The Tennants Of Pemberton, Lancashire

[Gingerfreak]

After several lifetimes I've finally motivated myself to establish and track down my family tree. My parents are from Billinge and Pemberton. My mother is a Tennant.

Now this isnt new. The Tennant family tree has been traced before. Due to family fueds, migration to other countries etc etc and the recent death of my grandfather my family has now lost it's last link with it's history In Pemberton.

So what has this got to do with the Manchesters? By the time the Great War erupted the Tennants had established themselves in Pemberton. Like all families that worked in industry the families had bred at a prolific rate. The Tennants and close family members (brother in laws etc ) had 22 sons that where eligable to enlist. Enlist they did.

At least 3 joined the Manchesters

Henry Tennant. I can't find his service record but there is a medal card that claims a Henry Tennant was a Cpl in 1/5 Battalion.

Harold Tennant was Henry's cousin. He enlisted in the 3/5 Battalion. (12 Battalion). I have his service record. He was young, brash and an complete pain in any fullscrews (army slang for Cpl) backside. He spent more time getting stoppages of pay rather than being paid. He was charged for three offences that occurred on the same day. One entry claimed he threatened an NCO. I guess he was a handy lad as fullscrews then ruled with an iron fist unless the fullscrew thought he might lose face in front of the men. He was suffered a gunshot wound in 1916. He returned to his unit after a spell in hospital. He was killed on 25 April 1917 in France.


One Of Harold's bigger brothers, George joined the 94th Field Ambulance. The 94th supported the 38th Division. There was a Manchester Unit in its establishment. He was the opposite of Harold. He was stalwart and reliable. He died of his wounds on 9th April 1917.  I expect that thier father, Alexander came home from the pit to find his wife Amanda in tears of grief as she recieved not one but two telegrams telling her that two of thier boys where dead. Both George and Harold are buried in France.

Two other Family members joined the Manchester. Both in 1920.

Ernest Tennant, another cousin  of George and Harold had been a drawer in the pits and earned the family wage. He decided to follow his brothers & cousins footsteps and ran off to Ashton in Makerfield to enlist.  He was in the Manchesters for 6 months before a letter from his mother, Amanda, written by her son in law landed on the Adjutants desk. It turned out that Ernest had doctored his birth certificate. He was less than 16 yreas old. The hieracrchy didnt mess around. He was turfed out and sent home.

George Berry married  Alexanders daughter and George and Harolds sister, Ethal. George may have originally come from Scotland. He served with the greatest corps in the world, the Royal Engineers (My corps).He survived the war and in 1920 enlisted in the 5th Battalion.  I presume it's the Regular Battalion and not a TA unit as it hasn't got the 1/5, 2/5 etc in front of it.

I live in the North East and I'm planning a trip back to Wigan to go through the archives and to visit the Manchesters Museum in Leigh this week.

Does anyone know the anwers to the following questions?

1.  Did the companies keep a roll of the men? I thought it was common practice for a roll call to be taken before and after battle and after time in the Rear Areas to stop soldiers absconding. Does anyone have any snippets on any of the brothers or cousins ?

2. Are there any Tennants out there that are willing to share information?

Cheers Guys

[harribobs]

hi Ginge

and welcome to the forum

thanks for all the info, but i'm going to ask you to post it again ,  go to the great war section and post a new topic for each man. the reason i want you to do this is that one thread for three men will get so confusing, no one will know who is posting info on who! believe me i know!

a little information though, the 5th battalion was a territorial battalion based in Wigan. After war was declared the men who agreed to serve overseas formed the 1/5th ( egypt and gallipoli, later france) those that stayed behind formed the 2/5th. The 2/5th sent reinforcements to the 1/5th. Later in 1917 the 2/5th went abroad, the men they left behind formed the 3/5th

cheers

chris

[Wendi]

Cheers Guys

..........and Gals  Welcome to the Forum Ginge !!! your family has such close links to the Manch lets hope we can "pad out" your family history for you ~ hope you enjoy your visit to the Museum

Wendi