In October, 1919, the Battalion moved to Aldershot, when the 1st and 2nd Battalions were able to meet. October, 1919, to March, 1920, was chiefly spent in shaking down and re-forming the Battalion generally.
In March, 1920, the Battalion proceeded to Ireland at notice on account of the increasing disturbance and was stationed at Kilworth Camp, Co. Cork a Musketry Camp near Fermoy.
The Battalion performed various duties in connection with the rebellion here, but as yet the rebels had not turned their attention to soldiers and few serious active operations were undertaken.
In July, 1920, a move was made to Ballmcollig, Co Cork an Old Cavalry Barracks, which had been formed into an Ordnance Store for the whole of the South of Ireland.
The duty of guarding the stores was assigned to the Battalion, and, in addition, a detachment of two companies was formed at Macroom, which again found outposts at Ballyvourney, Inchigeela and Millstreet.
The Rebels' action against the troops by now was increasing and took the form of ambushes for soldiers in lorries, chiefly with the idea of obtaining arms, etc.
Greater precautions had, therefore, to be taken, when stores, etc., were being sent. Two ambushes were laid by rebels for our men in the out-stations, and, unfortunately, in both of these encounters we lost an officer, Captain Airy being killed in July and Lieutenant Sharman, R.A., attached to the Battalion, in September.
The conditions of affairs in the South of Ireland, became steadily worse from September and culminated in November by the rebels murdering and attempting to murder any Officer who was not in a position to retaliate.
Unfortunately several Officers were killed in Dublin and elsewhere, including Captain Thompson of the Battalion, this officer, who was riding a motor-bicycle within a mile of the Barracks, was captured and murdered.
From November onwards every precaution had to be taken to prevent isolated Officers and Soldiers being murdered, and as a result all ranks when off duty were practically confined at all times to Barracks, and all outlying stations were called in to headquarters.
At the same time, although men off duty were not allowed out, active operations in large and small parties were continuously carried out in endeavours to find arms, ammunition and wanted persons.
These operations continued until July, 1921, when the British Government made a truce with the Sinn Fein leaders and active operations ceased.
During this period there were two outstanding operations. In January, 1921, information was obtained through the medium of a loyal resident, Mrs. Lindsay, that an ambush had been prepared near the village of Dripsey, a party of the 1st Battalion immediately turned out from Ballincollig and engaged the rebels, killing seven, capturing others, and finally returned to barracks after an entire success, with several captured rifles, shot guns, revolvers and ammunition.
The result of this success was a complete cessation of any attempt at ambushes in the immediate neighbourhood of Ballincollig, and a considerable lowering of the morale of the local rebels.
An unfortunate result of the success, however, was that the rebels soon afterwards kidnapped Mrs.Lindsay and the driver of her motor car, and murdered both in revolting circumstances.
Mrs. Lindsay's heroic action in warning the Battalion of the ambush requires special note. A lady living alone in a rebel district, knowing the danger of giving information to the troops, did not hesitate to do her duty. It was a great example of courage and devotion to the Empire.
The other operation was an affair at Mourne Abbey, on the main road between Cork and Mallow. A party of about 20, with the Quartermaster, was proceeding to Mallow on administrative duties in motor vehicles, an ambush was discovered and immediate action taken, again with success.
The rebels were engaged, and immediately ran away and were pursued. One or two were killed and six captured; these latter being finally tried by Court-Martial and sentenced to severe penalties.
In July, 1921, as has been mentioned, the truce was arranged, and active operations ceased. Towards December arrangements were commenced for the complete evacuation of the South of Ireland by troops, and in February, 1922, the Battalion moved to Guernsey and Alderney, half the Battalion being stationed in each place. During its stay in Ireland the Battalion maintained its high reputation for fighting and complimentary farewell speeches were made by the Divisional and Brigade Commanders.
In June, 1922, the Battalion was again hurried to Ireland, and this time proceeded to Enniskillen. It remained here for a couple of months, then went to Magilligan, near Londonderry, and to Dublin in September.
In December, 1922, Southern Ireland was finally evacuated by British Troops and the Battalion returned to Guernsey. Nothing of any great moment happened whilst in Ireland on this occasion.
In 1923, sanction was obtained for the Badge formerly used by the 63rd Foot, the Fleur-de-Lys, to be taken into use by all Battalions of the Manchester Regiment in place of the Badge of the Arms of the City of Manchester which had been adopted in 1881 on the amalgamation of the 63rd and 96th Foot.
In October, 1924, the Battalion left Guernsey for service with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine, Germany, and arrived at Cologne, their
new station, on October 25th.
In 1925 the Battalion Rifle Team achieved great success at Bisley, winning the Roupell Cup, Roberts Cup, Britannia Trophy and Worcester Cup. Captain E.B. Champion became Army Champion.
In November, 1925, the Battalion moved to Konigstein near Wiesbaden, where it relieved the French. It remained here until November, 1927, when it returned to England and was stationed at Shorncliffe.
At the latter end of the year 1929, H.M. King George V most graciously consented to become Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment, and was gazetted as such on 21st December, 1929, the fifteenth anniversary of the Battle of Givenchy.
In honour of the above event a detachment of the Battalion, consisting of Officers, Warrant and Non-Commissioned Officers, with representatives of the 2nd Battalion and Territorial units of the Regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel B. C. Freyberg, V.C., C.M.G., D.S.O., LL.D., commanding 1st Battalion, were received by His Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace on 16th May, 1930.
After four years in Shornclifle the Battalion moved to Gosport, arriving there on 20th October, 1931.
In 1932 the Battalion again achieved great success at Bisley, winning the Roupell Cup, Roberts Cup and Britannia Trophy. Captain C. L. Archdale became Army Champion.
In 1933 the Battalion received orders to move to the West Indies, half the Battalion to be stationed in Kingston, Jamaica, and the other half in Bermuda.
On 23rd January,1934, the Battalion sailed from Southampton in H.M.T. Dorsetshire. On 9th October a set of Silver Drums presented by the City of Manchester were brought out to Jamaica by Alderman Walker, Deputy Mayor of Manchester, and handed over to the Battalion.
On 6th March, 1935, H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester visited Jamaica. The Battalion furnished Guards of Honour on his arrival and departure, and during his stay he dined in the Officers' Mess.
In September, 1935, the Battalion left the West Indies in H.M.T. Dorsetshire, for service in Egypt, calling at Southampton for six hours on 15th October. In spite of their short stay, a great welcome was given to the Battalion. Special trains from the north were run and relatives and friends had a great reunion.
The journey continued to Moascar, Egypt. Shortly before Christmas the Battalion moved to Mersa Matruh in the Western Desert, where a British Force was assembled to oppose any attempt by the Italian Army to cross into Egypt.
On arrival the Battalion joined the Armoured Brigade in the role of lorried infantry, their vehicles being provided and driven by the R.A.S.C.
In March, 1936, the Battalion returned to Moascar and resumed its role of normal infantry.
In October the Battalion was placed on 12 hours' notice to fly to Baghdad for internal security duties, but fortunately the trouble subsided and the Battalion stood down.
For some time there had been a project for a Regimental Chapel, and in February the Earl of Derby graciously allowed his family Chapel in Manchester Cathedral to become the Regimental Chapel of The Manchester Regiment. The Chapel was dedicated on 11th November, 1936.
In April, 1937, the Battalion found Company detachments at Cyprus and Port Said. In May orders were received for the Battalion to be reorganized as a Medium Machine Gun Battalion (M.M.G). Earlier in the year the Battalion had received orders to move to Malta, but this was cancelled in November, when orders were received to move to Palestine to assist in putting down the Arab rebellion.
In January the Battalion moved to Palestine where it remained until September. During this time it was split up into many detachments in the north of Palestine and took part in a number of actions against armed bands of Arabs. Lieutenant R. King Clark, was awarded the Military Cross (M.C.) and many other officers and men were Mentioned in Despatches. Lieutenant R. F. H. Griffiths, R.S.M. Currie and several men were killed in action and a number of officers and men wounded.
In September the Battalion embarked at Haifa for Singapore, but, due to the Munich crisis, were disembarked in Egypt, where they remained for about week before re-embarking for Singapore, where the outbreak of the 1939/45 war found them.
The Battalion being a Machine Gun Battalion,was given the role of beach defence of Singapore and was allotted about twelve miles to hold on the South East Coast of the island. These defences consisted of concrete machine gun emplacements, about six hundred yards apart, each post having two M.M.Guns. In 1940 an additional stretch of beach on the island of Blankang Mati was given to the Battalion which was manned by one company.
In order to equip these posts the Battalion were given 104 M.M.Gs. Motor transport was very short and once deployed on the beach defences, it was impossible to move the Battalion without considerable outside assistance. It was largely due to this and the important role they fulfilled that it was not brought into the battle earlier. From the outbreak of war until December, 1941, the Battalion worked incessantly on strengthening their line with wire, anti-boat obstacles of local pattern and the construction of supporting posts.
The Japanese landed at the northern end of the Malayan peninsula on the night of 8th December, 1941, and advanced southward in great strength. After fighting a number of engagements in which the enemy enjoyed every advantage, our troops finally fell back on to Singapore Island. On 8th February, the Japanese crossed the straits and landed on the North Western side of the Island, and more forces were passed over near the causeway on the following day. At least three Divisions were on the island by the evening of the 9th and two more followed in the next few days. By 11th February the Japanese, after three days of desperate fighting,had succeeded in reaching the road which connects the causeway to Singapore town, and orders were issued for a withdrawal of British Forces.
The Battalion was still manning the coastal defences, but it was now ordered to form a perimeter defence round its Headquarters while "B" Company, which had been temporarily detached to the Naval Base on the north of the island, was attached to �James force,� a special force, which was formed in the Changi area. A further withdrawal was made on the 12th and the Battalion found themselves in new positions covering the eastern approaches to Singapore, while �James force,� with �B� company attached, occupied the southern sector with its right flank resting on the coast.
On 13th February, 26 officers and men of the Battalion embarked in H.M.S. Dragonfly with the intention that they should form the nucleus of a new Battalion on arrival in England, but misfortune overtook them for the ship was sunk by Japanese planes and there were only four survivors, who were taken prisoner.
The enemy's severest thrusts were always made against the western and northern parts of our line, but by 14th February, considerable Japanese forces had worked round to the eastern sector of the perimeter defence where the Battalion was posted. "B� and "D� Companies were severely engaged all day, and although the sectors allotted to them were far too long, they managed to hold their positions and to deal with infiltrations.
In the latter part of the afternoon, Lieutenant Sully led a counter attack against a Japanese post and drove it from the position that it had occupied.
Colonel James read justed the line during the evening and the night of 15th February but the enemy, who everywhere far outnumbered us, contrived to overrun a part of the line that was held by "B" Company, and by so doing to get on to "D" Company's line of withdrawal.
Once again Lieutenant Sully led a bayonet charge and, thanks to its success, the two Companies cleared the way. The enemy had, however, made a serious breach in another part of the "James Force" line, and the positions that our Companies were ordered to occupy ran through the eastern suburbs of the city. While they were moving to them, the surrender was arranged and the Battalion was ordered to assemble at a place called the Pineapple Factory. On the following morning the officers and men received their first orders from their captors. The Battalion now had to endure three years of captivity while 60 of all ranks fell in action up to the time of the surrender, no less than 370 officers and men succumbed to the ill-treatment that they suffered at the hands of the captives, but none failed in endurance or courage.
The 1st Battalion was re-formed in June,1942 renumbering the 6th Battalion as the new 1st Battalion. After two years' intensive training as a machine-gun battalion, the new 1st Battalion landed near Arromanehes on 26th June, 1944, and took up positions in the forward area near Cheux as part of the 53rd Division. It took part in the General British and Canadian attack on the German positions in the eastern sector designed to pin down the enemy armour while the U.S. Army in the western sector was staging its break-out. Later, on 2nd August, the Battalion was engaged in a large and successful raid against the German positions on Mount Pincon at the same time as the German Armies were being severely battered in the Falaise pocket.
In the pursuit of the enemy the Battalion crossed the Seine on 30th August and arrived at Antwerp on 8th September.
It took part in bitter lighting near Turnhout when, as part of 53rd Division, it played its part in guarding the left flank of XXX (30th)Corps, while the latter was advancing to Arnhem. In October it spent some weeks in the Nijmegen bridgehead, assisting in the attack and capture of Hertegenbosch, and then forcing the crossing of the Wessem Canal in bitterly cold weather and in a desolate, flat, waterlogged countryside.
The Battalion then went into reserve, but was quickly ordered up to man a portion of the River Dyle, between Louvain and Genappes, when von Rundstedt delivered his counter offensive through the Ardennes.
Later it took part in the attack on Gnmblemont, and was then withdrawn to the neighbourhood of Eindhoven. Before crossing the Rhine at Xanten on 26th March, the Battalion had seen very heavy fighting in the Reichswald Forest.
At the end of March it assisted in the capture of Bocholt and continued the pursuit to the Weser. It saw hard fighting at Rethem, which was captured on 12th April, and Verden, which fell on 17th April. On 4th May, the Battalion entered Hamburg, and while Garrisoning that town the Surrender of the German Army was announced.
During the 1944/5 campaign the Battalion had 47 officers and men killed in action. On the cessation of hostilities the Battalion moved to Essen where it remained until October, 1945, when it moved to Schloss Soder, near Seesen. In June, 1946, the Battalion moved to Goslar in the Hartz Mountains, with companies at Braunlager and Bad Sachsa, and one company at Warminster doing duty as Demonstration Company at the School of Infantry. On 31st July, 1946, the City of Manchester paid a particular tribute to the Regiment by presenting it with the Freedom of the City. Detachments from Regular and Territorial units and Old Comrades, together with the Depot, escorting the Colours, took part in a parade outside the Town Hall. After the presentation the parade marched past the Lord Mayor with drums beating, bayonets fixed and Colours flying It was while they were at Goslar that orders were received for the Battalion to be reorganized into an Infantry Battalion. In December, 1947, the Battalion returned to England and was stationed at Maghull and Freshfield close to the 2nd Battalion, who were at Formby. In April, 1948, the Battalion moved to Dunham Park Altrincham.
From A Short History of The Manchester Regiment (Regular Battalions)