Bury Grammar School old boys on 1st July 1916

[Mark Hone]

Thanks for that. Harvey Lord died serving with 1st Hull Pals in April 1918. I am assuming he was transferred when 19th Manchesters were disbanded in February.

[Mark Hone]

Thanks for all the info. Frederick Harding of 17th Battalion is the only BGS Somme fatality for whom I do not have a photograph. I have tried every source I can think of, to no avail. I have his platoon photo but as usual no idea which soldier he is.

[Rigg]

Mark,
Are you still looking for information - I believe AE Nuttall from the 17th is my Grandfather?

Regards

Bill

[Tim Bell]

Hi Bill,
I've no doubt Mark will respond to your post very soon, but other people are interested in the 17th Bttn and an info on Alfred would be good to see.  I've seen he went to France with the 17th and was discharged for Commission with W Yorks R or poss MGC in 1917. 

For his time with the Manchesters please see http://www.themanchesters.org/17th%20batt.htm

Cheers

Tim

[Mark Hone]

Sorry, I hadn't logged in this week. I would be absolutely delighted to receive any information you have on AE Nuttall, Bill. Inevitably, I only tend to have details of those old boys who died, so information on one who survived would be fantastic. As stated, I am planning a special assembly for 1st July 2016 about the Pals and the attack on Montauban will be a focus of our October 2016 Centenary Battlefields Tour to the Somme.

[Mark Hone]

I still haven't tracked down the officer's letter which was sent to me which mentions Roger Smith and Hubert Dawson of 16th Battalion on the first day of the Somme. I'm beginning to think that I've imagined it!

[Mark Hone]

Thanks to a contact I have made through this Forum I have now been sent photos and details of three of the old boys mentioned on the list, who were relatives or close friends: AE 'Eddie' Nuttall, Tom Halstead and Hubert Hayes. I am extremely grateful. I have also discovered a better picture of Ernest Howarth from the now defunct 'Bury Guardian'. Eddie Nuttall was wounded at Trones Wood but recovered to be commissioned in the Machine Gun Corps; Hubert Hayes was commissioned into the 7th Bn South Lancashire Regiment in 1917 and won the MC for actions during the final advance in September/October 1918. In the second of these he was badly wounded and lost a leg.
Is it possible to verify if Halstead and Hayes took part on 1st July?

[PhilipG]

Mark Hone,

                 2nd Lt. H.H.Hayes MC

As you state, the above named officer was awarded the Military Cross, the date of publication in the Gazette being 15.2.19.

I see that the 7th Bn.South Lancs, was disbanded on the 22nd February 1918.  However, further research indicates that he was attached to the 6th Bn. York & Lancs. so, in view of what you indicate as to his service during "the Last Hundred Days", it seems possible that he won his MC whilst attached to the Y & L.

Trust you are well. PhilipG.

     

[Mark Hone]

Philip,
Thanks for that. Re-reading his MC citation it does record that he was attached to 6th Y and L. It looks as if he may not have been present on 1st July as one of the photos I have been sent shows him on Llandudno beach with his mother, dressed in 'hospital blue' and labelled June 1916. I presume that he was recuperating from illness or injury but haven't been able to confirm this.

[Mark Hone]

Sorry, I missed at least one from my original list-Private Harry Orrell, 18th Battalion,  who was later killed at Arras on 23rd April 1917.

[mack]

Thanks to a contact I have made through this Forum I have now been sent photos and details of three of the old boys mentioned on the list, who were relatives or close friends: AE 'Eddie' Nuttall, Tom Halstead and Hubert Hayes. I am extremely grateful. I have also discovered a better picture of Ernest Howarth from the now defunct 'Bury Guardian'. Eddie Nuttall was wounded at Trones Wood but recovered to be commissioned in the Machine Gun Corps; Hubert Hayes was commissioned into the 7th Bn South Lancashire Regiment in 1917 and won the MC for actions during the final advance in September/October 1918. In the second of these he was badly wounded and lost a leg.
Is it possible to verify if Halstead and Hayes took part on 1st July?

hiya mark
j.halstead was pte 12365 john fenton halstead[bomber],19th manchesters,he took no part in any actions during the war,he was attached to the 30th division HQs until 14th march 1918 when he was posted to the 17th battalion,he was then attached to 227th employment coy on 11th oct 1918 and finally posted to 16th manchesters on 1st December,his twin brother tom,nuttall halstead was pte GS/48310 Thomas,nuttall halstead,20th royal fusiliers
john halstead was a former member of bury grammar school OTC[1911]
he married edith,evelyn longworth at Manchester cathedral on 21-8-1924
died at devizes hospital,wiltshire on 21-6-1965
born.30-7-1891
place of residence.croes gongl moelfre,anglesea.

mack

[Mark Hone]

Thanks for that, Mack.

[Penny]

Thomas Nuttall Halstead was my grandfather. He was in the 20th Royal Fusiliers and so was not involved in 1st July, however he did take part in action in High Wood on 20th July and was injured. After recovering he applied for a commission and joined the 2/6th Manchesters and was wounded again in March 1918. he survived and set up a chartered accountancy firm in Manchester and married my grandmother Doris Smithie.

[PhilipG]

Penny,

Re your grandfather's service in the 20th Royal Fusiliers.  There is a book published in 1917 called the History of the Royal Fusiliers, University & Public Schools Brigade (Formation & Training).  It covers their activities in England at Epsom, Ashtead and Leatherhead prior to going to France.

Robert Graves called the battalion "The Chocolate Soldiers" on account of the size and quality of the parcels received by the battalion from home.  My relative who won the MM with the 20th Bn. was wounded at High Wood and subsequently died. PhilipG.

[Mark Hone]

Quite a few Bury Grammar boys joined the 20th RF-it was either that or the Manchester Pals. Most of them ended up being transferred to other units or sent off for officer training but about a dozen were still serving in the battalion in early 1916. One of them, Private Alan Bradley, was killed on 20th July and is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery. We shall be visiting his grave on our October tour.