Snippets of the Manchester Regiment

[timberman]

PLEASE NOTE
All of the information on this thread is taken from different sources most are copyright of groups or individuals, I have checked the use of sections on all the sites. I understand that if they are being used for non profit or non commercial use it is OK to put them on our site.
Please bear this in mind if you use any of the information on this thread.
Thank-you

If anything does infringe copyright let me know and I will gladly remove it.

I now have written permission to reproduce alot of the articles on this forum. The rest are covered by the statement above.

Neil (Timberman)



Lance-Corporal James Aspin


Newspaper

 Lance-Corporal James Aspin, Manchester Regiment, was killed in action in France on August 31st. He was 20 years of age, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Aspin, of School Lane, Guide. In civil life he was employed at Scotia Brook Paper Mill, Lower Darwen. He attended St. James’s, Guide, where he was an active worker in the Sunday school and held the position of hon. treasurer of the C.M.S. He enlisted on December 6th, 1916, and was drafted to France in March, 1917. He was wounded at Messines Ridge the following September, and only returned to France on March 20th of the present year. A lieutenant, writing to the mother, says: “I deeply regret to have to write to tell you that your son, Lance-Cpl. James Aspin, made the supreme sacrifice for his country on the 31st of August, 1918. I know it will be some small comfort and consolation to you to know that your son died bravely facing the enemy and doing his duty in a way that I cannot speak of too highly. As his company commander, I have a very high opinion of your lad, who always worked hard, was cheerful in the most adverse condition, and thoroughly respected by all his comrades and his officers. I deeply sympathise with you in your sad loss. I was myself with him when he died, and he was buried by his comrades on the battlefield in a little grave on a ridge covered with grass, from which the storm and stress of battle has passed, never, I hope, to return.” (Photo. by Burton and Garland, Ltd., Blackburn). Reported by: Blackburn Times, 14th September, 1918.


http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?pageid=257&language=eng

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Timberman

[timberman]

Private Ben Astley

Newspaper
 
A Gallant Messenger: Military Medal for Blackburn Man Private Ben Astley, Manchester Regiment, has been awarded the Military Medal. In a letter home he states that he has received the distinction for gallantry in delivering messages during a heavy German bombardment. Enlisting in July, 1915, at the early age of 17, he was drafted to France in August the following year. Before the war, Private Ashley resided with his father at 43, Highfield Road. He was connected with Christ Church, where his name is on the Roll of Honour. As a lad he attended Christ Church School, being a member of the football team. Reported by: Blackburn Times, 11th August, 1917.


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You may freely reproduce this content provided you do not do so in the course of a business and state clearly that the content was provided by for use in the Cotton Town digitization project.

Timberman

[timberman]

Private E. Ashley

Newspaper

D.C.M. for a Blackburn teacher. Private E. Ashley, who serves in the Manchester Regiment and has been awarded the D.C.M., is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Ashley, residing at 417, Bolton Road. Prior to enlisting he was a member of the teaching profession. Private Ashley has four brothers serving, one of whom, Second-Lieutenant J. Ashley, has gained the Military Medal, as reported elsewhere. Reported by: Blackburn Weekly Telegraph, 8th June, 1918. Commemorated at: St. Bartholomew’s Church.


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Timberman

[timberman]

Private Frank Barnett

Newspaper
Private F. Barnett, of the Manchester Regiment, died in hospital at Boulogne, on the 28th ult., from wounds received in action. The deceased was a son of Mr. H. Barnett, of “Lyndene,” Burlington Street, who is in business as a wholesale fruit salesman, Market Place. Prior to enlisting the deceased was in business with his father, who received the official news of his son’s death on Wednesday. The deceased was 22 years of age. He joined the East Lancashires on the 28th April, 1916, and in August was drafted to France. The following month he was transferred to the Manchester Regiment. Reported by: Blackburn Times, 3rd February, 1917. Commemorated on: St. Peter’s. Verified by his stepmother, 24th June, 1929.


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You may freely reproduce this content provided you do not do so in the course of a business and state clearly that the content was provided by for use in the Cotton Town digitization project.

Timberman

[timberman]

Private James Bayley

Newspaper 

Private James Bayley (23), of the Manchester Regiment, has been killed in action in France. Prior to enlisting he was employed by Messrs. Chew’s, Mincing Lane, Blackburn. He attended Paradise United Methodist Church, and his name is on the roll of honour there. His mother resides at 81, Balaclava Street, Blackburn. He has a brother serving in India. Reported by: Blackburn Weekly Telegraph, 4 May, 1918.


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Timberman

[timberman]

James Pitts VC

"On the 6th of January 1900 sixteen of the Manchester Regiment, without any officers to guide or direct them, held a remote position at Caesar's Camp from three o'clock in the morning till nightfall.  When the Devonshires reinforced the fighting line at that point and the enemy were repulsed, it was found that fourteen of these brave men were lying dead, another was wounded, and only one remained unscathed."
Thus did Sir George White, leader of the British forces at Ladysmith, describe the action which saw Private James Pitts become Blackburn's first winner of the Victoria Cross. The action took place during the Boer War on craggy heights in Natal's mountain wilderness.
 
James Pitts was born in Barton Street on February 26th 1877, the eldest of 16 children. His father, Patrick, was an umbrella hawker.  Both his parents were of Irish origin.  James attended St Ann's and then St Alban's schools.  He left at age 13 and worked in the mill until he was 18 when he enlisted with the 1st Manchester Regiment at Ashton Barracks. In November 1897 he sailed for Gibraltar.  Two years later he was on his way to the Cape, Pietermaritzburg first and then Ladysmith.
At the outbreak of the war the Boers had quickly surrounded Ladysmith.  A British counter-attack failed and Ladysmith was besieged for 118 days.  Knowing British relief was on its way, the Boers attacked on the night of January 5th 1900. The British line south of Ladysmith ran along a ridge known as the Platrand,whose features had been named Wagon Point, Wagon Ridge and Caesar's Camp  - after features near Aldershot, well known to the British troops. The Boers stormed Caesar's Camp, and it was here that James Pitts and his comrades held out without food or water for fifteen hours, under heavy fire all the time.
 
It wasn't until July that year that news of Private Pitts' VC reached Blackburn.  Pitts received the medal the following year on June 6th from Lord Kitchener.  In 1904 Pitts returned to Blackburn to an enthusiatic welcome and a presentation of £50 from the Mayor. He started work as a labourer at Bank Top foundry, but found regular work hard to come by. In 1914 he re-enlisted in Kitchener's army, joining his old regiment.
After the war Pitts got a job with the Highways Dept with Blackburn Corporation and remained there for 34 years.  He died on February 18th 1955.  He was buried in Blackburn Cemetery with full military honours, a three volley salute, and a bugler who sounded the Last Post and Reveille.


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Timberman

[timberman]

BERLIN OFFICIAL REPORT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 154, 28 December 1914, Page 7

BERLIN OFFICIAL REPORT
 
REGARDING A RECENT BATTLE MANCHESTER REGIMENT'S EXPLOIT. (Received December 28, ID a.m.) LONDON, 27th December." A wireless message from Berlin officially states : "It is now possible to judge the success of the battle against the British and the Indians at Festnbert and Bethune. Nineteen officers, • 819 men, fourteen, machine-guns, two French mortars and other material were captured. "The British left three thousand dead on the field 1 and asked for an armistice to bury the deadl. The German losses, were comparatively small." The above message apparently refers to the Manchester Regiment's exploit cabled on the 24th.

Timberman

[timberman]

( It in red the bit about the Manchester's)

General Sir Charles Harington

Inspiring leader during the Dunkirk retreat and in Normandy who later became C-in-C Middle East
January 30, 1910 - February 13, 2007
 
Tall, handsome and elegant in uniform, Charles Harington proved himself a fine trainer of men and a courageous leader — he had won the DSO and the MC during the Second World War. He was friendly and approachable, with a mind well tuned to the problems he faced.
His last command in the Middle East was undeniably difficult, with conflicting signals of intent from tribal and nationalist groupings all over the region. Appointed Commander-in-Chief of the tri-service Middle East Command in Aden in mid1963, he had responsibility for security of British installations and business interests from the Arabian Gulf to East Africa.
The immediate prospects were not discouraging, however, with plans for independence of the residual colonial territories and treaty states under discussion. Only the Voice of Cairo broadcasting President Nasser’s pan-Arab propaganda disturbed the tranquillity of the view from Aden’s Steamer Point — but the first trouble came from further south.

In January 1964 mutinies in battalions of the former King’s African Rifles in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda led to requests for support from the recently independent governments of those states. Harington responded quickly with support from all three services. Order was restored and African officers replaced the nucleus of British officers who had remained.
Harington was next faced by the rebellion of the Haushabi and Radfan tribes of the Western Aden Protectorate, on which there was poor intelligence about the insurgents’ motives. The revolt was contained, but deployment of British troops into the tribal areas fostered the establishment of the Front for the Liberation of South Yemen, later to establish a brief alliance of convenience with the Marxist orientated National Liberation Front, which concentrated its own campaign of violence in Aden.
Violence flared there as that in the Radfan died down. In September 1965 the Speaker of the embryo National Council, Sir Arthur Charles, was murdered outside his house in Crater and, when the President of the Council, Abdull al-Qawi Mecca-wi, refused to condemn the act, direct British rule was reimposed.
Counterinsurgency operations which followed could do little more than execute a policy of “restoration of law and order”. This became a lost cause as the Aden Police were infiltrated and local Special Branch officers killed.
Harington’s insistence that sentries should wear starched khaki drill reflected a hope that an atmosphere of normality might be maintained. But this was dashed with the decision by the first Harold Wilson Government to abandon Aden and the Protectorates by 1968, whether or not a successor administration could be established. By that time Harington had been appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff, and it was for a successor to plan an exit.
Charles Henry Pepys Harington was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel H. H. Harington and a relation of General Sir Charles “Tim” Harington, who was the Allied C-in-C in Constantino-ple at the time of the 1922 Chanak incident. He was educated at Malvern and RMC Sandhurst, from where he was commissioned into The (22nd) Cheshire Regiment in 1930.
After disbandment of the Machine Gun Corps in 1920, such infantry regiments as the Cheshires, provided the Army’s medium machinegun battalions, one to each infantry division. It was in this role that Harington went to France with the 1st Infantry Division to France in 1939.
 
During the withdrawal from the River Dyle in Belgium, at the outset of the German offensives of May 1940, his company supported the division’s rear-guard provided by the 13th/18th Royal Hussars and 21st Antitank Regiment RA. He was awarded the Military Cross for his part in the withdrawal to Dunkirk, in the words of the citation, “inflicting many casualties on the enemy and, due to skilful handling of his guns, completed the withdrawal with loss of only one section”.

In March 1944, as the Allied armies in Britain prepared for the Normandy invasion, he was appointed to command the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment. Circumstances had led to the units being untrained and on the point of being catego-rised unfit to take part in the invasion.
Harington threw himself into training the men and raising their confidence and morale to a pitch that the 1st Manchesters acquitted themselves with great distinction. Harington was awarded the DSO for leadership and gallantry during the first six weeks of the Normandy fighting.
After the end of the war in Europe, he was an instructor at the Staff College, Camberley, for two years before being appointed to the staff of the British Military Mission in Greece during the bitter civil war between government forces and communist rebels. He later commanded the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment, and was military assistant to two Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff in succession, before joining the planning staff at Nato Supreme Headquarters in Europe.
Advancement followed quickly. He commanded 49th Infantry Brigade in Kenya during the Mau Mau emergency, the School of Infantry at Warmin-ster, the 3rd Division in the United Kingdom Strategic Reserve and the Staff College, Camberley.
After these successes the period as C-in-C Middle East Command seemed, inevitably, a somewhat thorny row to have to hoe. Harington received little decisive political direction after reimposition of direct rule in Aden, and could only stand firm and try to maintain an air of calm. In the upshot nothing would probably have made any difference to the final outcome. Harington was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff in 1966.
His last appointment, in 1968, was Chief of Personnel and Logistics in the Ministry of Defence. In this he argued successfully for introduction of a proper military salary for serv-icemen, a concept that has stood the test of time.
He was Colonel of The Cheshire Regiment, 1962-68; president of the Combined Cadet Force Association, 1971-80; chairman of the Governors of the Star and Garter Home, 1972-80; and president of the Milocarian (Tri-Service) Athletic Club, 1966-99.
Harington married Victoire Marion Williams-Freeman in 1942. She died in 2000, and he is survived by a son and two daughters.

General Sir Charles Harington, GCB, CBE, DSO, MC, Chief of Personnel and Logistics, MoD, 1968-71, was born on January 30, 1910. He died on February 13, 2007, aged 97

Timberman

[timberman]

Title: Re: snippets of Manchester Regiment articles
Post by: timberman on September 06, 2009, 10:18:50 AM
________________________________________
This is a picture from George (one of the Mods)

Of a poppy from Manchester Hill.

Thank-you for sharing

Timberman

[timberman]

4th Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment.

Timberman

[timberman]

5th (Ardwick) Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment.


Timberman

[timberman]

Colonial Times
Friday 12 May 1848

HER MAJESTY'S 96th REGIMENT.
Presentation of Medal to Serjeant-Major
William Norris.
On Monday, the 8th instant, the Regiment was formed in the Barrack-square, in Review order, to witness the presentation of a Medal to Serjeant-Major William N' rris, for meri- torious conduct since he has been in Her Mnjesty's Service.
Lieutenant - Colonel Cumberland, having formed the Regiment into three sides of it square, directed the Field Officers to take post un his right and left, facing the colours, upon which he called Serjeant-Major Norris to the front. The Sorjeanc-Major, supported between the colours by the two senior Colour-Serjeants, advanced to the centre of the square, when the Commanding Officer spoke us follows :
" Serjeant-Major William Norris,-I am deputed by His Grace the Oommander-in Chief, Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, to present to you, on the public parade, this
Medal for meritorious services.
" Of the nature of those services, I can well testify. At Bermuda-at Halifax, Nova Scotia -at St. John's, Newfoundland-at Glasgow in Scotland-at Enniskillen and Dublin, in Ire- land-at Gosport, Bolton, Manchester, and Chatham, in England-on the voyage to these Colonies, and subsequent service for the lust six years as Serjeant-Major, your conduct and services have invariably been such as to call for ihj highest terms of approbation.
" I have the greatest pleasure to present to you this Medal, and am sure it will be to you, Serjeant-Major Norris, a subject of the greatest satisfaction as long as you live, to wear on your breast such a mark of Her Majesty's approval : it is an honour to myself, to the Officers, and to the whole Regiment, to receive such a pi oof of Her Majesty's esteem in the person of the Serjeant-Major of the corps."
The warrant for the presentation, signed by the Right Honorable the Military Secretary, Lieutenant-General Lord Fitzroy Somerset, G.C.B., was then read by the Adjutant, at the conclusion of which the Lieutenant-Colonel, turning to Major Oheape, requested him to do him the honor to assist bim in presenting the Medal which he held in his hand, saying he was sure he would be proud to do so to his old Pay-Serjeant, Serjeant-Major William Norris.
Major Cheape, in reply, requested permission to say a few words to the corps, and stepping to the front, said :
" He was proud of having the opportunity of bearing testimony to the merits and worth of the Serjeant-Major. He had been his Pay Serjeant for a number of years; he always placed the utmost confidence in him ; and that at all times the Serjeant-Major performed his
duties to his entire satisfactiun."
i Lieutenant-Colonel Cumberland and Major
Cheape then advanced to the Serjeant-Major, the Band playing the Regimental March, and fixed the Medal on his left breast, wishing him many happy years to wear it. The Colonel and Major then returned to their original places, when the Serjeant-Major stepped to the front, and returned thanks in the following terms :
" Sir, I return my most sincere thanks for my Sovereign's most gracious bounty, and trust that I may ever retain it with honour. I also return my most sincere thanks for your kind- ness, and the kindness of Major Cheape, for your high opinion of my past services, and shall ever remember it with gratitude."
The Regiment then salutedits colours, formed column of march, and proceeded to the Govern- ment Domain for Field Exercise.
In the evening after the interesting ceremo- nies of the day, the Non-Commissioned Officers of the Regiment met the Serjeant-Major in the Mess room, to congratulate him on the honour which had that day been conferred upon him.
After the health of Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Albert, the Royal Family, the Com mander-in-Chief, Lieutenant-Colonel Cumber- land and the Officers of the Regiment, and other loyal and appropriate toasts had been drank, the health of the Serjeant-Major followed. All these were responded to with the most hearty enthusiasm. The Serjeant-Major returned thanks in appropriate terms, and under feelings of emotion, to the Non-Commissioned Officers who had shown their appreciation of the honour which had that day been paid to him by his su- periors iu accordance with directions from Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria.
In addition to the presentation of the Silver Medal, Her Majesty has been graciously pleosed to grant Serjeant-Major Non is an annuity of £-20, commencing from the 1st April 1847, as a reward for his meritorious services.

Timberman

[timberman]

Title: Re: snippets of Manchester Regiment articles
Post by: timberman on September 25, 2009, 02:26:04 PM
________________________________________
Colonial Times

Tuesday 16 June 1840

English news.

[From the Commercial Journal.]
By the Thomas Lawrie, from Liverpool, we have received British news, at Sydney, to the 7th January. The most engrossing topic was the approaching nuptials of the Queen, which, it was expected, would be celebrated on the 16th February; we may, therefore, shortly look for the particulars of that joyous day.
| Great distress continued to prevail among
the working classes, and numerous meetings had been held, in the North of England, for the purpose of relieving the sufferings of the poor, who, although willing to work, could
not obtain employment j and, but for the charity of their fellow-creatures, must, therefore, starve.
The uniform Penny Postage was to com menceon the 10th January. The ouly difference between the new plan, and the one previously in existence is, that the penny must be paid when the letter is put into the Post-office, or the party to whom it is sent will be charged twopence, if not exceeding half an ounce, and so on in proportion.
The new king of Denmark has publicly de- clared himself friendly to the Freedom of the
Press.
The 96th regiment was under orders at Manchester, to prepare for embarkation to proceed to this Colony.
The average sum daily spent on ardent spirits, in Ireland, is nearly £20,000-(seven millions per annum-upwards of £800 an hour-) Surely Ireland must be a rich country to stand this-or, it is no wonder that its people
are poor.
The sons of the Emerald Isle were arranging to entertain the great Reformer, O'Connell, at j a public dinner, before his departure to England for the approaching Sessions, during which the interests of that unhappy country are expected to be more than ordinarily assailed.
Sperm oil is again higher; £110 has been paid for some parcels of first quality. The wool market was steady, but no appearance of an advance on the present prices.

Timberman

[timberman]

The Canberra Times
Friday 19 August 1938 

PALESTINE" -
JERUSALEM, Wednesday.
A British officer, Second¡ Lieut." R. F. 'Griffiths, of the Manchester, Regiment, was killed, when a land mine exploded hinder a lorry near Acre.

Two, armed men robbed a postal employee of a mail bag at Nablus.
It contained, among other valuables, £2,000 in notes consigned from Barclays  Bank at Nablue to Barclays
Batik at Jerusalem.
Terrorists attacked a labour camp at Anthlit' and abducted the Jewish police, inspector, his wife and three children, and his mother-in-law.
During- the attack a British inspector and an Arab warder were
wounded.

Timberman

[charlie]

George,
Thanks for sharing your „snippets“, I particularly liked the poppy from Manchester Hill.

Charlie