Pte. Henry / Harry Anderson 20068, 6 Company, Nr.6765, 22nd Manchester Regiment

[HenryAnderson]

Hello,

I am doing a little research into my "Uncle Harry", and would be grateful for any further information that anybody can add.

Henry Anderson, born 31st January 1894 in Sculcoates, Hull, Yorkshire.

In 1901 he was living in Salford, Lancashire.

21st November 1914, Enlisted in the 22nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment.

He is shown as living at 14 New York Street, Pendleton when he signed up.

He was working as a Clerk when he signed up.

11th November 1915 entered Theater of War for the first time (Medal Card)

1st September 1918 he wrote to his sister from Langensalza POW camp. He is identified on the card as Pte H Anderson, 20068, 6 Company, Nr.6765, 22nd Manchester Regiment.

Circa 1920 he left the Army.

Henry was also known as Harry, and seemed to use both names. His medals are engraved as "Henry" but his "Soldiers Small book" (B50) shows him as Harry, and his signature appears twice as "Harry".

http://www.1914-1918.net/mancs.htm
has a little information about the 22nd (Service) Battalion (7th City)
Formed in Manchester on 21 November 1914 by the Lord Mayor and City. Moved to Morecambe in January 1915.
April 1915 : moved to Grantham and placed under command of 91st Brigade in 30th Division. Moved to Larkhill in September 1915.
Early November 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
20 December 1915 : Brigade transferred to 7th Division.
November 1917 : moved with Division to Italy.

I wonder if anybody can fill in any of the gaps in Henry/Harry's Military service - what battles did he fight in, where is he likely to have been taken prisoner, when was he released.

Henry / Harry received the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914 - 1915 Star. All are engraved as 20068 H.ANDERSON MANCH.R."

I have a photograph of Henry / Harry if anybody is interested. I have no information about the 7 other soldiers in the photograph, but I am guessing that it may have been taken outside a building in Morecambe?
Harry / Henry is top right, wearing his hat at a very jaunty angle.

Peter D.

[kingo]

Peter, Welcome to the forum. Your Uncle Harry is somewhere on this photo http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=4785.0  (Click on photo to enlarge) but we dont know where.

[george.theshed197]

How about that chap second from the left front row?
George.

[HenryAnderson]

Thanks for the photograph. I agree with you, Harry is probably second from the left front row.
It doesn't look too much like Harry, but as all the others AREN'T Harry - then it MUST be Harry.

You don't have a date or a location for this photo do you?
I would guess that it is probably near to the end of training, so possibly Larkhill camp, in September 1915?

I knew Harry (Uncle Harry) in the mid 1960's when Harry was about 70, and its really quite difficult to associate the elderly gentleman that I knew, with the 20 year old in the photographs.

Harry's character could perhaps be compared with "Godfrey" from Dads Army. He wasn't as "genteel" as Godfrey, but he was very mild mannered... until one day I mentioned the Germans that I had just seen in a War film, on the TV or perhaps in a film. I was left in absolutely no doubt that Harry wasn't very fond of Germans - any Germans.
Its only now that I have read a little about the Manchester Pals, and the POW camps that I can perhaps appreciate the cause of his dislike.

Peter