hi team, photo's coming in soon, for Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery records found: show 96 , I have only the 15,
found this on the great war forum, would this info be correct ? link,http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=109525
1/5th KOSB war diary excerpts
12th Dec:
Recovered 6 rifles from ground immediately behind F.L. [front line?] principally MANCHESTERS. Brought in bodies of Lt. FOSTER, D.L.I. and remains of Capt. FOSTER JACKSON 5th MANCHESTERS, sending belongings to their regiment through 155 BDE.
14th Dec:
Found 16 MANCHESTER dead behind our F.L. trench, but had too many fatigues in hand to accomplish burial of all, 6 only being buried.
15th Dec:
Recovered 26 rifles (mostly MANCHESTERS), 1 box M.G. ammunition, 3000 S.A.A. and 14 sets equipment. Cannot understand why these arms etc. had not been recovered by units previously occupying this section as they must have lain for some four to five months.
16th Dec:
Completed burial of 2 officers and 6 men referred to on 12th and 14th, Chaplain GOLDIE officiating.
The above is the extent of the references to the Manchester Regt. men. I think that everything got a bit 'busy' and so no more mention is made in the war diary. During this time the battalion was under continual shell fire, more than it had experienced for some time. From the 18th, the battalion was also organising to support an attack by the HLI. In his diary entry for this date, the Sergeant wrote goodbye to his wife and children in case he didn't survive the following day. Thankfully he did and survived the rest of the war. He was also awarded the DCM.
Personal diary excerpts
Monday 13th [Dec]:
Brought in 6 of the Manchesters. They have been out since 29th July. Curious that it is the 1/5th [KOSB] who always seem to have the job of cleaning up the ground.
Appendix:
Capt. Foster Jackson 1/6 Man
Lt Foster D.L.I. attached 1/5
Pte Dean 1/5 Man
" Wellington [I think this should be Worthington]
1/6 Manchester
Pte Austin
" Rankin
" Roberts
" Dyson
So, like a lot of diaries etc., the dates and numbers don't always match up, but at least some men are specifically named. Not sure where the date 29th July came from? I would suggest that in addition to the above named men, others including Thomas Garner, were brought in later but aren't mentioned in the war diary. Possibly by the 16/17th Dec, the Sergeant was too busy with other duties (he mentions constructing a new dressing station).
1/5th Manchester Regiment
Lieutenant Laurence Talbot Lisle Foster, 16th Durham Light Infantry, attd. 5th Manchester Regiment
Son of the Rev. A. J. and Edith M. Foster, of Wootton Vicarage, Bedford.
07/08/1915, age 30
Sp. Mem. C. 351.
Private 1933 Thomas Dean
07/08/1915
Sp. Mem. B. 33.
Private 1875 John Worthington
07/08/1915
Sp. Mem. C. 411.
1/6th Manchester Regiment
Captain Stanley Foster Jackson, 'D' Coy.
Son of Samuel and Alice Foster Jackson, late of Holly Bank, Hale, Cheshire; husband of Winifred Jackson (nee Parkin) of St. Annes-on-the-sea, Lancs.
04/06/1915, age 27
Grave II. A. 4.
Private 2369, Herbert G Austin
05/06/1915
Sp. Mem. A. 84.
Private 1893, Charles Dyson, 'D' Coy.
Son of William James and Eliza Dyson, of 24, Massie St., Cheadle, Cheshire.
04/06/1915, age 18
Sp. Mem. B. 47.
Private 1897, William Morrison Rankin
Son of Marion Edmead (formerly Rankin), of 111, Heaton Moor Rd., Stockport, and the late William Morrison Rankin.
05/06/1915, age 19
Sp. Mem. C. 143.
Lance Corporal 1147, William Roberts
Son of Mr W E Roberts of 172 & 174 Deansgate, Manchester.
05/06/1915
Sp. Mem. C. 260.
Based on sketches of other burials from the personal diary, I am fairly sure that the Manchester men (ORs at least) buried at Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery will lie next to one another, buried side by side. However, unless there is some additional information in the CWGC burial returns, it will probably not be possible to take this further.
John, (Hartley) anything that you would like to add would be appreciated.
Stuart
Connor H Pte
Dearnley I Capt
Dudley CL 2Lt
Emmott JB 2Lt
Giesenberg E Pte
Heaton C Pte
Heaton J Pte
Hind RB Pte
Jackson SF Capt
Kaufman S Pte
Kemp G Pte
Mitchell H Pte
Priestley RT Pte
Stockton S Cpl
Westbrook EW 2Lt
