Hello from new member researching Grandfather in 16th Manchesters

[ahowen]

Dave: a few names for you, may be only sketchy info, as these are people referred to briefly in my grandfather's photo-postcards:

Written on the back of a photo postcard dated Nov 5 1915 of my grandfather's Platoon (think this was Xlll, D co): " ......Andy otherwise Wm Anderson....."   He is identified on the photo.

Written on the back of a photo (poss a Tuson photo at Heaton Park) of a group of men standing outside a wooden hut - so not necessarily from the same Platoon or even Co?? -: "... Thompson...Freddy Webster, then a decent chap from Bournemouth........and then ...Titch [surname illegible, could be Laths?].......The little bounder under my left hand is the one and only Herbert Meehan [this could be Mechan?? tho Meehan more likely??].  His real name is Len but I call him Herbert, somehow it seems more appropriate."

Another copy of this card has on the back:  "A few of the fellows out of our hut mostly rookies.  Nos 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. and 7. on Back row are from the old 16th.  The funny looking cove I have my left hand on is Meehan from Mesopotamia, my bosom pal, a tip top comedian and one of the best."

What does my grandfather mean by  "the old" 16th?  He  is no 2. of this row and was always in the 16th, unless he means they were in the 1st City Battn?.

Also, is it possible that his bosom pal Len/Herbert Meehan was in Mesopotamia before joining the 16th and that's why he was called Mesopotamia?  If so, what did he do there, and how did he get to the 16th?  What happened to him?

And why was there someone from Bournemouth there too? 

So many questions raised by small scraps of information.

I expect things may be clearer when eventually you can see the actual photographs, but hope this is of interest..

ahowen

[DaveMurphy]

G'day Ahowen,

Pte 6205 W Anderson XIII Platoon D Coy
Pte 7061 E J Thompson XIII Platoon D Coy

Could the 'Laths' be Lucas? There are only three Meehans listed in the Book of Honour from the 21st and 22nd Batts, none have first initial 'H'

Here is the Platoon Photo, can you match any of them up? Unfortunately, your GF was absent when it was taken.

Cheers,

Dave

[harribobs]

Chris:  However, you'll have to point me in the direction of simple instructions for getting this stuff to you via the interweb,
aho

there is a short tutorial on posting photos on the forum here _ how to post photos on the forum

or you could scan them and send them to me direct ( my email address or private message contacts are at the left side of this post)

for the diary, if you have already transcribed it in ms word, i can convert it directly into a web page and have it posted in minutes

add the photos to the diary and we have a powerful document!!

cheers
chris

[ahowen]

Chris:  thank you for this, will have a go this wkend.  Letter is 6+ A4 pages long.  Am quite happy to transcribe, again will have a look this wkend and will do in ms word.

Dave:  thank you for this.  Meehan's 1st name was Len, probably Leonard, so any info on him?.  This was my grandfather's younger brother's name, so perhaps this is why he chose to call him Herbert, although with his wry sense of humour, he probably thought Herbert suited him just as well.

Do you know when this particular Platoon photo was taken?  I don't know why my G was absent - leave? (He married in 1915.)  Or injury?  Sent back to uk after Guillemont in later 1916.  I'll try to match up your photo (frm the Book of Honour?) with the one I've got taken before departure for France.

Thank you so much for all this info.

ahowen