44510 A. CPL. Stanley.Gilbert .Gordon. VINCE - MANC.R

[mack]

FANTASTIC.

mack

[tonyrod]

first class result and great to see  , tonyrod

[1954gladiator]

Stanley's final resting place with his wife Lillian.  St.Budeaux Church, Plymouth

[tisgrannie]

Thank you so much for this terrific journey.
kind regards
tisgrannie

[1954gladiator]

On page 3 mack gave info about a batch reinforcements that my grandfather was in when he became a Manchester in 1916. 

A little more research on the CWCG Debt of Honour site shows that 44508 James Wheeler was KIA on 12.4.17, 44511 Percy North was KIA on 14.10.17, 44514 Hugh Eva was KIA on 6.5.17 & John Cregg was KIA on 10.1017.  The site gives info about the cemeteries or memorials where they are buried/remembered.   

My grandfather must have known & fought with all these men?!  Hopefully, the 9 others mentioned survived WW1 like my grandfather  - unless any of you know differently? 
     

[tonyrod]

HI,GREATBEANBAGS,   a lot as been found on your grandfather, and for me its been great  seeing that the info is out there  and the time spent getting it all together makes it all worth while,  i have over the week , after almost 2 years  searching myself, and thanks to
roy , themonsstar,  found my grandfather was in the 20th battalion  also,  and about the same time,
so you never know they too could have known each other ,i would be interested in seeing any info you have from kew on the 20th bn.    cheers, tonyrod

link, some info on my family and friends
http://www.freewebs.com/tonyrod/

[Devil Wood]

Wow, this is what i call a great story. When you write the book I will be first to buy a signed copy. Sugest you get stuck into it and don't waste it. Like I said great stuff.
Barney

[1954gladiator]

Hi Barney

Uncovering Stanleys story has been fascinating & thoroughly enjoyable for me as his grandson.  I did know him & have fond memories of him as a young boy - he died when I was 15.

It isn't me writing the book - it is Paul Kendall - see topic Battle of Bullecourt May 1917 currently on page 2 of the 1914 -1918 section of this forum.  Paul will be including a piece about Stanley & images of him in his book as he would have fought at Bullecourt in the 20th Bn.   I want to get a a signed copy of it as well!  Paul if you read this please tell the forum when it is published & no doubt you will sell or have to give away several copies!!

Clive  

[1954gladiator]

I can now complete my grandfathers story with this final posting about his theatre of war.

This is thanks to a 1994 first edition of Michael Stedmans book the Manchester Pals.

In this he states that both the 20th & 22nd Bn's were in action at the Third Battle of Ypes, Gheluvelt, October 1917 & then they both spent the bulk of 1918 in Italy.  It was a quiet time until the 20th Bn. returned to France to persue the retreating German Army in October/November 1918 & the 22n Bn. were involved in the crossing of the River Paive in October 1918.  My grandfather started his service in the 20th Bn. but finished it in the 22nd Bn.

Both Bn's were in action at the 1916 Battles of the Somme, the 1917 Battles at the Hindenburg lines, the 1917 Third Battle of Ypes & in the 1918 Italian Campaign.  In this period the 20th Bn. suffered 644 fatalities & the 22nd Bn. 623 fatalities.

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED ME WITH MY JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY    

     

[1954gladiator]

My grandfathers death certificate has been passed to me - posted for interest perhaps?

It is amazing he lived for over 50 years with heart problems brought about by 2 years or more of fighting on the Somme & in Italy with the Manchesters.  He even served for over 9 years as a Special Constable between the Wars.  It's great my family now know so much about his story. 

[harribobs]

well done for making the effort to find out and preserve his memory

[1954gladiator]

A ceramic poppy from the November 2014 Tower of London commemoration now graces my WW1 display. My Manchester serving grandfather survived as did my wife's Essex serving grandfather. 2 of my grandfathers brothers were KIA in WWI, Alponso Vince at Loos in 1915 in the Suffolk Reg & Sydney Vince at Varlet Farm near Passchendaele in 1917 in the RNVR.