1914-18 Gallipoli Campaign - 1/7th Manchester Regiment Sgt Harry Clare # 2554

[richardaldersley]

My Grandfather was in 1/7th TF  enlisted in September 1914 (I think posted to  2/7th Reserve Battalion )  and in the Gallipoli campaign Died 18/08/1915  but trying to determine his actual Regiment and company and date of landing ( Believed to be 24/07/1915 as a reinforcement to 1/7th Bttl on Gallipoli ) and where on the Peninsula?

Any insights most welcome as tring to determine his beach landing area and engagement /battle history ?

Richard

(Date of death changed from 2023. Tim.)

[Timberman]

Hello Richard
Welcome to the forum.

There are a couple of free books on the 7th Bn.
Also you can download the war diaries from the National archives.

Follow the link below to the book The Seventh Manchesters, by S. J. Wilson,

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/18659/18659-h/18659-h.htm

Link to the National archives.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7354462

If no one else finds the link to the other book I'll have a look when I get back later.

Good luck with your research.
Timberman

[charlie]

Welcome to the forum Richard
The other book can be downloaded here
https://archive.org/details/withmanchestersi00hurs/page/n7/mode/2up

The War Diaries for Gallipoli are only available through Ancestry.
Charlie

[Tim Bell]

Hi Richard,
The medical records for 19th Gen Hosp, Alexandria show Harry had 16 yrs service, including 6 weeks overseas – having disembarked at Gallipoli 24/07/1915.  He died from dysentery at 12.25am on 18/08/1915, after 4 days treatment.
Your comment that Harry enlisted in 1914, varies from the recorded length of service (explaining his SNCO Rank) and I wonder where you found this?  It is possible he has previously served (not necessarily Manchesters) and then re-enlisted?  It's also possible he didn't initially Embody for overseas service in August 1914. I'm also wondering if served in the Boer War....
Harry's widow, Helen Jane received a pension for herself and their daughter (your mother?), Kathleen Patricia. 36 Seedley Road, Pendleton, later 79 Norton Street, Old Trafford.
Welcome to the fourm.
Tim

[Gingerfreak]

Howdy Richard.

From the unit war diary for September 1915, the 1/6th Battalion had 183 men 'sick to hospital'. At this point, Dysentry was running rife through the penninsular. I won't reiterate what Tim has already mentioned about the hospital.

The 16 years service: His age is listed as 38. Therefore he was born in 1877. If he joined the regulars at 19, he would have enlisted in 1896 at the earliest. If he joined the TF at 17, then he could have joined in 1894.  He isn't mentioned in the newpapers that list the Volunteers Force active service units that went to South Africa. Therefore, I concur with Tim that he may have been a regular. The regulars served a 12 year term of service, usually 6 years with the colours and 6 years on the reserve. however, this could be changed (7 years and 5 years etc). I research the 1/5th Battalion, if we compare service numbers, 2554 in the 1/5th was issued between the 19th Sept and the 22nd Sept. 1914. This is after the first boats departed the UK.
It's safe to assume that he would have been in the 2/7th (Home Service). This moved from its depot in Burlington Rd (Street?) and went to Southport. This is were the rest of the 42nd Division (Home Service) Units were based until they moved agaon to Sussex. 

Until May 1915, the 42nd Division was used to Garrison Egypt. If your relative arrived in Egypt between September 1914 and May 1915, he would have been based in one of the barracks, (Khartoum) I think.  Once the 42nd deployed, around 100 men were ledt behind as battlefield replacements. These were centralised at the 42nd Depot located in Egypt (the exact location escapes me at present, abbayassia,? ). Men went out in packets, landed at V beach and met a transportation officer. They were then collected from the base area, just off the beach and taken to thier battalion.

A good set of books to read are on here, Alex Riley's diaries, a signaller in the 6th, but who was attached to everyone. Hope this helps.