What happened to men when 2/6th (Terr.) Bn. was disbanded in July 1918??

[potty5]

Just a quick one guys, what happened to the men of the 2/6th (Terr.) Bn. when they were disbanded in July 1918. I take it they were split up and transferred to other battalions to make up battalion strengths, or am I wrong? Thanks, Mark.

[charlie]

Mark, Operational Order 25, dated 30.07.1918, records:

1.
The 2/6th Battalion Manchester Regiment will be disbanded from 31.7.1918.
All other ranks, with the exception of those detailed in Para (4), will proceed tomorrow to join the 1/6th Battalion Manchester Regiment.
Details as regards disposal of officers will be issued later.

4. TRANSPORT
First line transport will accompany personnel to station of entrainment, where it will be taken over by Divisional Train.
Riders will be left in charge of 199th Infantry Brigade. All other transport and horses will be evacuated by road to Advanced Horse Transport Depot, Abbeville. Detailed instructions will be issued later. The two drivers, 1st Line Transport, will accompany transport to AHTD Abbeville.

Charlie

[potty5]

Thanks for that Charlie.

[geoffstokes]

My grandfather, John Alfred Stokes, M/C 2/6th was transferred to The Welsh Regiment.
He was wounded in the legs and was in hospital at the time he was transferred.
He received new "dog tags" with his number 207012, name and "Welsh" stamped on them.
I don't think he ever joined the regiment though before the war ended.

[charlie]

Geoff,
Your Grandfathers MiC and Medal Roll are a bit of a puzzle. There is no mention of the 2/6th Bn, his overseas service appears to have been with the 21st Bn Manchester Regt and 18th Bn The Welsh Regt. His name is on the Medal Roll of 4th Bn Welsh Regt TF and entered in the remarks column „Infantry Base Depot“
Charlie

[geoffstokes]

Re; John Alfred Stokes.
My grandfather joined the Manchester's in September 1914 at Ardwick.
He was in the Manchester 2/6, "B Coy", first at Heaton Park, presumably basic training, then Southport, Crowbourgh and finally Colchester before going over to France in 1917.
His Manchester's number was 3001, later changed to 207012.
His war medals are inscribed with his Manchesters' number, 3001.
If you do a search under John Alfred Stokes, you will see photo's of him in his Manchester's uniform.

[charlie]

Geoff,
I wasn‘t suggesting that your Grandfather didn‘t serve with the 2/6th Bn, but that according to the remaining documents relating to his service, he didn‘t serve with them in a theatre of war.

Charlie

[timberman]

Explaining the Infantry Base Depot,

Taken from the long long trail site,

http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/other-aspects-of-order-of-battle/infantry-base-depots-in-france-1914-1918/

What was an Infantry Base Depot?

The IBD was a holding camp. Situated within easy distance of one the Channel ports, it received men on arrival from England and kept them in training while they awaiting posting to a unit at the front.

“Each infantry division originally had its own IBD, which was established as it crossed to France. Thus 9 IBD would have supported 9th (Scottish) Division and would have supplied reinforcements to all the battalions in it, each regiment represented in the division having its own camp within the IBD. The divisions taking part in the first phase of the Somme had such heavy casualties that their IBDs were unable to bring them back up to strength, which meant calling on other IBDs, with reinforcements often having to change their cap badges as a result. At the beginning of August 1916 a new policy was introduced: each IBD would now be responsible for supplying drafts for all battalions of particular regiments, usually three or four per IBD. Matters changed again in December 1917 when the IBDs were given letter prefixes rather than numbers. Thus, for example 29 IBD became D IBD. The number of IBDs was also reduced and so each was supporting a greater number of regiments. For instance, 29 IBD was largely supplying battalions of the Royal Warwicks, but D IBD looked after nine regiments, including the Warwicks”.

Timberman

[geoffstokes]

Hello Charlie,
Re; John Alfred Stokes, 2/6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment.
My grandfather served with the 2/6th from joining up until he was wounded, 1917/18. I don't have the information of when and where in France he was wounded, but I think he was wounded in 1918 rather than 1917.
If you search "John Alfred Stokes, Dog Tags", you will see in the third photograph down, he is seated next to a soldier from the Grenadier Guards.
My grandfather is clearly wearing his cap with Manchester's cap badge.
This photograph was taken while he was to be recovering from his wounds, presumably at some large country house in the UK.
In my earlier note, I stated that he was transferred to The Welsh Regiment, but never actually joined them before the war ended and he was demobbed.
He was with the 2/6th from the day he joined up, until the day he was demobbed. I don't know where the 21st Battalion service came  into his record.
Geoff.