8737 Pte J.E. Shalliker DCM :2nd Bn. Manchester Regt.

[PhilipG]

This soldier served with the 2nd battalion at Le Cateau and Festubert.   Is anything known about him, in particular, the award to him of the DCM?   I note that the battalion made a bayonet charge at Trois Maisons in which they lost heavily.  I have been unable to locate Trois Maisons which I presume to be on the La Bassee front.

I also note that Sgt. Hogan won the VC near Festubert on the 29th October 1914. PhilipG.

[timberman]

D.C.M. London Gazette 30 June 1915 “For conspicuous devotion
to duty in bringing up ammunition to the firing line at Le Cateau
and at Festubert on 27th October 1914, after two men had been
killed in the attempt.”

Timberman

[charlie]

Philip,
Trois Maisons is just to the north of La Bassee between the D947 and D641.

http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.216289369768973&lat=50.5459&lon=2.8048&layers=101464708&b=1

Using the transparency slider will reveal the modern day map.

Charlie

[PhilipG]

Timberman,

Thank you for your help.  He seems to have survived the war.

Charlie,

Many thanks.  A magnificent help.

PhilipG.

[timberman]

There is a very good map showing the position of the 2nd Bn's
trench and a write up covering the period 16th to 29th October
1914 in The Manchester Gazette.
Also the Bn diary giving accounts of the casualties.

On my map it has Trois Maisons as Les 3 Maisons.

It was during this period that the 1st Bn Manchester Regiment
were in position to the right of the 2nd Bn.
It was also during the trench attack that Sgt J Hogan got his VC
that Second-Lieutenant James  Edgar Leach also got his VC.

Timberman

[PhilipG]

Timberman,

Thank you again.   I see from my 1:25000 map dated 1991, that the number of houses at Trois Maisons appears to have increased and that the N41 is now the D641.

You mention 2nd Lt. Leach VC.   I see from notes made in the distant past, that I have written that he was a CSM with the Northants Regiment and served in the Aisne campaign of 1914.   Have you by any chance come across that info. at all?    PhilipG.

[timberman]

In January 1911 Leach joined 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, transferring to the 1st Battalion on 15 March. Promotion quickly followed and in November 1911 he was appointed Lance Corporal and in February 1913 (12) awarded the Acting School Masters Certificate. He passed classes of instruction in Transport Duties in November 1913 and in Sanitary and Water Duties in February 1914. Promotion to full Corporal followed in June 1914. His military employment sheet for March and April 1914 show him as being ‘clean, sober, reliable, hardworking. Trained as battalion scout, has a schoolmaster’s certificate and is employed as a signaller’. His father died in Leicester in 1913 and his mother at about the same time.

At the outbreak of war in August 1914 Corporal (9265) Leach J was serving with the 1st Battalion in Blackdown, Aldershot. The Northamptonshires were part of 2nd Brigade in 1st Division and following mobilisation they landed at Le Havre, France on 13 August. Although they were present at Mons, the battalion had not been engaged and went through the great retreat with just a handful of casualties. All this changed on 10 September when the battalion, acting as part of the advanced guard for the Division, moved forward to Courchamps and was engaged in the action at Priez. The battle of the River Aisne commenced on the 13th lasting until the 18th and it was for his bravery and distinguished conduct during the days of battle that Leach was promoted Sergeant. He was also Mentioned in Despatches. (LG: 17.2.1915 p167) Promotion in the field quickly followed for three of the Northamptonshires when Company Sergeant-Major Phillpot, Company Quartermaster-Sergeant Eden and Sergeant Leach were selected to be awarded immediate commissions for their services in the field. On 1st October Leach was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment; hardly given time to obtain his new uniform he joined 2nd Manchesters at Dieval on 9 October.

The above information was supplied 
by Captain Robert Bonner

Timberman

[PhilipG]

Timberman,

Thank you very much indeed for that detailed account of commissioning in the field.     Many years ago I came across two similar cases, but that was in respect of a battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in January 1915.   PhilipG.