HELLO Frank's Diary 1917-18

[charlie]

C Wild - 304082 Pte Charles Wild 13th & 9th Bns

Patrick Garret - probably 352113 Pte William Garrett 9th Bn and 69781 Cheshire Regt. How many Garretts are not known as Pat!

[PhilipG]

Caroline,

The 9th battalion Manchester Regt. was part of 199 Brigade of the 66th (2nd/East Lancashire) Division, the other components being the 5th Connaught Rangers and the 18th King's.    At 8 am on the 8th October 1918, the battalion took part in an attack on the large village of Serain.     This village is adjacent to the Riqueval to Le Cateau road (D932).

The village was attacked by the 5th Connaughts and the 9th Manchesters accompanied by 8 tanks.   It was obvious that some fierce fighting ensued, for the capture of the village was not reported as complete until 7 pm.

It would seem that it was in this battle that Gordon, Dyson and Hibbs were killed.  PhilipG.

[CarolineBoo]

You guys are absolutely amazing!  Thanks so much for these incredible insights.

I have put in the information about the pendants into the comments for the post of 21st Dec 1917 - so I could give you some of the credit which you thoroughly deserve.

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Caroline

[charlie]

Dickinson

39126 Pte Samuel Goodwin Dickinson, 13th & 9th Bns and 69504 Cheshire Regt. Lived at 24 Blakelock St, Shaw.

[themonsstar]

1-9 Jan 1918

[themonsstar]

Next

[themonsstar]

The Fox Brothers

[themonsstar]

The Others Fox

[charlie]

Caroline

W Hilton

There are two possibilities for this man but it may be possible to identify the correct one by the diary entry dates.

13349 Pte William Hilton, 13th Bn, from Clayton, an original member of the Battalion, posted to the UK 08.06.1918.

28933 Pte William Hilton, 13th & 9th Bns, from Ince, joined the 13th Bn 18.01.1918.

Both men's service records have survived.

Are you aware that your Grandfathers brother served as 16237 Pte William Belford Whitehead with East Lancashire Regt?

Charlie

[charlie]

Joe Cheetham - probably T4/214730 Pte Joseph Cheetham, Army Service Corps. Enlisted 10.12.1915, served in Salonika where he contracted Malaria, lived at 154 Milnrow Rd, Shaw.

Joe Harrison - 5950 Pte Joseph Robert Harrison, 13th Bn, later 45654 2nd Bn King‘s Shropshire Light Infantry.

There are too many possibilities for Harry Taylor. Are you sure about the surname Caithness?, I can‘t find anything in the military or census records. Reference to the Bn War Diary may help identifying Lts Rowe and Barbie/Parker. I have also drawn a blank on Harry Oliver.

Charlie

[CarolineBoo]

Happy New Year!

Charlie, you mentioned William Whitehead - he was actually Frank's nephew.  Frank was the youngest child and his eldest sister (Elizabeth)was born in 1861 - she was 27 when Frank was born. So a lot of his nephews and nieces were around his age.

I do have some more family members that I would like to trace - many of whom crop up in the diary. Any insights gratefully received.

Harold Greenhalgh born in 1897 (Frank's nephew and in Salonika when Frank was there)

His nephews (sons of his eldest brother Sam Whitehead):
William b1898 (who you have already found)
Harry b1895
Albert b1893

Nephews (sons of his eldest sister Elizabeth who married a man with the surname Allen who ran off to America leaving her with the children):
John Thomas Allen b1884
Joseph F Allen b1894

Frank's other brothers were (not sure if they were too old for service and I don't know if they had any children):
Joseph Whitehead b1873
Harry Whitehead b1876

My grandmother's brothers (she was a Sutton, her family were all from Shaw) also served and are mentioned in the diary:

Abram Sutton was with the 27 King's Liverpool (I have 108 as the first digits of his number).  He was originally at the A Company Sidestrand Camp near Cromer in Norfolk.  I think he might then have been deployed abroad from references Frank makes to him.
 
Fred Sutton 388973 with the BSF (818 Divisional Employment??).  I know from family history that Fred went onto Russia (to fight with the White Army??)  He had a terrible time and would never talk about it.  I see that some troops after Sept 1918 victory in Salonika did move onto Russia but don't know much more than this.  Do you know what Divisional Employment means?

Best regards
Caroline

[charlie]

Caroline,
William B Whitehead served with the 8th & 6th Bns East Lancashire Regt.

Fredrick Sutton had previously served as 45026 South Wales Borderers. A Divisional Employment Company belonged to the Labour Corps. The Companies were manned by Soldiers who either through wounds or sickness were not fit enough to serve on the front line. His transfer to the Labour Corps suggests that he was either wounded or suffered from some longer term illness.The Companies were responsible for running all sorts of things from Cinemas & laundry to clothing stores. Themonsstar is the man to answer questions about the Labour Corps. 818 Divisional Employment Coy was a part of the 27th Division. The Division moved to Russia in late 1918 early 1919

http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/27th-division/

Charlie

[charlie]

Abram Clegg Sutton

Enlisted 10.12.1915 so a Derby Scheme volunteer, discharged 14.07.1919. Discharged as no longer fit to serve due to illness and awarded SWB number B/275513. He was discharged as 035219 Pte, Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

I cannot find anything to suggest that he ever served overseas. The 27th Bn Kings Liverpool Regt was a Home Service Bn formed at Sidestrand in April 1918. As far as I can tell he has no medal entitlement.

Charlie

[PhilipG]

Caroline,
I refer to your mention of the British Army in Russia in 1918 & 1919.  (Fred Sutton).  This it appears, concerned the revolution in Russia in 1917 and the need for ultimate interventions by the Allies; interventions being made in Murmansk and Vladivostock.     

It is interesting to note that the regiments involved chose to include these interventions in their Battle Honours.   For example, the King's Liverpools (17th Bn) - Archangel 1918-1919 and the Hampshires (9th Bn) - Siberia 1918-19, Archangel  1919.    PhilipG.

[sphinx]

Not forgetting the 1st Garrison Battalion The Manchester Regiment who were there also.

regards