On at least two occasions, the Manchesters have been in action near this village. The 1st Bn. were there on 20th December 1914 and the 10th Bn. on 10/11th December 1917.
On the 20th December 1914, the 1st Bn. was instructed to follow the Bethune-La Bassee canal and to meet the Brigade-Major at Pont Fixe. Today this position can be identified on the D166 (Festubert Rd.) where it crosses the canal at Cuinchy. (Nearby is an impressive series of locks, in later years used by the troops for bathing purposes, despite being within range of the enemy's guns!). Following the Brigade-Major's order, the battalion marched off, turning eastwards along the D167, quickly reaching the outskirts of the village of Givenchy les la Bassee, a village which was unexpectedly very strongly held by the Germans. The fighting which then ensued was intense and involved hand to hand fighting as the enemy fought to retain their ground. Casualties were heavy. Although the village was held overnight, the battalion could not hold on and was forced to withdraw to Pont Fixe, engaging in a fighting withdrawal along the road. However,the stubborn resistance by the Manchesters had given time for reinforcements to arrive and the Cameron Highlanders were able to come up and stabilise the position. The Manchesters' Regimental History contains accounts of this engagement; spread over several pages and praise too, for the battalion's exploits, rightly abounds. A copy of a painting depicting an episode in the fight for this village is also contained in the history, emphasising the intensity of the fighting.
Amongst those killed in the battle was Captain Leo Creagh, "C" Coy.Cmdr. No.14000 Pte. C.F.G.Humphries went forward and brought in a company commander's body and for this action was awarded the DCM. I believe that it was Captain Creagh's body which this brave soldier brought to the battalion's lines for burial, but I am open to contradiction in that respect. Alas, the location of the grave has been lost and in consequence, Captain Creagh's name is engraved on the panels of the Le Touret Memorial.
Pte Humphries' military career is interesting. A New Zealander by birth, he joined 207 Coy ASC and subsequently transferred to the 1st Manchesters, reaching the rank of A/Sgt. It seems that he was subsequently commissioned in the Highland Light Infantry, thence transferred to the DCLI. He died of wounds on 22.8.18 whilst holding the rank of Act. Lt.Col. attached to the 1st Norfolks. He is buried in Foncquevillers Mil. Cem. During his military service he was awarded the DSO, MC & Bar, and the DCM. His mother, who had re-married was in correspondence on several occasions with the authorities concerning the despatch to her of her son's medals.
Leaving the outskirts of Givenchy on the D167, the road bends sharply to the left by the memorial to the 55th Div. Some 300 yards along that road on the right hand side was the location of the Red Dragon Crater, the place where Pte.Walter Mills of the 1/10th Manchesters won his V.C. 10th/11th Dec. 1917. PhilipG.
