=194735

Gives Capt Moore as a flight commander with 14 Reserve Sqn in March 1916 and also that he was 4th Bn.

Charlie

[timberman]

Captain A.G.Moore AFC (later Major) Manchester Regiment and RFC.

Philip

This is what I have on this Officer.

He joined the 4th Bn Manchester Regiment 22 April 1905

I think this is him

The Welsh Regiment,  A. G.
Moore to be Captain, vice G. P. Hoggan,
seconded. Dated 10th March, 1904.

He is listed as 4th Bn all through the war.
From 1916 he is listed as Serving under Air Ministry
He went to France 16/09/1915. No mention of the Bn he was with.
He was entitled to the 1914-15 star, Victory and British medals.
At some stage he was awarded the MC but I can't find any
mention in the LG
I can't find any mention of the AFC either.

THE LONDON GAZETTE, 24 OCTOBER, 1919,

28th Sept. 1919.
Lt. 'F. H. Allchurch.
-2n� Lt. F. W. Ball.
�Lt. .E. P. Oavanah.
'2nd Lt. E. R. Clayton.
capt. A. G. Moore.
'2nd Lit. W. M. Munshaw.
"Lt. C. Seedhouse.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21 JUNE, 1916.
MID
Royal Flying Corps.
Bt. Maj. A. J. Ross, R.E.
'Capt. .A. G. Moore, Manch. R. (Spec. Res.).
'Temp. Capt. H. A. Van Ryneveld.
ILt. (temp. Capt. in Army) R. J. Tipton,
R.F.A. (T.F.).

L G SATURDAY, 24 MARCH, 1917.

ROYAL FLYING CORPS.
Mil. Wing.�The undermentioned appts. � are
made: � � . �
Sqdn. Comdrs.�From Flight Comdrs., and to>
be temp. Majors whilst so empld.�
Lt. (temp. Capt.) A. J. L. Scott, Suss,
Yeo., T.F. 6th Mar. 1917.
Capt. A. G. Moore, M.C., Manch. R.,
Spec. Res. 23rd Mar. 1917.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 7 FEBRUARY, 1916.

ESTABLISHMENTS.
ROYAL FLYING CORPS.
Military Wing'.
The undermentioned appointments are
made: �
Flight Commanders�
From Flying Officers.
Dated 27th January, 1916.
Captain A. G. Moore, The Manchester
Regiment, Special Reserve.
Captain , Charles R. S. Bradley, 4th
Cavalry, Indian Army.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 22 JULY, 1915.

ESTABLISHMENTS.
ROYAL FLYING CORPS.
Military Wing.
The undermentioned appointments are
made: �
Flying Officers�
Temporary Second Lieutenant P. B.
Brown, 8th (Service) Battalion, The' South
Staffordshire Regiment, and to be transferred
to the General List. Dated 30th June,
1915.
Dated 2nd July, 1915.
Captain A. G. Moore, 4th Battalion
(Extra Reserve), The Manchester Regiment,
and to be seconded.
Second Lieutenant D. S. Jillings, The
Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire
Regiment).
Second Lieutenant S. T. Saunderson,
North Irish Horse, Special Reserve, and to
be seconded.

THE LONDON GAZETTE, 16 JULY, 1918.

FLYING BBANCH.
The undermentioned Capts. to be temp.
Majs. whilst empld. as Majs. (A. & S.) : �
P. Huskinson. 23rd June 1918.
! 1st July 1918.
B. E. Baker, D.S.O., M.C.
G. C. Bailey, D.S.O.
J. C. Griffiths.
H. Heming.
R. E. A. W. Hughes-Chamberlain.
T. R. Irons.
H. W.,G. Jones, M.C.
R. N. JRfo'ntagu-Stuart-Wortley.
D. O. kulholland.
A. G. Moore, M.C.
R. B. .Mansell.
A. D. Pearce.

The following officers have held command of No. 24 Squadron:
�   1 September 1915, Captain A G Moore
�   29 September 1915, Major L G Hawker
�   29 November 1916, Major C E Rabagliati
�   23 March 1917, Major A G Moore
�   22 August 1917, Major J G Swart

Timberman