Snippets of the Manchester Regiment

[timberman]

PLEASE NOTE
All of the information on this thread is taken from different sources most are copyright of groups or individuals, I have checked the use of sections on all the sites. I understand that if they are being used for non profit or non commercial use it is OK to put them on our site.
Please bear this in mind if you use any of the information on this thread.
Thank-you

If anything does infringe copyright let me know and I will gladly remove it.

I now have written permission to reproduce alot of the articles on this forum. The rest are covered by the statement above.

Neil (Timberman)


VICTORIA CROSS (PENSION)
HC Deb 26 October 1979 vol 972

  Mr. Critchley
asked the Prime Minister, if she will raise the annual pension payable to the holders of the Victoria Cross, last increased in 1959 to £100.
The Prime Minister
I have no proposals to alter the present arrangements whereby an unconditional tax-free annuity of £100 is payable to all ranks to whom the Victoria Cross has been awarded.

Timberman

[timberman]

The losses of individual countries between 1914-18 were as follows:
                           
                   Manpowermobilised  Militarydeaths     Militarywounded
British Empire *    9,496,170   947,023                   2,121,906
France                8,410,000            1,385,300      4,266,000
Italy                5,615,000            462,391                   953,886
Russia               12,000,000   1,700,000      4,950,000
United States   4,355,000   115,660                   205,690
Germany               11,000,000   1,808,545      4,247,143
Austro-Hungary   7,800,000   1,200,000      3,620,000
Turkey               2,850,000                325,000                   400,000

*(includes Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other Empire countries of the time)

Timberman

[timberman]

CASUALTIES
The total cost of the war, in terms of military dead and wounded, can only be estimated very imprecisely . because of omissions and inaccuracies in the official records of some of the belligerents. Up to 13 million combatants may have been killed on the battlefield or died from disease, but some authorities give a significantly lower figure


PREPARING CASUALTY LISTS
The casualties in an army the size ours is at the present day are tremendous, and the work of recording and reporting them is far from easy. After a long battle, which has perhaps spread over a wide area, confusion is caused by the numbers of officers and men who have disappeared so completely that no trace of their whereabouts remains. It is absolutely necessary, before including a soldier's name in a casualty list to identify him beyond any doubt, and his name, initials, regimental number and unit, and exactly what has happened to him, have to be recorded faithfully. This work is done at the base. A number of men are set apart from each unit, and to these is set the task of checking and verifying all information received about each man of their unit mentioned in the casualty list. These staffs maintain a complete history of each man in their unit from the day he joins till he leaves the Army, and identification is much helped by means of the records they have prepared. And when one remembers that something like thirty copies of casualty lists are sent to England daily, which amounts at times to over 3,000 sheets of typewritten names, the magnitude of this task cannot be denied. The wills of dead soldiers, and the proper disposal of their effects, and supplying the graves of the fallen with wooden crosses, with the name and date of death stencilled on, are the last duties performed for a soldier by the Adjutant-General's Department.
Mid-Sussex Times 25th January 1916.


Timberman

[timberman]

11th Manchester's

Click on the picture to make it bigger.

Timberman

[timberman]

The Mercury Monday 25 October 1915

THE BRITISH CASUALTIES.
HEAVY LISTS.
LONDON. October 23.
Tho British casualty lists for the fighting in Flanders and the north of France
for the dates between September 26 and October 13 contain a total of 2,008 officers and 30,880 rank and file.

Timberman

[timberman]

NAVAL AND MILITARY PENSIONS AND GRANTS.
HC Deb 18 November 1918 vol 110

Mr. SNOWDEN
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will make some inquiry into the reason why the wife of Private E. Lindsey, No. 97539, police guard, Royal Air Force, Farnborough, who is the mother of Private A. Lindsey, No. 13718, West Riding Regiment, is only receiving 12s. 6d. a week on account of her husband and a voluntary allotment of 1s. 9d. on account of her son, although she has made application for the 5s. dependence grant?
Mr. FORSTER
Inquiry will be made, and the hon. Member informed of the result in due course.
Mr. BYRNE
asked the Pensions Minister if he can now state what the war bonus on existing pensions scales is to be?
Mr. HODGE
I am not yet able to announce a decision in this matter.
Mr. SNOWDEN
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether Mrs. Kent, the mother of the following three soldiers, is receiving the proper allowances in respect of them: Company Sergeant-major W. Kent, 7/8th King's Own Scottsh Borderers, Private H. Kent, No. 44518, 3rd Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, and Private A. Kent, No. 97317, 52nd Grad. Battalion, Manchester Regiment?
Mr. FORSTER
Mrs. Kent is at present receiving a weekly allowance of £2 2s. 7d., including a voluntary allotment  made by Company Sergeant-Major W. Kent The claim in respect of Private H. Kent is under consideration by the Appeals Committee and pending their decision a provisional allowance of 12s. 6d. is being paid on his account. If the Committee assess the dependency on this claim at over 12s. 6d. the weekly allowance will be increased accordingly, with arrears from 8th June last.
Mr. A. WILLIAMS
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention was in July last called to the case of the mother of Private John Smith, No. 6253, 6th Durham Light Infantry, whose allowance was stopped owing to her son being reported missing; whether the repeated communications made to him are still without a definite answer; whether he has been able to investigate the case; and, if so, whether the payment of Mrs. Smith's allowance will now be resumed with arrears?
Mr. FORSTER
I deeply regret that it has not even yet been possible to ascertain the fate of the soldier referred to. In these sad cases allowances from public funds are continued for a period of six months, but in this case the allowance in question was a voluntary allotment made by the soldier.

Timberman

[timberman]

NAVAL AND MILITARY PENSIONS AND GRANTS.
HC Deb 09 November 1916 vol 87 cc433-6W

Mr. BARLOW
asked the Secretary of State for War, with regard to the case of Private W. Spencer, No. 1258, 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment, whether the mother of this soldier, who is now reported missing, is only entitled to the usual allowance for thirty weeks after he is notified as missing; and whether, at the end of thirty weeks, she can receive no more than 4s. 6d. a week pension?
Mr. FORSTER
As regards the allowance, the reply is in the affirmative. I am inquiring into the pension, and will let the hon. Member know the result.

Timberman

[timberman]

MANCHESTER REGIMENT (DECEASED SOLDIER'S ACCOUNT).
HC Deb 30 March 1922 vol 152

Lieut.-Colonel HURST
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in the ease of a lance-sergeant in the 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment, reported missing in Iraq on the 24th July, 1920 (reference E/795132/1, Accounts 4), his next-of-kin are entitled to pay down to that date, or to the date when the War Office presumed his death, namely, the 18th January, 1921?
Sir. L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS
Pay ceases to be credited to a oldier after the date on which he is reported missing unless later evidence is forthcoming that he was alive after that date. In the absence of such evidence the soldier is presumed to have died on the date on which he was reported missing, and no further pay is credited to him. The lance-sergeant referred to was reported missing from the 24th July, 1920. No further news of him was received. He was therefore presumed to have died on the 24th July, 1920, and pay is issuable only to that date.

Timberman

[timberman]

MANCHESTER REGIMENT.
HC Deb 23 July 1915 vol 73

Mr. NEEDHAM
asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he can furnish information as to the condition of the men  of the l/7th Battalion Manchester Regiment who are reported missing; and whether he has made use or will make use of the good offices of the American Ambassador to obtain full information in regard to each of the men who may be prisoners in the hands of the Turks, and thus allay the anxiety of their relatives who, up to the present, have been unable to obtain information?
Mr. TENNANT
I have no additional information regarding the men of this battalion. The American Ambassador has been asked to make renewed application to the Turkish Government for full lists of prisoners.

Timberman

[timberman]

DISCHARGED AS MEDICALLY UNFIT.
HC Deb 08 March 1917 vol 91

Mr. KING
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private F. W. Allison, No. 17542, 20th Battalion Manchester Regiment, joined the forces on 17th November, 1914, and was discharged as medically unfit on 17th December, 1914, receiving Army Form B.2079, and that Allison is now being pressed again into the Army; whether the holding of Army Form B 2079 excepts the holder from liability to further service; and whether he will give orders that Allison is not to be called up?

Mr. MACPHERSON
Inquiries are being made, and the hon. Member will be informed of the result.

Timberman

[timberman]

EDUCATIONAL TRAINING (TROOPS IN MESOPOTAMIA).
HC Deb 09 August 1920 vol 133

Major GRAY
asked the Secretary of State for War whether any, and, if so, what opportunities for educational advancement are offered to British troops stationed at Tekrit, Mesopotamia; whether he is aware that men of the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment, stationed at Tekrit, re-enlisted after service in France and Belgium, on the understanding that schemes of Army-education would be established, that nothing has been done in this direction, and consequently men in this remote station are suffering from lack of mental occupation?

Mr. CHURCHILL

At the present time educational training is being conducted in Mesopotamia under conditions of some difficulty. The Army Educational Corps is now being formed on a permanent basis and every unit will then have its permanent personnel which will doubtless put an end to such complaints. Meanwhile everything will be done to assist the General Officer Commanding in conducting this branch of training. I am making inquiries as to the situation in the unit mentioned and will let the hon. and gallant Member know the result in due course.

Timberman

[timberman]

MESOPOTAMIA (BRITISH PRISONERS).
HC Deb 09 August 1920 vol 133

Lieut.-Colonel MURRAY
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any further information to give to the House with regard to the attack on a British column near Hilla?

Mr. CHURCHILL

No important news regarding the attack on Hillah has yet been received. A reassuring telegram has been received from the General Officer Commanding, Mesopotamia, with regard to the British prisoners taken in the recent operations. It appears that though they were very much neglected at first they are now receiving better care, and52W that the Army leaders have issued communiqués stating that the Arabs look on prisoners as a sacred trust and ordering the subordinate shiekhs to treat them well. The prisoners are said to be collected in the neighbourhood of Nejef. A friendly local doctor from Baghdad has been sent to them with clothing, comforts, and medicines under conditions which are expected to ensure his safe arrival. A list of the prisoners captured was asked for and will be telegraphed when obtained. General Haldane wishes the relations of the prisoners to be assured that their welfare is receiving the most earnest attention, and that every effort will be made to maintain touch with them and to secure good treatment.


Timberman

[timberman]

WAR OFFICE (AUXILIARY FORCES)— THE TOWER HAMLETS ENGINEER VOLUNTEERS—BURGESS SHORT.
HC Deb 01 March 1888 vol 322

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, as stated in the evening journal The Star, Mr. George Short, a retired printer, who in 1886 adopted the name of Burgess Short, was in that year, on the recommendation of Colonel Kirby, commanding the Tower Hamlets Engineer Volunteers, appointed lieutenant in that corps, being at the  time some 48 years of age, and never having handled a rifle; whether Colonel Kirby recommended him in 1887 for a captaincy, and whether the War Office refused to promote him, on the ground that such promotion would involve the supersession of four officers equally or better qualified; whether he was introduced in December last by Mr. Morton, of the War Office, to General Lyon Freemantle as "the Editor of The Broad Arrow;" whether, in The Gazette of 9th December, 1887, he was appointed captain in the 3rd and 4th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment of Militia, passing over the heads of 11 lieutenants and six second lieutenants; and, whether he had previously served in the Militia?

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, WAR DEPARTMENT (Mr. BRODRICK) (Surrey, Guildford)

(who replied) said: Nothing is known at the War Office as to the former name or profession of Mr. Burgess Short. He was appointed a lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets Engineers in 1886, being then about, 47 years of age. His promotion to captain in May, 1887, was refused, as he was not qualified, though he did subsequently qualify in August of that year. He called upon General Freemantle in November; but was not introduced by Mr. Morton, nor was General Freemantle aware that he was in any way connected with the Press. Upon the recommendation of the Commanding Officer of the regiment and the General of the District, he was appointed captain in 3rd and 4th battalions Manchester Regiment, on the 10th December, 1887. He passed over the subalterns, none of whom had, or have since, qualified for promotion, although there are still four vacancies for captains in the regiment which cannot be filled up. He had never previously served in the Militia, though he had been attached for instruction to a battalion of the Guards and to the 1st Manchester Regiment.

Timberman

[timberman]

NATIONAL RESERVE (BOUNTY FOR RE-ENLISTMENT).
HC Deb 22 February 1916 vol 80

Mr. STEPHEN WALSH

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in response to an appeal from the officer commanding, many members of the 1st class National Reserve, 5th Manchester Regiment, enrolled themselves on the 3rd September, 1914, in the Territorial battalion for immediate active service, that they left England six days later for Egypt, and have since been through the campaign in Gallipoli; and whether, under such circumstances, the Department will favourably consider the claim of such members for a similar bounty as has been paid under paragraph 2, Army Order 28, dated 19th September, 1914?

Mr. FORSTER

The whole subject of these gratuities has been very carefully, considered on many occasions, and I am afraid I cannot agree to any reopening of the question.

Timberman

[timberman]

GRATUITY FORFEITURE (PRIVATE J. HALPIN).
HC Deb 28 April 1920 vol 128

Lieut.-Colonel HURST

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air  whether he is aware of the forfeiture of gratuity and service imposed under the Army Act, Section 73 (i), upon Private J. Halpin, No. 93528, late 7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment; whether he is aware that the alleged desertion, to which this soldier confessed, consisting of absenting himself without leave from Heaton Park on 6th September, 1918, until reporting himself 21 days later to his own unit at the front in Flanders; whether he is satisfied that such confession is valid; and whether, having regard to the true facts of the case, he will see his way to extend clemency to this soldier?

The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR and AIR (Mr. Churchill)

I am making inquiries in this case, and will let the hon. and gallant Member know the result as soon as possible.

Timberman

Just a foot note to this.

His name is John Joseph Halpin, he was transferred to the Durham Light Infantry.
Although it says that all medals were forfeited on the Manchester Roll, they were issued
by the DLI.
On his MIC it says desertion that is crossed out and serving written above.