2nd Battle of the Marne & the Manchester Regiment

[PhilipG]

After the terrific battles of March & April 1918, the British Army despatched some battalions to the Soissons and Marne area for rest, training and the absorption of reinforcements.  Deemed a quiet area, it was soon apparent that this was not the case, for the German Army went on the offensive on the 27 May 1918 pushing the Allies back to the Chateau-Thierry area.   This was the first occasion when the French, Italian, American and British forces  were fighting alongside one another.   The Manchesters were not involved, although I have discovered that the Manchester Regiment was represented in the battle by four officers, three of whom were killed in action on the 27th May 1918 and the fourth a day later.  Have we any info. please, on the officers concerned?   :-

Lt. Paul Wrey Gardiner 4th Manchesters         Attached 1st Worcesters.  Kia 27.5.18           Soissons Memorial

2nd Lt. Donovan Richardson McCallum Smith
            4th Manchesters                                             do.                   Dow    do.                          do.

Lt. Edward Henry Horncastle  10th Mcrs.                                              Kia      do.                          do.

Lt Herbert Godbert Senior       8th Mcrs.         Attached 2nd R. Berks.    Kia  28.5.18                         do.

PhilipG.

[charlie]

Philip
Captain Howard Virian Sampson, 9th Bn, was attached to the 2nd East Lancs. He was taken PoW on the 27th May at Berry au Bac. He lived at Jersey House, Withington.

Charlie

[PhilipG]

Charlie,

Thank you. Captain Sampson was the battalion's Adjutant and was one the 18 officers that the Commanding Officer, Lt.Col. G. E.M. Hill, selected to go into action with him.  9 officers were "Left out of Battle".   Colonel Hill was taken prisoner, as were the following Second Lieutenants attached to the 2nd East Lancashires from the Manchester Regt. :-

W. Yelland,  G.Fletcher & D.A.Roper.

I do not know the battalions of the Manchester Regiment from whence these subalterns came.  PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

Further research:-

The following officers from the Manchester Regiment were attached to the 2nd Bn. Royal Berkshire Regt. and became POW's whilst fighting with that Regiment on the 27th May 1918 during the Battle of the Marne.   
 
Lt. Oscar Wild, Lt. R. deC. McDonnell & Lt. E.S.Haighton.

PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

Some more research reveals that two more officers of the Manchester Regiment were serving with another regiment during the Marne Battle, in this case the 10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, taking part in the fighting of the 27th May 1918 during the battalion's actions south of Berry au Bac.  Both men were made POW's.   Their names are:-

2nd Lt. P.Cookson & 2nd Lt. W.P.Hunter.

PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

 Charlie,

Further to your helpful post re Captain Howard Vincent Sampson (9th Mcrs. & 2nd East Lancs.), I have been doing some research in this connection and referred to "Volunteer Infantry of Ashton under Lyne, 1859 -1971" by Robert Bonner.

In Appendix "E" of that book, Sampson is listed under the heading "Officers December 1915" as follows: -
     Adjutants: Captain J.A.Dearden, Captain H.V.Sampson.

Clearly, he was recognised as a person qualified for such exacting  duties, a reason no doubt, which caused him to be appointed to an identical position with the 2nd East Lancs.   Intriguingly, his name is also included under the heading "2nd. Lieutenants".  I assume that the  rank of Captain he was carrying whilst an Adjutant with the 9th Bn. was that of Tempy. Acting Captain, perhaps?     I wonder what his occupation was when he was a civilian.  PhilipG.

[charlie]

Philip,
From the LG 23.02.1917
Manchester Regt. - 2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.)
H. V. Sampson vacates the appt. of Adjt.
18th Jan. 1917

I can't help with his civilian occupation.

Charlie

[timberman]

This might be worth a look.

http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=4919.msg46819#msg46819

Timberman

[PhilipG]

Charlie & Timberman,
Thank you to both of you for that very helpful information.  PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

           Captain H.V.Sampson (9th Mcrs. & 2nd. E.Lancs.R)

It would seem that this officer was involved in the March 1918 retreat, where the enemy was ultimately held at Villers-Brettoneux.  Here on the 24th April, the East Lancashires were  holding the cross-roads in that town.  A few days later, Sampson in the rank of Lieutenant was made "D" company's commander.   Early in May and consequent upon the Adjutant being transferred to Brigade HQ., Sampson took over and    commenced his new duties in that role.

As we now know, he was not to hold this appointment for very long as he became a POW on the 27th May.   PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

What had been a devastating retreat for the Allied forces, amazingly resulted in a successful advance by the Allies just one month later.  There are some historians who regard the 2nd Battle of the Marne as a turning point in the Great War.  PhilipG.

[angelab]

Hello there,
Sorry, I only just stumbled across this topic, and was glad to find a few more nuggets about my great-uncle Howard Sampson.

In answer to the question about his civilian occupation:
in the 1911 census he is listed as "clerk"
but after WWI, travelling to Brazil at least twice, he gives his occupation on shipping lists as "shipper's agent" and eventually as just "shipper".

[PhilipG]

angelab,

Thank you for that additional information.  PhilipG.