The Geneva Convention for Hospital Ships

It is widely understood that Hospital Ships were entitled to safe passage and exempt from attack by enemy naval forces. It is useful therefore to examine the specific rules and regulations that were required to be met by both sides.

HMHT Vita

Hospital Ship VITA

Convention (X) for the Adaptation to Maritime Warfare of the Principles of the Geneva Convention. The Hague, 18 October 1907.

The Second Hague Peace Conference of 1907 revised and enlarged Convention (III) of 1899 concerning the adaptation to maritime warfare of the principles of the Geneva Convention of 1864. Most of the 14 articles of the 1899 Convention were taken over without change in the 1907 version, but several new articles were added. The number of articles doubled to 28. The new Convention was based on the Geneva Convention of 1906 whereas the earlier one had been based on the less developed Convention of 1864. New provisions are contained especially in articles 5-9, 13, 15-17, and 19-23. The Convention remained in force during both World Wars. It was replaced in 1949 by Geneva Convention (II).

D. Schindler and J. Toman, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, pp.314-318.

Preamble

[List of Contracting Parties]

Animated alike by the desire to diminish, as far as depends on them, the inevitable evils of war;

And wishing with this object to adapt to maritime warfare the principles of the Geneva Convention of 6 July 1906.

Have resolved to conclude a Convention for the purpose of revising the Convention of 29 July 1899, relative to this question, and have appointed the following as their Plenipotentiaries:

[Here follow the names of Plenipotentiaries]

Who, after having deposited their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following provisions:

Article 1

Military hospital ships, that is to say, ships constructed or assigned by States specially and solely with a view to assisting the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, the names of which have been communicated to the belligerent Powers at the commencement or during the course of hostilities, and in any case before they are employed, shall be respected, and cannot be captured while hostilities last.

These ships, moreover, are not on the same footing as warships as regards their stay in a neutral port.

Article 2

Hospital ships, equipped wholly or in part at the expense of private individuals or officially recognized relief societies, shall likewise be respected and exempt from capture, if the belligerent Power to whom they belong has given them an official commission and has notified their names to the hostile Power at the commencement of or during hostilities, and in any case before they are employed.

These ships must be provided with a certificate from the competent authorities declaring that the vessels have been under their control while fitting out and on final departure.

Article 3

Hospital ships, equipped wholly or in part at the expense of private individuals or officially recognized societies of neutral countries shall be respected and exempt from capture, on condition that they are placed under the control of one of the belligerents, with the previous consent of their own Government and with the authorization of the belligerent himself, and that the latter has notified their names to his adversary at the commencement of or during hostilities, and in any case, before they are employed.

Article 4

The ships mentioned in Articles 1, 2, and 3 shall afford relief and assistance to the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked of the belligerents without distinction of nationality.

The Governments undertake not to use these ships for any military purpose.

These vessels must in no wise hamper the movements of the combatants.

During and after an engagement they will act at their own risk and peril.

The belligerents shall have the right to control and search them; they can refuse to help them, order them off, make them take a certain course, and put a commissioner on board; they can even detain them, if important circumstances require it.

As far as possible, the belligerents shall enter in the log of the hospital ships the orders which they give them.

Article 5

Military hospital ships shall be distinguished by being painted white outside with a horizontal band of green about a metre and a half in breadth.

The ships mentioned in Articles 2 and 3 shall be distinguished by being painted white outside with a horizontal band of red about a metre and a half in breadth.

The boats of the ships above mentioned, as also small craft which may be used for hospital work, shall be distinguished by similar painting.

All hospital ships shall make themselves known by hoisting, with their national flag, the white flag with a red cross provided by the Geneva Convention, and further, if they belong to a neutral State, by flying at the mainmast the national flag of the belligerent under whose control they are placed.

Hospital ships which, in the terms of Article 4, are detained by the enemy must haul down the national flag of the belligerent to whom they belong.

The ships and boats above mentioned which wish to ensure by night the freedom from interference to which they are entitled, must, subject to the assent of the belligerent they are accompanying, take the necessary measures to render their special painting sufficiently plain.

Article 6

The distinguishing signs referred to in Article 5 can only be used, whether in time of peace or war, for protecting or indicating the ships therein mentioned.

Article 7

In the case of a fight on board a warship, the sick wards shall be respected and spared as far as possible.

The said sick wards and the material belonging to them remain subject to the laws of war; they cannot, however, be used for any purpose other than that for which they were originally intended, so long as they are required for the sick and wounded.

The commander, however, into whose power they have fallen may apply them to other purposes, if the military situation requires it, after seeing that the sick and wounded on board are properly provided for.

Article 8

Hospital ships and sick wards of vessels are no longer entitled to protection if they are employed for the purpose of injuring the enemy.

The fact of the staff of the said ships and sick wards bring armed for maintaining order and for defending the sick and wounded, and the presence of wireless telegraphy apparatus on board, is not a sufficient reason for withdrawing protection.

Article 9

Belligerents may appeal to the charity of the commanders of neutral merchant ships, yachts, or boats to take on board and tend the sick and wounded.

Vessels responding to the appeal, and also vessels which have of their own accord rescued sick, wounded, or ship-wrecked men, shall enjoy special protection and certain immunities. In no case can they be captured for having such persons on board, but, apart from special undertakings that have been made to them, they remain liable to capture for any violations of neutrality they may have committed.

Article 10

The religious, medical, and hospital staff of any captured ship is inviolable, and its members cannot be made prisoners of war. On leaving the ship they take away with them the objects and surgical instruments which are their own private property.

This staff shall continue to discharge its duties while necessary, and can afterwards leave, when the commander-in-chief considers it possible.

The belligerents must guarantee to the said staff, when it has fallen into their hands, the same allowances and pay which are given to the staff of corresponding rank in their own navy.

Article 11

Sailors and soldiers on board, when sick or wounded, as well as other persons officially attached to fleets or armies, whatever their nationality, shall be respected and tended by the captors.

Article 12

Any warship belonging to a belligerent may demand that sick, wounded, or shipwrecked men on board military hospital ships, hospital ships belonging to relief societies or to private individuals, merchant ships, yachts, or boats, whatever the nationality of these vessels, should be handed over.

Article 13

If sick, wounded, or shipwrecked persons are taken on board a neutral warship, every possible precaution must be taken that they do not again take part in the operations of the war.

Article 14

The shipwrecked, wounded, or sick of one of the belligerents who fall into the power of the other belligerent are prisoners of war. The captor must decide, according to circumstances, whether to keep them, send them to a port of his own country, to a neutral port, or even to an enemy port. In this last case, prisoners thus repatriated cannot serve again while the war lasts.

Article 15

The shipwrecked, sick, or wounded, who are landed at a neutral port with the consent of the local authorities, must, unless an arrangement is made to the contrary between the neutral State and the belligerent States, be guarded by the neutral State, so as to prevent them again taking part in the operations of the war.

The expenses of tending them in hospital and interning them shall be borne by the State to which the shipwrecked, sick, or wounded persons belong.

Article 16

After every engagement, the two belligerents, so far as military interests permit, shall take steps to look for the shipwrecked, sick, and wounded, and to protect them, as well as the dead, against pillage and ill-treatment.

They shall see that the burial, whether by land or sea, or cremation of the dead shall be preceded by a careful examination of the corpse.

Article 17

Each belligerent shall send, as early as possible, to the authorities of their country, navy, or army the military marks or documents of identity found on the dead and the description of the sick and wounded picked up by him.

The belligerents shall keep each other informed as to internments and transfers as well as to the admissions into hospital and deaths which have occurred among the sick and wounded in their hands. They shall collect all the objects of personal use, valuables, letters, etc., which are found in the captured ships, or which have been left by the sick or wounded who died in hospital, in order to have them forwarded to the persons concerned by the authorities of their own country.

Article 18

The provisions of the present Convention do not apply except between Contracting Powers, and then only if all the belligerents are parties to the Convention.

Article 19

The commanders-in-chief of the belligerent fleets must see that the above articles are properly carried out; they will have also to see to cases not covered thereby, in accordance with the instructions of their respective Governments and in conformity with the general principles of the present Convention.

Article 20

The signatory Powers shall take the necessary measures for bringing the provisions of the present Convention to the knowledge of their naval forces, and especially of the members entitled thereunder to immunity, and for making them known to the public.

Article 21

The Signatory Powers likewise undertake to enact or to propose to their legislatures, if their criminal laws are inadequate, the measures necessary for checking in time of war individual acts of pillage and ill-treatment in respect to the sick and wounded in the fleet, as well as for punishing, as an unjustifiable adoption of naval or military marks, the unauthorized use of the distinctive marks mentioned in Article 5 by vessels not protected by the present Convention.

They will communicate to each other, through the Netherlands Government, the enactments for preventing such acts at the latest within five years of the ratification of the present Convention.

Article 22

In the case of operations of war between the land and sea forces of belligerents, the provisions of the present Convention do not apply except between the forces actually on board ship.

Article 23

The present Convention shall be ratified as soon as possible.

The ratifications shall be deposited at The Hague.

The first deposit of ratifications shall be recorded in a ‘ procès-verbal ‘ signed by the representatives of the Powers taking part therein and by the Netherlands Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Subsequent deposits of ratifications shall be made by means of a written notification addressed to the Netherlands Government and accompanied by the instrument of ratification.

A certified copy of the ‘ procès-verbal ‘ relative to the first deposit of ratifications, of the notifications mentioned in the preceding paragraph, as well as of the instruments of ratification, shall be at once sent by the Netherlands Government through the diplomatic channel to the Powers invited to the Second Peace Conference, as well as to the other Powers which have adhered to the Convention. In the cases contemplated in the preceding paragraph the said Government shall inform them at the same time of the date on which it received the notification.

Article 24

Non-signatory Powers which have accepted the Geneva Convention of 6 July 1906 may adhere to the present Convention.

The Power which desires to adhere notifies its intention to the Netherlands Government in writing, forwarding to it the act of adhesion, which shall be deposited in the archives of the said Government.

The said Government shall at once transmit to all the other Powers a duly certified copy of the notification as well as of the act of adhesion, mentioning the date on which it received the notification.

Article 25

The present Convention, duly ratified, shall replace as between Contracting Powers, the Convention of 29 July 1899, for the adaptation to maritime warfare of the principles of the Geneva Convention.

The Convention of 1899 remains in force as between the Powers which signed it but which do not also ratify the present Convention.

Article 26

The present Convention shall come into force, in the case of the Powers which were a party to the first deposit of ratifications, sixty days after the date of the ‘ procès-verbal ‘ of this deposit, and, in the case of the Powers which ratify subsequently or which adhere, sixty days after the notification of their ratification or of their adhesion has been received by the Netherlands Government.

Article 27

In the event of one of the Contracting Powers wishing to denounce the present Convention, the denunciation shall be notified in writing to the Netherlands Government, which shall at once communicate a duly certified copy of the notification to all the other Powers, informing them at the same time of the date on which it was received.

The denunciation shall only have effect in regard to the notifying Power, and one year after the notification has reached the Netherlands Government.

Article 28

A register kept by the Netherlands Ministry for Foreign Affairs shall give the date of the deposit of ratifications made in virtue of Article 23, paragraphs 3 and 4 , as well as the date on which the notifications of adhesion (Article 24, paragraph 2 ) or of denunciation (Article 27, paragraph 1) have been received.

Each Contracting Power is entitled to have access to this register and to be supplied with duly certified extracts from it.

In faith whereof the Plenipotentiaries have appended their signatures to the Convention.

Done at The Hague, 18 October 1907, in a single copy, which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Netherlands Government, and duly certified copies of which shall be sent, through the diplomatic channel, to the Powers which have been invited to the Second Peace Conference.

[Here follow signatures]

Acknowledgement:

Reproduced from:

https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/hague-conv-x-1907

Egyptian Hospitals: The Care of Our Gallant Wounded

The following newspaper article was published in the The (Canterbury) Press, Volume LI, Issue 15344, 30 July 1915, Page 8. See Copyright notice at the bottom of the page.

21BGH Alexandria Officers Section

Ras el Tin Military Hospital (aka 21 British General Hospital), Alexandria

“EGYPTIAN” HOSPITALS: THE CARE OF OUR GALLANT WOUNDED

(By H. T. Ferrar, M.A., F.G.S., late of the Egyptian Civil Service.)

Before the outbreak of war there were a certain number of European hospitals in Egypt. These were either the military hospitals for the British Army of Occupation and the Egyptian Army, or they were civil hospitals maintained by the civil communities of the different nationalities in such towns as Cairo and Alexandria, Port Said, and Suez. All these are now being utilised by the British military authorities in order that those members of the New Zealand and Australian forces who have been wounded in the recent fighting at the Dardanelles may have proper care and treatment.

In addition to those hospitals already established in Egypt, several have been improvised owing to the great number of casualties. These temporary hospitals are but briefly notified in the cablegrams which we receive, but an intimate knowledge of the country enables me to identify them and to supply a short description, which must be of interest to those who have wounded friends or relatives undergoing hospital treatment in Egypt.

The Abbassia Hospital was built by the British Government to provide additional hospital accommodation for the Army of Occupation. It is a sand-brick building, constructed on approved and up-to-date lines, and is situated in the desert, a few miles east of Cairo, near the disused overland post-road to Suez. This hospital is one of the buildings which constitute the new Abbassia Barracks, where some of the British troops are quartered. Having thick masonry walls, it is warm in winter and cool in summer. It is protected by wide verandahs from excess of sun and dust-laden wind, and its windows, fitted with metallic gauze screens, do not allow the ingress of flies or mosquitoes. Thus the in this hospital are not placed beneath mosquito nets, and probably are as comfortable here as in any other hospital in Egypt. All the doctors belong to the Royal Army Medical Corps, the nurses are certificated Army nurses, and the chambermaids’ work is done by black boys from Upper Egypt.

The Anglo-American Hospital, situated on an island (Gezira) in the Nile, opposite Cairo, is a private hospital, maintained by voluntary subscriptions from the English and American residents, and by donations from British and other visitors during the winter tourist season. The medical staff includes British doctors, both in the Egyptian Government service and in private practice. The nursing staff are ladies recruited, usually from the larger London hospitals. As before, the housemaids’ work is done by Berberine boys from Upper Egypt. The building was divided into two wings, one for ladies and the other for Anglo-Saxons in commerce in Cairo or in tho Civil Service. It is a masonry building with a wide verandah on its north or windward side, and its windows are fitted with metallic gauze mosquito screens. It possesses an operating theatre, and its rooms were designed so that usually each patient had a room to herself or himself, but in times of stress two or more patients were placed in the same room. The writer of this article can vouch for its comfort, having been an inmate there on four different occasions.

The Citadel Hospital is part of the fort built by Salah-el-Din (Saladin) on a spur of the Moqattam Hills, overlooking Cairo. Being high up, it is well ventilated and as it has proved a satisfactory hospital for a number of years it is bound to possess all modern conveniences. Formerly, it was used exclusively by that regiment of the Army of Occupation which happened to be quartered in the citadel, but now its use has been extended so as to provide accommodation for New Zealand and other wounded soldiers. The medical and nursing staffs are, like those at tho Abbassia Hospital, members of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

The Deaconess’ Hospital (Cairo) is a well-equipped hospital near the Nile, in the European quarter of Cairo, and is one of the permanent civil hospitals mentioned above. This hospital is used occasionally by British residents, but, as a rule, the inmates here are subjects of one or other of the great European Powers. The nurses here are trained Sisters of Mercy, and the hospital is highly commended by any British residents who have been there.

Gezira Palace was a Khedival palace, and afterwards a large and fashionable hotel when the war broke out. It is a fine masonry building situated on the island (Gezira) in the Nile opposite Cairo. It stands on the riverbank, and is surrounded by its own grounds, which abut on the polo ground and racecourse of the British residents’ sports club, the Khedivial Sporting Club. The houses in the vicinity are occupied by the more prominent residents of Cairo, and in short, the vicinity is ideal, especially from the point of view of a wounded soldier. Having been an hotel, there will be many conveniences here which could not be found in other of the improvised hospitals. This one may be what has been called Australian General Hospital No. II. Gezira, the Ghezires (sic) Hospital of the cablegrams, and if this is so the professional staff will be drawn from the ranks of the Australian Army Medical Corps.

Heliopolis Hotel likewise may be another name for the West Australian General Hospital No. I. (There are at least twenty-one improvised military hospitals, and it will be some time before the cablegrams allow of their identification.) The Heliopolis Hotel is a magnificent sand-brick building in the new desert suburb of that name, and is within a mile of the New Zealanders’ first Egyptian camp at Zeitoun. The hotel was sumptuously furnished, and could accommodate a thousand guests. Since the building has been equipped as an hotel it is certain that there will be a great number of well-sprung beds available, and that the culinary and other conveniences will be adequate to the present requirements. The spacious gardens will enable those men whom it is possible to move to breathe the pure air of the desert and hence make rapid recovery.

Kasr el Aini Hospital is one of the Egyptian Government hospitals under the Public Health Department. The director, the resident physician, the resident surgeon, and the nurses are English, but since this hospital was also a medical school for local students, some of the staff are Egyptians, who, however, usually hold diplomas obtained in Europe. It is probable that the native section of the hospital remains unchanged, and that the lecture rooms and laboratories of the students have been converted into wards for our wounded. These lecture rooms form open quadrangles, into which the prevailing breezes from the Mediterranean sea find easy ingress. The windows and doors are provided with gauze mosquito-screens. The hospital is situated near the Nile, and half a mile to the South of General Maxwell’s house and the British Residency.

Luna Park, Cairo’s “White City,” with skating rink, switchback railway et cetera, is situated a few hundred yards from the Heliopolis Hotel. Photographs of the interior of this property published in the “Weekly Press” of July 6th showed that the beds provided here are made from the split midribs of date-palm leaves. Such beds, called angareeb, are very comfortable, for the flexibility of the woody fibres and the absence of rigid joints, allow the mattress to “give” beneath the weight of the body. They are practically basket or wicker-work stretchers and British residents often use them as spare beds or as verandah settees. It is probable that only minor wounds will be treated in this improvised Hospital.

Pont de Kubba (or Koubbeh) is a suburb of Cairo on the now well known Zeitoun railway line. There are many huge blocks of residential flats in this district, and it is likely that one of those buildings has been converted into a temporary hospital. If this is not so, the only other suitable building in the locality is the old Abbassia Observatory, formerly a Khedivial palace. This building is surrounded by a high wall and the garden so enclosed would secure quiet resting places for those whose wounds allowed them some freedom of action.

Mena House, the last of the Cairo hospitals specified in the cablegrams, was an hotel, but on the arrival of the Australian Field Force it was converted into their base hospital. It is situated on the edge of the Libyan desert at the end of the Pyramids tram line, and beneath the shadow of the Great Pyramid. It is connected to Cairo by both telephone and telegraph wires. It is probable that this hospital has been maintained continuously under the Australian Army Medical Corps. Having been used as an hospital for some six months prior to the attack on Gallipoli Peninsula, all shortcomings will have been remedied and extra comforts will have been provided ere the first wounded soldiers returned from the firing-line.

ALEXANDRIA.

Seven hospitals in Alexandria have been mentioned by name, but as yet no reference has been made to some seventeen Military Hospitals, namely, those numbered III. to XVIII. and No. XX. No doubt many of these are placed in Alexandria and reserved mainly for the wounded British, Indian, and French troops. Alexandria is a noted health resort and is the seat of Government during the Egyptian summer. The proximity of the sea renders its temperature more equable than that of Cairo. As in Cairo, so in Alexandria, convalescent cases win find many residents ready to offer the hospitality of their homes until their names are removed from the sick list. All the suburban portion of this city stands on its north-east side upon a ridge of soft limestone rock. Tho cultivated delta of the Nile, here mainly market gardens, extends along the south side of this ridge, while on the north side the sea provides one long succession of delightful bathing beaches. An asphalted carriage road bordered by shady trees and an efficient electric tram service, the Alexandria. Ramleh Railway, connects these suburbs with one another and with the centre of the city.

Glymenopoulo, one of these suburban districts, lies quite near Alexandria, and is characterised by the number of great houses which are divided into residential flats. It is probably one of these spacious buildings which has been converted into a temporary hospital.

Ras el Tin Military Hospital is situated near the terminus of the Ramleh tram line at Ras el Tin, the Cape of Figs. The building is probably what was the summer palace of the ex-Khedive Abbas II., pictures of which may be seen on the new issue of the Egyptian three-milliene stamps. As it is built on the very sea front, and some distance from any other large structures, it will form an almost ideal hospital. Of course, the large halls it is bound to contain will entail large wards, which may not be as comfortable as smaller wards containing fewer beds.

Ramleh Casino and San Stefano Casino are probably one and the same hospital. Ramleh, the fashionable residential suburb of Alexandria, adjoins San Stefano, with its Casino and other seaside attractions. In reality the Casino is a large hotel on the sea front, and is noted for its enclosed swimming bath. Convalescent men will find this establishment has more attractions than other hospitals less favourably situated.

Alexandria Hospital, perhaps identical with Military General Hospital No. XXI., like Kasr el Aini, is an Egyptian Government hospital and school of medicine under the Public Health Department. Its staff will be mainly British, and it will be well equipped with medical stores.

Deaconess’ Hospital, also called Military Hospital No.XIX., needs little further notice than to say that it is under the same administration as the Deaconess’ Hospital, Cairo. The Sisters of Mercy in both establishments are usually of Austrian or German nationality.

The Greek Hospital is maintained by the Greek community of Alexandria, which is richer and in point of view of numbers, is greater than that of any other of the European communities which inhabit this city. The hospital is bound to be well appointed, and except for the food, which may be prepared in a manner too nearly resembling Neapolitan for our tastes, the patients here should have all the comforts they require.

Before concluding these notes on the hospital accommodation in Egypt, it may be of interest to record that the allied Red Cross ship Goorka, which transports the wounded from Gallipoli to Alexandria, is one of the ships of the Union Castle Line fleet. This line of steamers carries the mails and passengers between Southampton and the South African ports. The ships are all well found, and in some cases the accommodation is luxurious. Relations and friends may therefore rest assured that our wounded will have the best possible care and attention during the two or three days’ voyage across the Mediterranean.

Copyright Notice:

Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain.

9th Battalion Footballers

There was a vibrant and thriving amateur football scene in and around Ashton under Lyne in the years leading up to the outbreak of war. By 1914 teams from the district were playing in at least 10 leagues, and competing for a number of local cups including the Lady Aitken Challenge Cup and the Harrison Cup in the Ashton and District League, the John Wood Cup in the Hooley Hill Sunday School League and the Reporter Challenge Cup in the Ashton Lads’ League. Additionally, there was an Ashton Senior Cup for the top-level teams and an Ashton Junior Cup for the rest, as well as an annual invitational Ashton Charity Cup.

A number of local teams competed at the professional or semi-professional level in the Central League and the two divisions of the Lancashire Combination League. On March 7, 1914 Stalybridge Celtic, (playing at Bower Fold), were placed 5th in the Central League, above both Manchester United and Manchester City reserves. While in the Lancashire Combination League, Hurst FC^[1], (playing at Hurst Cross), were mid-table in Division 1, above Hyde and in Division 2, a Stalybridge Celtic reserves team were placed 7th, just outside the top third, but behind Denton.

At the amateur level, arguably the best players competed in the first and second divisions of the Ashton & District League which had 1,270 players registered in 1914.^[2] The quality of football in the league was so good, and local interest so strong, that the 1914 final of the Lady Aitken Challenge Cup, contested between Droylsden and Mossley, (played at Hurst Cross), netted gate receipts of £168 12s 4d which was reported to be a record for any amateur cup final in and around Manchester.^[3] Private 1150 Fred Armitage, formerly of Hurst FC, played in that final for the victorious Mossley team.

The Hooley Hill Sunday School League also had teams of reasonable quality with the limitation that squads had to be formed from actual members of the particular Sunday School. The 1914 Colonel John Wood, M.P. Challenge Cup, contested between Carrbrook St. James and Hooley Hill United Methodists (known as the “Independents”) was played at Stalybridge Celtic’s football ground at Bower Fold and attracted a fairly good crowd. Private 1217 Harold Cook, described in the local newspapers as one of the smartest junior footballers in the district and a prolific goal scorer, played for the narrowly defeated Independents in that two-legged final.

At youth level Ashton, Stalybridge and Dukinfield all had their own “Lads’ Leagues” with Ashton also having a Junior League and a Schoolboys League. The Reporter Group of Newspapers sponsored the Reporter Challenge Cup, contested for in the Ashton Lads’ League which was initially devised “in order to encourage sport among youths”.

Egypt 1915

In April 1915, the Ashton Reporter published a letter from Lance-Corporal 2232 George Jacob Howell, who was previously employed on the highways of the Ashton Corporation but was also a well-known referee (affiliated with the Manchester County F.A.) overseeing matches in the Ashton and District League and the Hooley Hill Sunday School League. At 32 years of age, Howell was an Old Volunteer and one of the handful of men who attested on September 8, 1914 immediately before the battalion left for Egypt.

His letter bragged that the battalion’s A Company had “the best team in Egypt at the present time”, a claim which was not obviously backed-up by their limited fixture list: 9^th Battalion B Company (twice) 2-1, 2-0; 9^th Battalion D Company (twice), 0-0, 2-0; Royal Army Medical Corps, 4-0; 5th East Lancs Battalion 4-3, 6-0, and Australians, 5-0.

Obligingly, he provided a team photo and a list of players:

9th BMR A Company Footballers

9^th Manchesters, A Company Football Team April 1915

Top row, reading from left to right: Sergt. Scott (Committeeman), G. Howell (Ashton and Hooley Hill referee), J. Seddon (Denton Rovers), J. Martin (Waterloo), J. Turner (Reddish), Sergt. Grantham (Committeeman), and Corporal Travis (Ashton).

Middle row: W. Murphy (Ashton Oak), J. Williams (Haughton Rovers), J. Ratcliffe (Haughton Rovers), H. Allen (Dukinfield Hall), and A. Lees (Trainer).

Bottom row: Lance-Corpl. Parkins (Denton Rovers), J. Earnshaw (Haughton Rovers), “Sandy” Jackson (Denton, Hurst and Celtic), A. Broadhurst (Ashton St. Peter’s), and H. Broadhurst (Ashton St. Peter’s).

Without a doubt, the best player on the team was Pte. 2160 Thomas “Sandy” Jackson sitting front-row center with the ball. He started his senior playing career with Hurst FC (now Ashton United) in 1910 but switched to Stalybridge Celtic, playing for them from 1911-1913, and finally to Denton in 1914. He was a proper player, deployed at inside half-back and a regular goal scorer, widely reported in the press during the pre-war years, particularly Celtic’s 1912 season.

During 1913-14 Ashton St. Peter’s, Haughton Rovers and Waterloo were all playing in the Ashton and District League, 1st Division while Reddish were in Division 2. Players from those teams included: Pte. 2126 Pte James Martin, Pte J Turner, Pte 1201 James Williams, Pte 1147 James Ratcliffe, L/Cpl. 1000 James Earnshaw, and two brothers Pte 1184 Albert Broadhurst and Drummer 1160 Harold Broadhurst. Pte. 1303 Harry Allen played for Dukinfield Hall Primitives in the West Division of the Hooley Hill and District Sunday School League.

Pte 1916 John Seddon, L/Cpl. 1281 John Travis, Pte William Murphy and L/Cpl. 497 Alfred Parkins made up the rest of the team while Sgt 164 Alfred Scott and Sgt 969 Harry Grantham along with Pte 1243 Arnold Lees, managed and coached them.

Shortly after the article was published the East Lancashire Division deployed to Gallipoli.

Gallipoli

Throughout the campaign the Ashton Reporter would regularly add short biographical notes about the subject of the letter or article being published, sometimes providing a reference to their prior footballing prowess.

Private 1217 Harold Cooke, wounded June 9, 1915. Described in the local newspapers as one of the smartest junior footballers in the district and a prolific goal scorer, played for the Independents in the final of the Colonel John Wood Cup in 1914.

Private 2192 John (Jack) Jones, Killed in Action June 13, 1915. Played with the Dukinfield Primitive Methodist Football Club in the Hooley Hill and District Sunday School League, West Division.

Lance-Corporal Gerald Massey, Killed in Action June 19, 1915. Played with the Ashton United Methodist Football Club in the Hooley Hill and District Sunday School League, West Division.

Private 1803 James Ryder, Killed in Action June 19, 1915. Played for Holy Trinity Boy’s Brigade Football Club.

Corporal 508 Harry Gibson. Killed in Action June 19, 1915. Was secretary of the St. Gabriel’s Church, Cockbrook football club who played in the Hooley Hill and District Sunday School League, East Division.

Lance-Corporal 1769 Herbert Barratt, Died of Wounds June 28, 1915. Played for Dukinfield Celtic of the Ashton Lads’ League when they won the Reporter Cup in May 1912.

Private 2202 John (Jack) Hague, Died of Disease (Enteric Fever) July 3, 1915. Played for Hurst United Football Club of the Ashton Lads’ League, North Division.

Private 1150 Fred Armitage, Wounded (bullet to the wrist) July 9, 1915. Similar to “Sandy” Jackson, he was a talented player who started out with Dukinfield St. Marks but quickly graduated to a much higher-level with Hurst FC and then turned out regularly as half-back for Mossley in the Ashton and District League, Division 1. He was a member of the Mossley side which won the Lady Aitken Challenge Cup in 1914 and who came 2^nd in the league’s Division 1 in the 1913-14 season.

Private 2236 Albert Hesketh. A well-known footballer who played for Ashton and Dukinfield clubs.

Private 2742 James Speddings, Killed in Action August 8, 1915. He was just 16 years old. Well-known in junior football circles, having played in a number of matches in the Dukinfield Lads League.

Corporal 180 Samuel Bayley, awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for actions at the Battle of Krithia Vineyard, August 7-9, 1915. A member of the Ebenezer Baptist Sunday School (Cross Leech Street), Stalybridge and the goalkeeper of the football club. Although apparently not quite good enough to get on the A Company football team in Egypt in 1915.

Company Sergeant Major 806 Cornelius Finch was secretary to the Dukinfield Association Football Club which played in the Ashton and District League, Division 1. He was reported to have five committeemen in his Company: Privates 2142 James McDonald, 2385 Frank Scrambler, 1613 Edward (Ted) Jones, 1187 William Kinder and 1465 James Pye. Private McDonald later succeeded Sergeant-Major Finch in the office of secretary to the Dukinfield F.C.

Private 2499 Percy Taylor, wounded in the left leg and right thigh on September 2, 1915 resulting in amputation of his leg on the Hospital Ship Delta, en-route to England. “He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Stamford Street, and took a great interest in the football club which played in the Hooley Hill and District Sunday School League, West Division. He was a capable and clever player, and well-liked by the team.”

Private 2897 Harry Clegg, Killed in Action September 4, 1915. Attended St. Gabriel’s Sunday School, Ashton and was a member of the St. Gabriel’s football team, (who played in the Hooley Hill and District Sunday School League, East Division) and a member of the cricket team.

Private 2710 Frederick John Bacon, Died of Disease (Enteric Fever) on September 28, 1915. Reportedly “has done much good work on the football field, both at Dukinfield and the Celtic ground at Stalybridge.”

Lance-Sergeant 2139 Gilbert Higham, Died of Wounds on October 7, 1915. Was well known in the local Sunday school football circles, having played for the Stalybridge Unitarians, (who played in the Hooley Hill and District Sunday School League, First Division), until just before the war broke out.

Private 3241 Alfred Metcalf, Killed in Action December 19, 1915. Was associated with the Hooley Hill Independent School, and belonged to the football team, having played for the Reporter Challenge Cup.

Private 2968 Joe Downs, Killed in Action December 19, 1915. A well-known footballer in the district as goalkeeper for the United Methodist Sunday School, Booth-street, Stalybridge who played in the Hooley Hill and District Sunday School League, East Division.

Dardanelles Cup

In October 1915, 8th Corps announced that a “Dardanelles Cup” would be contested between football teams from the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, 52nd (Lowland) Division, Royal Naval Division and ‘Other Units’. The competition would be played across four groups, the winners of each group meeting in the semi-finals.^[4] Within the 42nd Division, initial rounds were played to determine brigade champions each of who would then compete to become Division champions. The 10th Manchesters were the 126th Brigade winners defeating the 9th Manchesters in the second round 4-3 followed by a 3-2 victory over the 5th East Lancs Regiment, who had been hammered 6-0 by the 9th Manchesters’ A Company in Egypt.

There is no record of who made up the 9th Battalion football team but Pte Fred Armitage, the Mossey FC stalwart, was certainly not present as he had been wounded in the wrist on July 9 and repatriated to England on August 6, 1915. “Sandy” Jackson had also sustained a bullet wound to his right hand in July but there is no record of him being repatriated. Similarly, Harold Cooke of the Independents had been wounded on June 9 but was not repatriated.

The 10th Manchesters progressed to become the 42 Division champions but were knocked out in the semi-finals 2-0 by the ultimate Cup winners. The final was played at Mudros on January 13, 1916, the Anson Battalion of the Royal Naval Division beating the 5th Battalion Highland Light Infantry of the 52nd Division.

The 10th Manchesters were finally presented with their Division winners medals at a battalion parade in August 1916 in Pelusium, Egypt.

Egypt 1916

In mid-1916 the battalion fielded a football team in a cup competition sponsored by the Y.M.C.A. and contested between teams from the 42nd Division. The 9th Manchesters won the cup by beating teams over three rounds, a semi-final and final. Major-General Sir William Douglas presented the cup to Lieut. Arthur Norman Lechler of the 9^th Battalion team on behalf of the Y.M.C.A.^[5]

The battalion’s results were:

1st round: v. 4th East Lancashire Regiment; won 7-0.

2nd round: v. 5th East Lancashire Regiment; won 2-1.

3rd round: v. 5th Manchester Regiment; draw 1-1 followed by a 2-1 victory in the replay.

Semi-final: v. Cumberland R.F.A.: won 2-0.

Final: v. 1st East Lancashire Ambulance; won 4-0.

The fixtures imply that the other team of the 126th Infantry Brigade, the 10th Manchesters, went out in the first round to the 5th East Lancs, a team they had beaten 3-2 in the Dardanelles Cup.

The 9th Manchesters team included the ubiquitous “Sandy” Jackson from A Company’s undefeated pre-Gallipoli team:

Goal, Martin (formerly of Ashton Oak); right full-back, Lee (Ashton St. Peter’s); left full-back. 1491 Fred Genders (Audenshaw C.L.B.): right half-back, Eastham (Charlestown Mission); centre half-back T. Ratcliffe (Haughton Rovers): left half-back, J Davies (Mossley A.F.C.): right outside. F. Cooper (Hooley Hill Albion); right inside, “Sandy” Jackson (Hurst and Stalybridge Celtic): centre forward. Lieut. Lechler (Manchester University); left inside, W. Drinkwater (Ashton P.S.A.); left outside, A. Jones (Hulme Athletic).

Post-War Football

The 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment was reduced to a training cadre in April 1918 after the 66th Division’s losses in the 3rd Battle of the Somme. After the war, permission to reconstruct the battalion was not given until September 1919 and even then, orders to reform were not issued until a year later. During the interim, former officers and men of the battalion kept in touch through reunion dinners and other social events. Nevertheless, an impromptu football team was evidently assembled and invited to compete in the Ashton Charity Cup of 1919, an annual competition whose net proceeds were subsequently distributed to local worthy causes. The battalion’s team was about to be peripherally involved in a local footballing controversy.

National Gas Engine AFC, (known locally as “The Nash”), were founded in August, 1918, as the works team for the National Gas Engine Company which had provided one officer and several men for the 9th Manchesters during the war.^[6] The intention was to field a side in the Manchester Amateur League and it was reported that the business employed several well-known players and would be able to turn out two good teams each week.

The National Gas Engine Company, knowing that success on the football field would generate positive publicity for the business was willing and able to spend money to help ensure that success. One of the first times it did so was during that inaugural season of 1918-19.

The Nash, made a strong start by finishing third in the Manchester Amateur League and reaching the last four of the league cup. They also reached the semi-finals of the Ashton Charity Cup where they found themselves facing Stalybridge Celtic Reserves, who had reached the semis after beating Mossley in front of 6,000 spectators at Bower Fold.^[7] Meanwhile, the 9th Battalion team beat Hurst FC reserves, at Hurst Cross, in front of a crowd of 4,000 in the other semi-final.

Celtic, backed by wealthy mill-owner Herbert Rhodes, were a powerful and ambitious club who would go on to become founder-members of the Football League’s new third division (North) in 1921. National responded to the challenge creatively, by drafting in two Manchester City forwards — Albert Fairclough and Horace Barnes — and won 3-2 to register a major upset. Fairclough was a competent professional but Barnes was one of the stars of the day. In 1914 City had signed him from Derby County for a record £2,500 and he went on to score 120 goals in 218 appearances. Match reports of their semi-final noted him “playing magnificently” and scoring all three goals in the National’s victory over Celtic.

The executive committee of the Ashton Charity Cup met immediately after the match and while admitting that they had sanctioned “guest players” in The Nash’s first round tie against New Moss Colliery and acknowledging that Celtic, although not agreeing to Barnes and Fairclough playing had agreed to abide by the result, nevertheless ruled that Barnes and Fairclough were ineligible, and ordered a replay in which National should field “eleven bona-fide” players.^[8]

But National refused to comply, arguing there was nothing in the rules to preclude what they had done. Their intransigence caused them to be summarily expelled from the competition and Stalybridge Celtic Reserves took their place in the final where they thrashed the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment 6-0 at Hurst Cross, watched by 7,000 spectators.

Undeterred, National bypassed the Charity Cup Committee and filed an appeal with the governing football associations. Just one week later a special joint-commission of the Manchester and Cheshire County FAs formed an Appeals Committee to hear National’s complaint. The Appeals Committee overruled the Charity Cup Committee’s earlier decision, stating that National had been within their rights to field Barnes and Fairclough since the Committee had previously allowed National to play two “imported players” in their victory against New Moss Colliery and had failed to rescind the rule that allowed them to do so. The final was ordered to be replayed and the Nash beat the doubly-unfortunate 9th Manchesters 3-1, (also at Hurst Cross but this time in front of a lessor crowd of 3,000), to lift their first ever trophy.^[9]

Despite all the controversy, with such well attended games, the fundamental goal of the competition was met and the local community benefited from the subsequently distributed gate proceeds, swelled by the gate receipts from the second final.

Footnotes:

[1] Hurst FC went on to become Ashton United FC.

[2] “Ashton and District Football League, The Annual Report”, Ashton Reporter, 23 May 1914.

[3] “Lady Aitken Cup”, Ashton Reporter 2 May, 1914.

[4] Details taken from an article written by Bernard de Broglio, “The Dardanelles Cup,” printed in The Gallipolian, No. 144, Autumn 2017.

[5] “1/9th’s Football Success”, Ashton Reporter, July 8, 1916.

[6] The National Gas Engine Co. Ltd. was founded by Mr. Henry Neild Bickerton in 1889. Henry’s nephew, Edward Balmford was commissioned into the second line 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment on May 5, 1915 and deployed to Gallipoli with the first line battalion on June 20.

[7] Manchester Evening News – Saturday 12 April 1919.

[8] “Ashton Charity Cup”, Manchester Evening News – Saturday 3 May 1919.

[9] “Cup Final Sequel”, Manchester Evening News – Friday 23 May 1919.

Acknowledgements:

The original idea, and several short sections of the Post War Football text, came with kind permission from “Ashton National: A Potted History of the Original Nash”, accessed November 2025.

Private Papers of John (Jack) Street

10th Bn. Manchester Regt., 126th Brigade, 42nd (East Lancs) Division

The narrative provides a first-hand account of the experiences of a soldier of the 10th Battalion Manchester Regiment, 126th Brigade, 42 (East Lancs) Division. The primary value is the coverage of the Sinai campaign in 1916-17 and, to a lesser extent, the battalion’s time in France in 1917. This is a transcription of a transcription and the original papers at the IWM contained many place name misspellings and errors. All known errors have been corrected and the grammar has been improved where necessary for the sake of readability. Additionally, a few images from the private papers of Major JF Bleakley have been inserted which were not in the original papers but as both were in the same battalion they were stationed in the same places and, in the editor’s opinion, the images enhance the overall narrative for the average reader.

England 1914/15

I joined the 2/10th Manchester Regiment on 23rd of September 1914. After 7 weeks training in Oldham, my own town, we went to Southport in billets and we trained there for over 6 months leaving on the 21st of May 1915. We went to Cuckfield in Sussex where I was billeted in a workhouse along with my Company. Not a fine place to be in, I must say. I was picked with a party of 250 men of the battalion, and we went to Sandwich Bay Musketry Camp, Kent. We went through a second course of firing. After being there for nearly two weeks we went back to Cuckfield and the following day, Saturday, we went along with the rest of the battalion to Pease Pottage Camp, Crawley, Sussex. And only there two days before I went home on my last leave for three days before going with the 250, the first draft to the Dardanelles. Before sailing we had two days at Bull Point Rest Camp, Devonport. I went on board the S.S. Ionian on Saturday July 3rd, 1915 but sailed the day after. The boat was packed, having 2,000 men on board. We passed Gibraltar on Thursday night July 8th and we reached Malta on Monday noon July 12th, but we could not get off the ship. We were only in the harbour 24 hours and then we sailed for Egypt. We reached Alexandria, Egypt on July 17th and the ship stopped there for coal. We left the next morning and sailed for the Isle of Lemnos which was the base for the Dardanelles.

Gallipoli

We arrived at the harbour on Tuesday July 20th and stayed on the Ionian for just over a day. Then we went on a smaller boat which took us to the Dardanelles and I landed there on Thursday night July 22nd, 1915. We went straight away into dug-outs behind the firing line and shells were bursting all around but I soon got used to it, but I had rather a rough time which I do not wish to go through again if I can help it for the Turks had the upper hand on us right enough.

I was taken to the 2nd field hospital suffering from dysentery on the 14th of September and when I had been there for 4 days, I was taken down to the beach and then on to hospital ship Dongola and sailed for Malta and on September 25th we landed there. I was taken to the Hamrun Hospital, Malta and stayed their 2 weeks before I went on board the H. S. Panama and I sailed for England October 8th, 1915.

Repatriated to England 1915

We passed Gibraltar at 4 o’clock on Tuesday morning October 12th and arrived at Southampton, England October 15th, 1915. From there I went on the hospital train to Birmingham and went in the 1st Southern General Hospital, Dudley Road. I was only in there 2 weeks before I went to Orchard Convalescent Camp Kent. After being there 2 weeks I went home to Oldham on ten days’ sick leave. I then went to Southport once again, this time attached to the 3/10th Manchesters as they were there at the time. I was billeted with Mrs. Crossley, 120 Shakespeare Street and although I was only there a little over 3 weeks, I must say I made the best of it and had a ripping time. I left Southport with the 3/10th on Tuesday morning at 2am on December 14th, 1915, and we went to Codford, Wiltshire. We were in huts and up to the neck in mud. I had only been there one week before I went home on Christmas leave for 6- days from the 21st to the 28th of December. I was then on the second draft ready to go out to the Front again. I stopped a day over my leave and got 9 days’ pay stopped for it when I got back. I must be lucky. The first draft left Codford on Sunday January 9th, 1916, so I was then on the next draft for going. I left Codford with the next draft on Thursday morning March 2nd to go out once more. We went to Devonport after having an enjoyable time of two days in a Rest Camp. Then I boarded the S. S. Lake Michigan, that was Sat. March 4th, 1916.

Egypt 1916

We arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, after sailing 13 days, on the 16th of March and we went under canvas at Mustapha where I was put in charge of a tent. I had a fine time of it and having been there 13 days, we left on March 28th for the Suez Canal, landing at Shallufa the day after.

Australian Troopship on Suez Canal

Australian Troopship on Suez Canal (Major JF Bleakley Collection)

Machine Gun Post at Shallufa

Machine Gun Post at Shallufa (Major JF Bleakley Collection)

In five days time I rejoined the 1/10th Manchesters. We then moved to camp at Port Suez. I was only there a week before I left the Batt. and went as a clerk in an office at Port Tewfik near Suez. I worked there for the A.D. of Works, Canal Defence, Southern Section and it was not half a sound job. It was there that I first did Typewriting. It was the 12th of April when I started there. On the 22nd I went to Ismailia for the day with a message. I went to Ismailia again in 2 week’s time. While I was there I went to several places such as Shatt, Isur Maus, Quarantine Station, etc., with money for the Nitre workmen and other things. Having been there for 3 months, I left as the work was finished so on the 26th June I went to rejoin my Batt. once more. They were now at El Ferdan so I joined them there. I was only there 3 weeks before I went with 550 men picked from the Batt. and we went to Kantara. After 3 days we went 30 miles further into the Desert to Romani landing there on Thursday and we kipped in the open. We were there three days before we entrained again and went to Hill 40. We got off the train there but had to get on again in 5 minutes time as we did not stop there after all, (oh yes this is a rag-time mob), so we went back to Kantara. This place is on the Canal side. We stayed there for another day and then we marched to El Ferdan which was a matter of 15 miles and that is not a short distance out here when one is done up to start with. We were only there for 2 days before we marched to Ballah at early morning. We stayed there for the day and at 12pm the same day we marched back to Kantara. We passed through Kantara and marched on to Hill 40 which is about 8 miles out on the Desert. We were there for a week and then marched to Hill 70.

Battle of Romani - Aug 4th 1916

Map from “The Palestine Campaigns” by Lieut-Gen. Sir Archibald Wavell (London: Constable & Co, 1928)

(My word don’t we move about and we do see life)

The Turks were now attacking Romani and that was on the 8th Aug. 1916 so we were in reserve. We stayed there 4 days and then we went further out still to Pelusium which was about 7 miles off Romani, but before we were needed to have a bang at Johnny Turk those that were not taken prisoners retired.

Mt Royston Battlefield

Battlefield Debris in the Aftermath of fighting at Mount Royston (Major JF Bleakley Collection)

We were still there at Oldham Wakes (last week in August) and at that we went for a bathe in the sea, which was about 5 ½ miles away, on Thursday this was instead of being on our holidays in England. We had 5 days there and then went back to Pelusium on Thursday Sept. 7th, feeling a little better after having a wash for once. We only stayed at that place for one day and on the 9th of Sept. which was my birthday (19th) we started on 3 days march. The first night we stopped at Romani and the 2nd night at Kathia and on the third day of the tramp we arrived at Oghratina, which is a post nearly 50 miles out of the desert from the Canal.

Railroad at Oghratina

Railroad at Oghratina (Major JF Bleakely Collection)

At this place we again did “out posts” for when we arrived there the train lines came from the Canal to there and they were building the railway still further towards the Turks, who had now gone back to El Arish which was one of the bases, so we kept advancing with the railway. When on “out posts” each platoon goes out on its own, this is much better than doing “tricks” with the Batt. We could also get dates and watermelons near to this place and there is nothing like a melon when one is in need of water. After being on “out post” for over a week we moved 2 miles further back for what is called a ‘rest’. It is while you are supposed to be resting that drilling starts once more and makes one more fed up than ever. At this time I was feeling off form! When we had been there 7 days I took ill with Malaria fever and was carried away from the boys to the 2nd Field Hospital, my temperature then being 105.6 so I was well away. I had to be put in iced blankets to cool me down to 103.6.

I had a rough night of it and was taken the day after to another 3rd Field Hospital – this was on the 29th Sept. 1916. After being there for another day I was sent to a Field Hospital at Kantara. I had another bad night there and in the morning was sent up the Canal in a boat to the 31st General Hospital, Port Said which is a pretty fine hospital. It was going to be a Works before the war but the government claimed it. The place belonged to a German. On the 2nd of Oct. I am feeling better and am allowed to get out of bed.

Port Said

Port Said (Major JF Bleakely Collection)

After being at Port Said just over two weeks, I was sent to the Citadel Hospital. One can get a fine view of the city of Cairo from the hospital. This is my first time at this place so it is a sight worth seeing.

View of Cairo from the Citadel

View of Cairo from the Citadel Hospital (Major JF Bleakely Collection)

On the 27th of Oct. I went on an outing to the Pyramids with a party. We went in the car. I enjoyed myself very much, after having been shut in hospital for a month. The Pyramids are a fine sight. I went inside the Great Pyramid, but with not being so strong after my illness it nearly put me out for the heat inside was dreadful. We had tea at a house near the Pyramids which belongs to the Sultan of Egypt, but he had lent it to the Red Cross, so that Convalescent Tommies could have their tea there. Before the war this place had only been used for Royalty, the last to be there was the Crown Prince of Germany when he was visiting the Pyramids. On the 30th Oct. I left the Citadel Hospital and went to the Boulac Convalescent home, Cairo. This place was before the war the palace of some Turkish Princess and is a large building but the place is full of mosquitoes which are biting lumps out of me. I was only there 5 days before I had Dental treatment, the same as I had to have in Convalescent Home in England the year before. A week after I went there, I went on another outing to the Pyramids and had another fine time. On Nov. 11th 1916, Sat, I went on an outing to a place called Barrage, about 25 miles from Cairo on the train. We spent a good afternoon there.

On the 16th of Nov. Thursday, I went with an outing party to the town of Cairo and we had tea in some gardens in the city and on Sat 25th I went with a party to the Cairo Museum – a very interesting place. Two days later I went on another trip to the Barrage and the day after the 28th I got a pass to Cairo and I had a fine time on my own. On the 30th Nov. I left Boulac Convalescent Home and went to Kantara, and on the 2nd of Dec. 1916 I again rejoined the 1/10th Manchesters who were about 30 miles out from the Canal, on the Desert. The day after I joined the Batt. we went on Kit Port duty. We are now only about 20 miles from El Arish where Johnny Turk has got a base so we are looking forward to some more fun.

Baggage Camels

Baggage Camels (Major JF Bleakley Collection)

After I had been there 2 weeks we moved up a few more miles, but the Turks having retired from El Arish we were not needed so we came back to the same place.

Concentration Point for Attack on El Arish

Concentration Point for Attack on El Arish (Major JF Bleakley Collection)

This is the 23rd of Dec. 1916 and things look as if we are going to have a quiet Christmas for me this time. A week later, on the 1st of Jan. we went on the track again and for two days on the march. We arrived about 8 miles from El Arish. After a few days there we marched on to El Arish and camped just outside the town.

El Arish

El Arish (Major JF Bleakely Collection)

We were there just about 2 weeks then we got rumours we were leaving Egypt and going to France and on Monday Feb. 5th we entrained and rode down to Kantara where we encamped for 3 days before starting on a march to Ismailia which was 2 days march from Kantara. We stayed for one night at El Ferdan, a place where we were stationed for a while, before starting off again the next day. We arrived at Ismailia on Friday 10th Feb. 1917 and camped at Moascar camp just outside Ismailia where we are now being fitted out with clothing and things and are waiting orders to go to France. We stayed till Sunday Feb. 25th 1917 when we entrained at night for Alexandria. While we were on this journey one of the lads named L___ lost his life from drowning whilst we were stopped at a station on the way.

France 1917

We landed at Alexandria the following morning the 21st. We went straight from the dock side on board S.S. Huntspill which was once an Austrian ship which had been returned early on in the war and was named Kaizbor. We didn’t sail till 27th Feb. 1917. It was very calm for the first few days and then we had it very rough for a while and we didn’t land at Malta till the 3rd March 1917, leaving the same morning. After 3 days sail we arrived at Marseilles, France on March 6th 1917. We entrained at once and after 3 days ride we arrived at Pont Remy. From there we marched about 7-miles to another village. It is terribly cold and snowing, quite a contrast to Egypt, for the cold is hardly bearable to me but I shall get used to it in time. The village I am in at present is Huppy and we are billeted in old barns, which is really much better than nothing. We are very near to the Somme Front. We stayed there for nearly a month and on the 30th March 1917 we moved to a village about 9 miles. away called Liercourt which is near to Pont Remy. I had the pleasure to drive in a motor wagon. A few days later I managed to go to Abbeville in a motor and it proved to be a very pretty large town but I had no time to look round. On Sat.7th Apr 11-1917 we went on the train to some place and then marched a few miles to a place named Morcourt and went again in billets, old barns! The German aeroplanes come over the village very often and drop a few bombs at times and several battles are fought in the air with our planes and theirs but otherwise things are very quiet. On the 12th April 1917 we moved to Flaucourt which was a march of about 14 miles and we went in dug-outs. On 14th April 1917 I again left the Batt. with a bad leg and hands through Septic. I was there 4 days and then went to the C.C. Station (Crecy). While I was there I received the news about our Batt. doctor, Captain Baird who was blown up by a German trick mine.

On the 28th April 1917 being much better, I played for our Divisional team at football against the 48th Div. as a large number of them were also at the C.C.S. Unfortunately, we lost the match by one goal. On the 30th April I left the C.C.S. and went to a town named Villers-Bretonneux and was there 4 days pulling huts down and loading railway wagons with wood to be sent up the line. This town is a pretty large size and I spent quite an enjoyable time there before I went back to the Batt. at Crecy on the 5th May 1917 and on the 18th I left the hospital to rejoin my unit, who are at present in the firing line. I landed at Peronne, the smashed up town, the same day and 2 days after I left there and rejoined the Batt. at a village named Ytres and the same night we moved up to the firing line which was a walk of about 8 miles. Things are pretty quiet in this part of the line at present. After being in the front line for 5 days our Company came out and we went in Reserve, which was in a large wood which had not been destroyed like the rest of the woods in France. It is a treat to be beneath the green trees and hear the birds singing and although we are only about 2 miles away from the Germans here, when they are not shelling us, we can hardly tell there is a war on at all. While we were up in the firing line this time we had the ill luck in our Company to have one killed and one wounded with a shell. On the night of the 31st May 1917 our Company went out in front of the firing line to dig an advanced trench and about 10 o’ clock in the morning of the 1st of June we were spotted by Boschies who opened out with rapid shell fire on us. We had to make a dash of it to get back. We had to rush through a smoked village and how we all missed being killed was wonderful. We then went to another wood which was only about 1 mile from the line and the next night we had another man wounded by a stray shot. The next night we went digging again in the front and were once again lucky. On the night of 4th June 1917 we had another rough house with 25 of our Batt. killed or wounded.

Of the 5th June 1917 we moved down the line for a rest in a smashed up village, Ytres. It was here that I went to the Signalling and shortly I expect leaving the Batt. again to go on a course for the same. On the 15th June 1917 I left the Batt. to go to the 42nd Divisional School of Signalling at Bus which is 2 kilos further down the line. After being there for about 2 weeks my Batt. had another rough time up the line and I lost a few of my pals — Harry Highton, Tommy Dyson, Tom Bewmont, and George Holt being killed at the time. The Batt. managed to capture a Minenwerfer Gun from the Germans and 3 men were recommended and moved from there with the Signal School and we marched about 4 miles further north to a village named Aix la Petay and camped just outside the place. On the 14th July I went on a visit to my Batt. who had come down the line and were at a village about 3 miles away called Courcelles. On the 5th of August 1917 I finished the Signalling Course and went back to Batt. At Courcelles and I am expecting going home on leave any day now. On the night of Aug 8th I left the Batt. to go home on 10 days leave. At last I entrained at the next village to where I was stationed with my unit namely Achiel le Grand to go to Boulogne where I shall catch the boat for dear Old Blighty. I landed at Boulogne at about 4 o’ clock on Thursday morning the 9th August 1917 but could not get home that day but sailed the day after, Aug. 19th, at 8 o’clock in the morning and landed at Folkestone at 10am and changed at London and landed home in Oldham at 11 o’clock at night Friday Aug 10th 1917. After a ripping 10 days at home, I left Oldham on the night of Monday Aug 20th 1917 to go back to the rotten country France and back to “the Life!” I landed in France at Boulogne about dinner time on Tuesday Aug 21st but the same night I went in the 3rd Canadian General Hospital with the old complaint, Malaria. I stayed there till Sept. 8th and then went to the 7th Convalescent Camp, Boulogne.

Today, Sunday, is my birthday which is the third one running I have had away from home, but anyway although I am in here it is much better than being up the line. On the 12th Sept. I left the camp going on the Hospital Train from Boulogne to Trouville. On Sunday Sept. 16th I got a pass to go down to the town of Trouville, which is a fine seaside town to which people come from Paris for holidays. I spent a très bon time there for the weather was grand and the bathing there was great. After, I went down every few days as I was at the Convalescent Camp Trouville for 6 weeks. I left there on Friday Oct. 26th 1917. On my way to the base at Etaples travelling from Trouville in a Hospital train I arrived at Rouen where I spent the night, leaving there in the afternoon next day and going by train to the Base Etaples the 30th I.B.D which is a large camping ground. Arriving there Oct. 27th I remained there for about 2 weeks and on the 28th Oct. I left to join the Batt. which was up at Nieuport. I landed late and right at reinforcement camp behind the line and stayed till Nov. 4th 1917- and arrived at the Batt. dump the same night at Coxyde. The next day I arrived at a place named Tulpen. I went up the line with the boys the same night on fatigue for a few hours. The next day Nov. 11th I went with the Batt. up the line. I am in Company H.Q. with the signallers and things are pretty quiet. After being up the line 5 days we were relieved and came down to Oostduinkerke which is a few miles behind the line. I went on fatigue in the line on the night of Nov. 17, 1917, and had quite a night of it. On the night of Nov. 18th we left the camp Oostduinkerke in the afternoon and went in motor lorries to the town of Dunkerque and stayed in a billet just outside the town for the night and next morning we set out on a march of 20 kilos in the day and stayed the night near the village of Wormhoudt. The morning after we again set off on the march and rested at night in another village. On the 21st Nov. we were again on the trot and the same the day after.

On the 22nd November 1917 we arrived at Rincq where we shall very likely stay for a few days. This village was near to Aire. I had the pleasure to have a look round the town. After 7 days at Rincq we left on the morning of 27th November 1917 and marched just over 20 kilometers to the village of Robecq which is 8 kilometers from Bethune. The next day we marched through Bethune and to a place about 4 kilometers the other side where we are in reserve of the Division. The front line being about 5 kilometers from the place we stayed at was called Beuvry and it was a très bon place. After staying there about 12 days, we moved up into the front line in a part just in front of Cuinchy, where I was in advance post signal office. I arrived. there on 10th December 1917. We left the line 6 days later and went down to a village called Capair and on the 20th of December I went for 2 days in a signal school at the B.T.O. line leaving there on the 22 of December 1917 and went with the battalion in the front line. Again, I was on advanced Signal Station and it really is some life for I shall be up here for Christmas and New Year. On the 24th December 1917 Christmas Eve whilst going out for Company H.Q. back to my own Signal Station a shell dropped in the trench just against me and upon picking myself up I found myself hit in four places in the right leg. I was taken to the battalion doctor and there he took two pieces of shell from my leg and then I went further down the line and underwent an operation the same night. I came to on Christmas Day to find myself on a nice soft bed in a ward trimmed up for Christmas. After all I had a pretty good time at the place. I am now at Cuinchy which is just at the rear of Bethune on the 5th of January. My leg is getting much better and I left the 1st C.C.S. I was put on board a canal Hospital Barge landing at St Omer on the night of the 6^th January 1918. I was taken to the 7th General Hospital.

England 1918

I left the Hospital on Sunday the 13th January 1918 and went by Hospital train to Boulogne then on hospital ship bound for Blighty. We stayed in the harbour for the night, sailing the next morning at 9 o’ clock 14th January 1918 and arriving at Dover at about 11.30am I was put on a Hospital train going to Glasgow, Scotland arriving there at about 3.30 am in the morning following, 15th January 1918, and I was taken to Springburn Hospital at Glasgow. After being there for two weeks I was allowed to get out of bed and had a fine time at Glasgow till the 5th February 1918 when I left there and went to Blackpool to the K.L.M.C. H. During my stay there, which lasted 14 weeks I had a ripping time. On Thursday the 9th of May 1918 I left the K.L.M.C.H. and went home for my 10 days sick leave. My leave expired on the 20th May (Monday) and I reported to the 8th Res. Manchester Regt which was stationed at Hunmanby, near Scarborough, Yorkshire. The camp was right out in the wilds, for Hunmanby is a quiet little village miles away from anywhere. During my stay there I visited Filey several times, this being a quiet little seaside town, about 4 miles away from camp. On Friday the 26th of July I managed to get home on weekend leave, returning from home to Hunmanby on Tuesday the 30th of July. I had several small outings and bicycle rides as far as Scarborough and Bridlington. On the 20th September I again went home on weekend leave and returned to Hunmanby on the 24th of September. On Friday the 27th of September I moved with the Battalion to Filey a distance of 4 miles and we were billeted there in empty houses, my address being 16 Rutland Street. On Friday the 18th of October I went home on ‘Special Leave’ undergoing an exciting stunt (i.e. wedding) on Saturday the 19th and I had a ripping time at home afterwards. My leave expired on Thursday the 24th and I arrived back at Filey again on Thursday night feeling fed up again as is quite usual after a leave home.

On Friday the 1st November I left Filey for the Transfer Centre at Ripon, the following morning the 5th of November to proceed to Woolwich (London) for a trade test. I arrived there the same night and was billeted in Brookhill Barracks. I went through a fitter’s test and passed out. On Friday the 8th inst. I left London to proceed to the R.E.s stationed at Longmoor. The next day moved to Bordon Camp, Hants. and was transferred to the R.O.D. R.E. 6’s who were stationed there. So I was finished with the Manchester Regt. after being with them for 4 years and 1 5/8 months. This Bordon is a quiet little spot about 20 odd miles from Southampton.

On the 11th of November 1918 Monday we went on Parade to hear the Fighting was over at last. After being there for 2 weeks, I was put on a draft to go overseas again, for work on the Railways, so came on Draft leave on Sunday night 24th November 1918 arriving home the next morning. I was at home 9 days leaving on Tuesday afternoon the 3rd. of December 1918 and arrived at Quebec Barracks Bordon late the same night on the 9th of December 1918.

France 1918/19

Monday, I left Bordon with the 138 draft for France once more leaving there at early morning and arriving at the rest camp Southampton the same night. I had a look round the town at night. On the following day Tuesday 10th of December 1918 I left Blighty once again sailing at 6pm and arriving in France on the following day Wednesday the 11th December 1918 at the Port of Le Havre, where I stayed in the rest camp. I came across in the S.S. Southwestern Miller and it was a pretty rough sail. I am now with the 55th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company. I spent a few good days at Le Havre, which is a fine town. I left there on the 17th of December 1918 Tuesday entraining for some unknown place. On this journey I travelled in a German truck which had been handed over. We passed through Etaples the following morning and Boulogne at dinner time and arrived at Audruicq which is near Calais and is a R.O.D. Depot.

At this place I was put with the draft under canvas, and I guess I had quite a time being in a tent at this time of the year. I spent Christmas Eve 1918 in a tent and a right Christmas Eve it was too, for there was plenty of snow. On Christmas morning I was moved in a hut nearby which was much better than remaining in a tent of which I had had more than enough. I did not have a bad Christmas Day at all, for I clicked for a good dinner and tea, so under the conditions all was très bon. I had a fairly easy time while at Audruicq. On Friday night January 3rd 1919 I left Audruicq with a small draft for Dunkirk. I broke the journey at Hazebrouck. This is another place that has had a bit of smashing up by the Bosch. I was billeted in what used to be a Ministry leaving there by the 8.40 am train for Dunkirk the next morning the 4th January arriving there the same afternoon and was attached to the docks company of R.O.D.’s and was billeted in Railway living vans. I started work on a shunter in the yard here on the January 5th 1919 on Night Shift for the first week. The yard here has 20-lines and this is some job. The place is called Triage des Dunes and I guess it is all dunes too. Dunkirk is pretty near and is a fairly decent place which has been knocked about a bit with bombs by the Boch. On my 4th week there I was put on a points man’s job being in a cabin at the south end of the Triage des Dunes yard. In the month of February great rumours are set about regarding demobilization but they seem to take plenty to start in the Detachment of R.O.D. Later in the month rumours are flying about to this effect, that the detachment is going to Boulogne. On Saturday 28th February (?) I went to a little seaside place named Malo which is a car ride out of Dunkirk. This is a quiet little place but I passed a pleasant afternoon there. On the 1st of March (Sunday) the clocks were turned forward one hour (midnight) for the daylight “stunt”. I spent a few evenings round Mardyck village and petite Sands! On Saturday April 26th I moved with the R.O.D. detachment from the living vans at Triage des Dunes to a camp about a mile away near Petite Sands, and was billeted in a hut. On Wednesday night the 30th of April I did my last night’s work with the R.O.D.s. I was DEMOBBED at last on Saturday morning the 3rd of May 1919. I reported to the Demob. Camp at Dunkirk on the morning of Sunday the 4th.

England 1919

I sailed from Dunkirk on the SS Scotian and arrived in Blighty in the afternoon at Dover. There I caught the train for the Dispersal Camp at Prees Heath, arriving there at 3.30 am on the 5th of May 1919. Having filled several papers I left there at 1.30 pm for Oldham arriving home at 5pm for my 28 days demob. leave. So now at last I have finished soldiering and I am back among all who are so dear to me.

Service Numbers:

10th Manchester Regiment: 2544, 375701
Royal Engineers (Railways): WR.151634

Acknowledgement:

This journal has been transcribed from originals held at the Imperial War Museum. The transcription is provided here under Non Commercial Use License and remains the copyright of the IWM.

The papers are catalogued here at the IWM.

Private Papers of Albert Garner

4th Bn. East Lancs Regt., 126th Brigade, 42nd (East Lancs) Division

The narrative provides a first hand account of the experiences of a soldier who formed part of the first large draft of men to go to Gallipoli from the 126th Brigade, 42nd (East Lancs) Division. The primary value is the coverage of the voyage out and participation in the Battle of Krithia Vineyard. The original papers at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) contained many place name misspellings and challenging grammar. All known errors have been corrected and the grammar has been improved where necessary for the sake of readability. A few images from the private papers of Major JF Bleakley have been inserted which were not in the original papers but as both were in the same brigade (126th) they were stationed in the same places and involved in the same actions. In the editor’s opinion, the images enhance the overall narrative for the average reader.

England, 1915

Well, first of all we set sail on the Transport ship Ionian on the second of July. We were packed like herrings in box for the boat was nothing but an old cattle boat, and as for rats it was full of them, for we could not sleep at night. We slept in hammocks slung up beside each other. Well I did not sleep down in the bottom more than 3 times during the whole of the voyage for the first night I could not sleep for the rats for they were running about and so making a squeaking noise, and bear in mind they were not above a foot over our heads all among the rafters where we had hung our packs and our rifles.

Pte Albert Garner

Private Albert Garner

The second night I was sleeping near the port hole as I thought it would be a little fresher but I don’t think I had been asleep more than an hour when, bang. I went up against the side of the boat with my head for the boat was tossing about from side to side and of course our hammocks were swinging also. And I was the one nearest to the side so that I could not help myself. Anyway, I determined that I would not sleep there anymore so the next night I got in the centre but I could not sleep for I was beginning to feel that sickness which often comes over you when sailing. Well by the morning I could stand it no longer and I started to be sick for 3 days and nights. I was doing nothing but vomiting and I could not eat anything. Well we were expecting reaching Gibraltar the next day and as I was picking up I was picked that day for the guard on the officers’ deck and it was here that my eyes were opened for the officers were living on the best of food and they had stewards to wait on them while we in the bottom were being treated like dogs. We came in sight of land about four in the afternoon, but the boat went slower then and we passed through Gibraltar in the dead of night. I could just see the rock looming up through the darkness on the right of the boat and I was disappointed for I had looked forward to seeing the place that is known as the key to the Mediterranean.

After this there was nothing to trouble about, for it was like a lake, and the boat made good progress. After about 2 days sailing, we sighted the coast of Africa and then we sailed along all the way up the coast. I don’t think we were above 2 or 3 miles from the coast all the time. At any rate, I don’t think, so it may have been. Well, after leaving the coast of Africa we did not see land again until we came in sight of Malta. Here we stayed about a day at Malta while some guns that were in the hold were unloaded and it was the sight of a lifetime to see the harbour and its fortifications. And besides, we saw some of the French Navy’s boats and about three submarines. When we were leaving Malta for Alexandria all the French Battleships and their bands struck up with the God Save the King and their national anthem, the Marseillaise, amid great enthusiasm while we gave cheer after cheer.

After leaving Malta a very sad thing occurred by the death of one of our lads who had been bad all the voyage. He was buried at sea the following morning with full military honours.

We landed at Alexandria safely and we expected being able to leave the boat but we were only allowed to take our kit bags off and then we had to go back again onboard. Here some of the Yeomanry troops disembarked to join their regiment that was stationed at Cairo. We stayed in harbour about a day and it was here that we saw the natives and they were treated like dogs with the policemen there for they would get them by the scruff of the neck and kick them as hard as they could and then they hurled them away from them as if in disgust at having to handle them. Well, we were told later by a sergeant of our regiment, who was in Hospital there and who came on board to speak to us, that they had to keep them under or else they would take advantage. It was here that we heard how our battalion had fared and we began to realise that we were in for a rough time.

Gallipoli

Then we sailed for the Dardanelles. After about 3 days we came to Mudros. It was here that I saw the Russian battleship which is commonly known by the troops as the packet of Woodbines because of its five funnels. We stayed about two days here and it was here that the draft for the 5th East Lancashires was taken off because their battalion was at Mudros for a fortnight’s rest. They were taken off about dinner time, and it was about 4 o’ clock when we were told to get all our packs on and rifles so as to be ready to get on to the minesweepers that were to take us to the peninsula. We were all on safely and then they started off. It was about four hours sail, and we landed at the mouth of the straits about nine o’ clock at night. It was a pretty clear night and we could see the battered forts of Sedul Bahr and we could also see the hull of the sunken battleship Majestic showing above the water. There was a light fixed there, probably to guide the boats away so that they would not collide with it.

It was here that our lot, the 4th East Lancs, were told that we were to get on to a small lighter. And it was here that we were packed so tight that we could not move an inch. We all had our full packs on and our rifle and blanket as well as having to carry 200 rounds of ammunition. We sailed about for two hours and then we were hailed from the beach. We made for the barges that were used for a landing stage and here I saw the boat that the Gurkhas came on and which had been beached. It was called the River Clyde. I felt so funny for we could hear the booming of the guns and the rattle of machine gun and rifle fire, and now and then we could see the star shells as they lit the sky up.

V Beach Galliopli

V Beach, Gallipoli (Major JF Bleakley Collection)

At the same time that we were landing there were some French Senegalese troops landing also and the orders were given in a whisper. It just seemed as though we were all struck dumb. We all got to the beach safely and then we were formed up and we started off. We passed through little graveyards where some of the men were buried and now and then we came across some the native troops with their mules. We went on and on getting nearer to the trenches all the time until at last we got the order to halt. And then we were taken into a small trench. It was just coming daylight and then we were told off to our different companies. I and my pal were told to join ‘A’ Company, so we were at once made as comfortable as possible by our comrades who were at the present moment resting in the dug outs, behind the firing line. As soon as it came light, we hunted around for some of the lads we knew were out here. We found them and we shook hands heartily with one another. Then they told us also how many of the lads had gone under. We knew then that we were in for a rough time.

Dugout Gallipoli

Dugouts at Gallipoli (Major JF Bleakely Collection)

It was very funny, but when it came light and the Turks could see us they sent their first shell for the day and every one of the lads who had just come ducked down in the dug outs like a rabbit in its burrow. But I will tell you candidly that I was afraid when I heard it come whistling through the air but however after a time I got quite used to it and I walked about as though there was nothing to trouble about. Well naturally with it being so hot I was always after water to drink, and it was very hot in the daytime. And the flies were very irritating for there were swarms of them and they used to get on your food when you were eating. If you were eating a biscuit it was covered with flies and I had to keep them off with one hand while I took a bite.

We were supposed to be resting while we were in the dug outs but we were taken out every day with a pick, your rifle and a rag bandolier with 50 rounds of ammunition in. We had to take our rifle with us every time we went on a fatigue duty. We used to have to dig or else widen mule trenches and make communication trenches. The place was honeycombed with trenches for it was not safe to walk about in the open when it was daylight for the Turks could see you anywhere. And they would send us a present of a shell if they saw about three or four of us together, and they used to drop too near for my liking.

We had about eight days of this and then I began to feel the strain of the hot weather and the water was bad and we did not get much to eat but a few biscuits and a bit of bacon for breakfast, and stew for dinner, and for tea jam and bread, but there was not bread very often. We had been in the dug outs just a fortnight and by this time I was feeling right done up when we got the order to move up to the reserve trenches. So, we put our kit and other odds and ends into our packs and gave our rifles a good cleaning and then had our respirators inspected, but by the way we had these inspections every day to see that we did not neglect them.

Reserve Trench at Gallipoli

Reserve Trenches, Gallipoli (Major JF Bleakley Collection)

Battle of Krithia Vineyard

I don’t think we had been in the reserve trenches for more than an hour when the word was passed along that we must keep our heads well down as there was going to be a bombardment at two o’ clock, and by Jove it was a terrible time. It was hell upon earth. It was the first time under fire and I hoped it would be the last. It must have been awful for the lads who were in the front-line trenches. After about four hours of it the machine guns started with their awful deathlike rattle, and we knew then that our men on the left were advancing. We heard afterwards that they had taken 3 lines of trenches but were cut up by the Turkish fire.

The next day our men in the centre who were just in front of us had to advance and the bombardment was even worse than that of the previous day. The noise is awful. It very nearly drove me crazy, what with the shrapnel shell and the lyddite or high explosive shell. Oh, it’s awful. No one can think what it is like until they have been there and heard it. And after they had been bombarding about three hours the machine guns started and so our troops in the centre advanced about four hundred yards. They also were cut up with the Turkish fire but it was only what is expected for no one can advance in broad daylight under heavy fire without losing a lot of men. After the advance it was one continual line of wounded that passed by us in the reserve trenches. There were some awful sights. Well, they managed to hold the positions that they had taken and towards the morning things were a lot quieter.

Then our company was taken over on the left in a trench further back and here we got a good night’s sleep. We were in for the remainder of the day till it was just going dark and then we were told that we had to leave our packs and get a pick and the next man a spade as we had to go and dig ourselves in, in front of our firing line. We got to the firing line and we were then put in order; a man with a pick and a man with a spade and then told to dig together. We also carried our rifles and two sandbags each. Then over the top we went. We had been told to go about forty yards and then commence to dig. Well as soon as I got over the parapet I went hell for leather for the distance, but I don’t think I had got more than 15 yards from the parapet when I got caught in our barbed wire and I went over like a shot rabbit. I tore all my hands and knees, but I had not time to trouble over that. I got up and found my rifle which was about ten yards away and then I had to look for my pick. I found it at last and then I went forward for I could not find my sand bags. I got to the other lads and started to dig like mad using my hands as well and the pick for I knew that if I did not get deep enough before the morning, I should have a poor chance of coming out alive. So all through the night I went on digging until I had got about 2 feet deep and then I was able to ease off a little. It was this night our sergeant was killed and others beside him were killed for I could hear them all through the night. First one and then another scream out that they had been hit. And it was impossible to get them away and they had to lie there all through the night. Then as it was just beginning to come light I ventured to have a peep and I did get a shock for I don’t think we were more than thirty yards away from the Turkish trenches and I was expecting them making an attack on us all that day. We had to lie there all the day with nothing to eat or drink. Well, when it was going dark we started to dig towards one another so that we could crawl along when we had to leave. After about three hours, word was passed along to get ready to leave and I put on my equipment and got my rifle and pick ready for moving. At last the word came to move along quietly as possible to the end of the line and here there was a small trench, or sap, leading to the firing trench. They had been digging this in the daytime while we had been lying there.

I got safely back in the firing line with the others and then we were taken away into the reserve trenches again for about 2 days. Then we were taken back to the trench we had left and which had been made wider and deeper by the men of the Engineers, and we were in a sort of Garrison. We had not to dig at all; we were there as a guard. We were in for about five days and I will never forget the nights in that trench. We went on guard in our turns, an hour at a time and we had to keep a sharp look out all the time. I could see some of our lads and the Turks as well, lying there dead. And I was very careful to take notice of every object and its position so that the Turks could not creep out and get behind them without me noticing them. In the day time the men came to dig it and widen it. I did not get any sleep all the time I was in that trench for we had to stand too every morning with fixed bayonets so as to be ready if they made an attack.

At the same time, our men were digging, or sapping as it is called, straight towards the Turkish trenches and the Turks were sapping towards us so that they were bound to meet some time or other, and then there would have been some terrific bombing encounters. It was about tea time on the fifth day that we heard we were going to be relieved the following morning. But alas our hopes were not to be fulfilled for just when we had finished our tea the Turks started to bombard us, and it was a time for us. We had been told that we would have to hold it at all costs so we crouched down in the trench and waited. We had plenty of ammunition and we waited for the bombardment to cool down a little. As soon as this occurred, we got the order for rapid fire and we were up in a tick for knew that the Turks were massing for the attack. So I began to blaze away like mad. My rifle was well cleaned and oiled so I was not troubled much with it but it was soon red hot and it began to scorch the skin off my hands. Of course, I did not trouble about that then for I was thinking more about the Turks, whether they would advance or not, for to tell you the truth I really wanted them to come because if they had they would have been mown down with our fire.

Anyway, they came but not in the way I expected for they had got into the sap that our men had been digging, and we then got orders to retire. So, I managed to get back into the old firing line safely and I started to fire again. Then I was told that all the 4th East Lancs were wanted up the trench known as the Vineyard sap. Here all our battalion was up on the firing platform firing for all they were worth. So, I at once jumped up and began to fire also. All this time we were under heavy shell fire from the Turks and the lads were falling on either side of me for they were getting shot from all directions. And we thought it was our own men who were firing on us so the word was passed to our men in the firing line to fire half right as they were hitting us instead of the Turks. But still the lads were falling. Many of them shot from behind until it was found out that the Turks had got behind us somehow so that we had to bomb them out.

After a time, things began to be quieter and we were allowed to have a bit of rest, so many at a time, while some were on guard. I could hardly keep my eyes open by now but I did my best and went on guard when it came my turn.

In the Trenches Gallipoli

Firing Trenches, Gallipoli (Major JF Bleakely Collection)

At last, it was coming daylight and we were expecting being relieved but to cap all, when it was just coming dawn we were gathered together and then told that we would have to take back the trench that we had lost. We fixed bayonets and went back to the old firing line, over on the right about 100 yards away from the trench we were now leaving. We got in some kind of order and then we went over the top to charge. We got about 20 yards when I tumbled into a trench of some kind, but it was only a dummy trench. Then we went on again and we got lost. At last, I rambled over into our trenches where our men were. We were got into some kind of order again and over we went again. But we were not successful and we tried for a third time but no good. It was given up and we were allowed to stay where we were. It was very light by now and things were very quiet. I could stand it no longer and I went to sleep. I don’t know how long I had been asleep, but I was wakened by someone and then I heard that we were going to be relieved.

We were taken down to the reserve trenches for about an hour or two and we had something to eat. Then I was picked out to go back into the firing line. By this time our men had been able to get the Turks out by bombing them and we went back into the trench that we had lost the night before. We had to stay in here till we were relieved by the Lowland Division. When the men had just settled down in the firing line, we were told that we could go back. Other men took our place in that trench, and we went down into the dug outs for a well-earned rest.

We rested here for the night and then in the morning the roll was called and I will never forget it for there were lads missing out of every section and platoon in the battalion. It was while we were here that the next draft for us arrived and they were needed for the battalion was not more than 300 strong then.

Repatriated to England

Well, we were in these dug outs for about a week and then we moved away to Y Beach on Garrison Duty there. Here we had a very good rest and we could go into the sea for a bathe any time we wanted. From there I was sent to a bombing school not far away up the big Gulley.

I had been in about 5 days when I was taken very ill. Bear in mind I had been bad with the dysentery all through the bombardment and ever since we left the firing line. However, I was taken to the No 1 Field Ambulance and when the doctor took my temperature; I was 104. He bundled me down to the beach hospital right away. I stayed there overnight then I was taken onboard a boat that had once belonged to the Germans and had been captured by us and was being used as a hospital ship. It was called the Huntsend and I was taken to Malta, and from Malta to England.

I landed at Southampton and was then taken to the Wharncliffe War Hospital.

England, 1917

On Wednesday the 10th of January we left Ripon at 11:30am and arrived at Devonport on 11th January at 2:30am. I was then put on baggage guard, having to load the transport with the men’s kit bags. The men then proceeded to the rest camp and I went to the docks as a guard over the kit bags. We were on guard till 11:30 on the 12th of January and we were wet through as it was raining hard all through the morning.

At about 6 o’ clock we were told to go and shelter on the cruising ship Impregnable and here we got an excellent breakfast. The lads on here were just about 15 to 18 years of age and they had to crash about. They were up and doing at five o’ clock in the morning scrubbing the decks down. It was the old kind of ship and in the time of Nelson in the Trafalgar battle.

Well, at 10 o’ clock on the 12th our Company came marching up and we embarked on the HMTS Ceramic. She is a fine boat and belongs to the White Star Line. She is the largest boat that goes to Australia and she is going to Australia when she leaves us at Alexandria. There are three thousand troops on board so you can tell how we were packed together.

When all the troops were on board she was tugged out into midstream ready to leave any time. She did not leave till 5:30am on the 12^th of January when as we sailed out of the docks we received a great ovation from the men employed there. After about 12 hours sailing, I began to feel very sick, then I started vomiting. I vomited twice and then got into my hammock for the night. When I woke the next morning, I felt a lot better and was able to knock about and eat a little, for after my previous experience I knew that it was better to eat and then I should not strain myself. So, I got my food down alright and it stayed down all the day. Today, when I am writing this on the 14th, I am feeling in the pink.

We have done nothing yet but lounge about the deck but every man has to wear his life belt as there is danger of being torpedoed at any time. At about 6 o’ clock this afternoon our naval men, who were on board looking after the six-inch gun, had a little bit of a practice. They dropped 4 barrels overboard and when they were about 2 miles away, they fired at them and broke them to bits. They were expert gunners and were reconned to hit twice out of three times, and by Jove they were crack gunners without a doubt.

On the 15th of January everything went on the same as usual; nothing doing, no land in sight and sailing along steadily. On the morning of the 16th, at about 8 o’ clock we sighted land which I found out to be the coast of Spain. We sailed along up the coast till we landed at Gibraltar at 12:30. We stayed in harbour till 2 o’ clock in the morning of the 17th and set sail for Malta. While at Gibraltar I saw the sight of a lifetime. It is splendid to see the barracks at night, all lit up, and to see the rock towering up in the darkness and the powerful searchlights shining right across the straights on the coast of Spain at the other side, it must be seen to be believed. Words cannot describe the beautiful picture it presented. One would think when looking at it in the dark that it was a quiet little village nestling at the foot of a mountain instead of the finest fortified place in the world.

We went sailing along up the coast of Spain all the day on 17th and at night we made a dash for the coast of Africa and on the 18th, we sailed along the coast of Algeria all the way and we were never within more than three miles from the coast all the time. Then on the 19th we hugged the coast of Africa all day and at about 3 o’ clock in the afternoon we passed a convoy of French troop ships going to Salonika. We have had three alarms today.

We landed here at Malta at 11 o’ clock on the 20th and stayed in the harbour till the 24th. While in harbour we had some splendid concerts by the sailors who were in dock, their boat being in for repairs. It was just alongside us and we did have some fine times. On the 23rd the submarine E2 came in for repairs but was called out again on the 24th. And the submarine that did such a grand job at Gallipoli which we all heard about and whose commander won the VC, the E11. She dived under 5 rows of mines and proceeded up the straits and sank a Turkish transport, the crew of this boat got over a thousand pounds per man in prize money. This boat came right alongside us.

Egypt 1917

We left Malta at 4 o’ clock in the afternoon of the 24th and landed at Alexandria at 10am on the 27th. We disembarked the same day and proceeded to the rest camp at Mustapha. We stayed there about 4 days and then I, along with 11 others of the 4th East Lancs, was picked out to proceed up the line to join the boys on the desert. We started off from Mustapha at 6 o’ clock and arrived at a place called Kantara at 6 o’ clock in the morning but bear in mind that the carriages there are not like they are in England, they are like cattle trucks and you are packed like cattle in them. Well, we were at Kantara about 3 days when the battalion came down from the desert and joined us on the 3rd of February, 1917. And as you can guess, I was busy talking all the time for a day or two. Billy and I nearly went mad when we saw one another again. I saw all the boys I knew, and I can tell you it was worth coming out if it was only to see the old pals again. I saw E. Thompson, W. Bibby, D.R. Whittaker, J. Kerr, J. Ashworth and others who I knew in the second line. It was a day, and J. Waring is with our regiment now.

Camp at Bridgehead El Kantara

Camp at El Kantara Bridgehead (Major JF Bleakely Collection)

The battalion stayed here at Kantara for about 3 days and then we set out on a 28-mile route march to a place called Ismailia. It was to be a two days march. We stayed for the night at a place called El Ferdan and then proceeded to Ismailia the next day and arrived there at about six o’ clock at night. We then stayed here for a fortnight and handed in all our clothes and we got Winter clothes for France.

France 1917

We set sail from Alexandria on the 23rd February and landed at Marseilles on the 2nd March and then had a 50 hours train ride across France till we arrived at a place called Huppy, somewhere in France, where I found out later that we were only about 40 miles behind the Somme front.

Today everything has been the same; nothing to do. We are stationed in a barn here, 5 or 6 of us in one place, with the rats all over the place in swarms. We have heard the guns all day today on the Somme.

Today everything the same up to dinner time but after dinner we went to the nearest station which is about 6 miles from this village and we drew our steel helmets and the new short rifle and long bayonet so that we are ready for the trenches any time now.

Today the 11th of March, so Sunday, and the lads have all gone on church parade but I have to stand by my billet ready to be called upon any time as I have been chosen for a splendid billet as orderly at the Brigade Headquarters, which means that I have to leave the battalion and stay at headquarters. I shall have to take messages to and from the Brigadier General. If the Division moves up to the trenches I shall have to stay behind where the General stays so that I will always get a good night’s sleep and I shall not have to do guard [duty] all day and night through, so I think myself very lucky indeed as they called me and asked me if I could read and write well so I told them I could and that I did clerking with the battalion at Southport so that he put my name down for the job. Of course, it will be no easy job as I shall be up and down all the day carrying messages to and fro to all the battalions in our Brigade. And they include the 4th and the 5th East Lancs and the 9th and 10th Manchester Regiments so that I shall have some work to do but it is a jolly sight better than the trenches all day and night.

We left Huppy on the 24th March and marched to a place called Pont Remy and we stayed here for about 6 days. While we were at Huppy, Billy got his first stripe; he is in command of a Lewis Gun section.

Notes:

3129 [88157] Pte Albert Garner
2736 [35040] Pte William Albert Bibby
3132 [200984] Pte John Kerr
3065 [200937] Pte John Ashworth
2553 [200691] Pte Richard Duckworth Whittaker
2643 [200725] Pte Ernest Edgar Thompson

Acknowledgement:

This journal has been transcribed from originals held at the Imperial War Museum. The transcription is provided here under Non Commercial Use License and remains the copyright of the IWM.

The papers are catalogued here at the IWM.

Private Papers of Major JF Bleakley

The following is a transcription of the Private Papers of Major James Franklin Bleakley, initially of the 1/10th Battalion Manchester Regiment and subsequently the 126th Brigade Machine Gun Company of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, compiled and written in 1919 from a diary kept during the war. The original papers at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) consist of photocopied type written text and photographs taken during his time in Egypt and Gallipoli. Since the photographs are of very low quality they have been carefully digitally restored for clarity. The transcription is provided here under Non Commercial Use License and remains the copyright of the IWM.

EXTRACTS FROM A DIARY KEPT DURING THE PERIOD OF THE GREAT WAR. 1914 – 1918.

Dealing particularly with the work carried out by the 1/10th Battalion Manchester Regiment and the 126th Brigade Machine Gun Company of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division.

INTRODUCTION

The assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand (the heir to the Austrian Throne) and his wife on June 29th. 1914, by Pan – Servian conspirators, brought to a crisis the bellicose feeling which had existed in Europe for some time, and before many weeks has passed all the great and small Powers of the civilised world were fully mobilized, and engaged in a desperate struggle for their existence, Great Britain entering the fray August 4th, 1914.

The first shots of the war were fired by Servian troops on the Danube on July 27th, 1914, and it was not until November 11th, 1918, that an armistice was declared on the Terms of Peace demanded by the Allies.

At the outset many were of the opinion that a Jar of such magnitude could not last more than a few weeks; the less optimistic prophesied a war of several years duration. However, when Lord Kitchener sent out his appeal for every able-bodied man to enlist for three years or the duration of the war, all hopes for a short war were at once dispelled.

In response to the appeal, men from all walks of life flocked to the Colours, and the British Army in August 1914, with a strength of some 130,000 regular soldiers and 230,000 Territorials, increased in strength to several millions before the termination of hostilities.

The following notes have been compiled from a diary and have been written with the object of recording the gallant work carried out by the units previously mentioned, as a stimulus to one’s memory in after years when details are apt to be forgotten.

Nasirabad (Raj.) J.F. Bleakley.
INDIA, Capt.
Nov 1919

Private Papers of Major James Franklin Bleakley

MOBILIZATION AND EMBARKATION FOR EGYPT

The 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, commanded by Major General Sir William Douglas K.C.M.G, C.B., D.S.O, was mobilized in August 1914, and the Brigades distributed as follows

MANCHESTER BRIGADE:
5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, Bn. M/cr Rgt, at LITTLEBOROUGH (Lancs)

FUSILLIER BRIGADE:
5th, 6th, 7th, 8th Bn. Lancs Fusiliers at LITTLEBOROUGH (Lancs)

EAST LANCASHIRE BRIGADE:
9th, & 10th Bn. M/cr Rgt, and 4th, & 5th, East Lancs Regt at BURY, (Lancs,)

The time here was spent in intensive training and equipping. Several regular Sergeant Instructors were posted to each Battalion and took in hand the training of the recruits. The weather was very bad, and little outdoor work could be done. The Division had volunteered for service abroad, and orders were expected daily for a move.

Movement orders were received, and Sept. 10th, 1914, found us at Southampton embarking on the Pacific Steam Navigation’s Steamer “AVON”.

Speculation was rife as to our destination, as the orders concerning the Ports of disembarkation were sealed, and had not to be opened till the convoy was on the high seas. It eventually leaked out, however, that we were going to EGYPT to relieve the regular troops there, garrison the country and complete our training.

The voyage was exceptionally interesting to many of us who were on our first venture. A daily paper was published, called “The Kernel” which gave the latest Marconi news concerning the situation in France.

On October 6th, 1914, we disembarked at ALEXANDRIA and entrained for HELIOPOLIS.

Helipololis

Heliopolis

The next five months were spent in intensive training at the end of which time, our men were said to be a match for any 1st Line regular unit, and keen for active service.

The Turks, about this time were preparing an advance on the SUEZ CANAL and our Fleet was engaged in trying to force the passage of the DARDANELLES, (Feb 1915).

On Sunday March 28th, 1915, the Division marched past Sir Ian Hamilton in CAIRO, Sir Ian was proceeding to take charge of the operations in GALLIPOLI, as by this time it had been realized that the passage of the DARDANELLES could not be forced by the Navy alone, and that it was necessary to have a land force operating with the Navy to make a success of the expedition.

SUEZ CANAL 1915

The Turks with the object of hampering the passage of troops and munitions to the East, and also in the hope of being able to invade EGYPT, launched an attack against The SUEZ CANAL, in Feb 1915.

Our defences were sited on the Eastern side of the Canal and close to the banks, where we awaited the Turk.

He made a heroic effort to cross the Canal, but owing to the waterless desert which he had to cross and the lack of equipment, the attack turned out a dismal failure.

The line of telegraph poles from EL ARISH to KANTARA was diverted so as to lead into one of our posts, and as the Turk had taken this, as his line of direction, he delivered himself into our hands, and suffered heavy casualties.

Captured Turkish Pontoons

Captured Turkish Pontoons

Very few got away, and of those who did, many died of thirst on the way back.

The action lasted a very short time and brought to an abrupt end the Turkish effort against the Canal in 1915.

About this time (April) news was coming through in driblets about the landing at GALLIPOLI and casualties arriving at PORT SAID and ALEXANDRIA told gruesome tales of their experiences on the Beaches.

Our troops were well trained, and it was thought that if more troops were required for GALLIPOLI we might stand a chance. Our hopes were soon to be realized, for after being about a fortnight on the Canal, urgent orders were received to pack up and proceed to PORT SAID.

Entraining for Gallipoli at El Kantara

Entraining for Gallipoli at El Kantara

On May 4th, 1915, we moved to PORT SAID bivouacked the night and embarked the next day for GALLIPOLI on H.M T. HAVERFORD.

Port Said

Port Said

Port Said

Port Said

GALLIPOLI

On May 8th we anchored in MUDROS HARBOUR and after a few hours there set sail for GALLIPOLI.

Long before land was sighted the roar of the guns was heard and the smell of the dead wafted out to us on the breeze, as a welcome to the inferno in which we were soon to find ourselves.

The din increased as CAPE HELLES was approached. The slopes of ACHI BABA could be distinctly seen suffering under a heavy bombardment of high explosive and shrapnel.

A heavy pall of battle dust and smoke hung over the land like a black mantle.

This was Sunday, May 9th, 1915, and as we spent our last few hours in the comfort of the ship, we witnessed a fierce battle ashore which was afterwards known as the “Large Advance of May 1915”.

The ship was anchored close to the Cape and a continuous stream of casualties could be seen coming down to the beach, to be taken off in lighters to the Hospital Ships.

At 5 o’clock in the afternoon of Thursday May 13th, 1915, the disembarkation at W. BEACH commenced, and by 6 o’clock we were ready to move off.

W Beach Gallipoli

W Beach Gallipoli

To many of us, who were now on the threshold of action for the first time, the spectacle we beheld was appalling. The dead were littered all around, twisted and mangled beyond recognition. The price of the Landing had indeed been paid in full, by the blood of the finest fighting troops in the British Army.

We moved inland past the ruins of the SEDD-UL-BAHR FORT into the French Area and bivouacked the night. Unfortunately, the bivouacs were in a depression close to a battery of French 75’s which kept up a continuous fire all night. The next morning the Turkish Artillery opened fire on this battery with shrapnel, which fell on our bivouacs and inflicted many casualties before we could get clear.

Rest Bivouac Gallipoli

Rest Bivouac Gallipoli

We moved for cover up the valley known as “The Valley of Death“ and awaited orders.

A party of us were detailed for a fatigue in the Firing Line with the Royal Naval Division, digging communication trenches, and were subjected to a heavy shrapnel fire all day, but by the mercy of Providence the roll of wounded was only slight.

The Turkish sniper at this time was giving a lot of trouble and causing many casualties.

It was several weeks before the ground behind the Front Line was cleared of these pests. When caught they were terrible objects to look upon, and after a short inquiry usually shot. They were well concealed, with faces and hands painted the colour of the surrounding ground and foliage, had a fortnight’s rations and 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

Their favourite trick was to lie in wait for the water fatigue going to the Wells and pick them off.

At dusk on the evening of May 15th, 1915, our trenches were heavily bombarded and the Turks emerged to attack, but we drove them off with rifle and machine gun fire, killing many on their wire as they endeavoured to get back.

Sunday May 23rd, 1915, found us in the FIR TREE FIRE TRENCH with orders to go over the top and straighten out a re-entrant in the line. We scaled the parapet at dusk and moved out cautiously to the landmarks, noted in daylight and commenced to dig, only as one does when under fire. A desultory rifle fire was coming over, but we were too intent on our job to take much notice.

After about two hours’ digging, we were well under cover and by dawn had completed our task. The annoyance of the Turk at daylight on finding this new line, was evidenced by a heavy shell fire, under which several officers and men lost their lives.

We were digging all day, and at night a relief came along. We moved out in a heavy thunderstorm, floundering down the Ravines up to the waist in water. On arrival at the bivouac we found them flooded, valises soaked and had to commence digging again, to provide cover for the night.

The whole of the Peninsula was under fire from three directions, and the Turk knowing the positions of our rear bivouac almost as well as we did ourselves, directed a steady gun fire on those targets night and day, in their endeavour to weaken the morale of the troops.

After this followed a period of trench routine and preparatory arrangements for the next battle, when the whole line from the DARDANELLES to the AEGEAN SEA was to advance and which, was afterwards known as the BATTLE OF KRITHIA.

June 3^rd, 1915

We used to take our lunch on a raised platform of earth in a dugout behind the line. The lunch consisted of bully beef and biscuits and cheese. After a short time, we detected an abominable smell and tried to trace the source of the same. Our C.O. who had arrived from S. Africa? suggested digging up the platform which we did and under same we found a dead body which we promptly buried. I forget the name of our C.O., but he was killed in the attack of June 4, 1915. I personally was saved by a fluke. Our machine gun officer was shot through the neck and as a result on May 6, I took over long before the fateful hour of 12 noon of 4 June. The zero hour. Two of my gun team were shot down.

Mess Dugout Gallipoli

Mess Dugout Gallipoli

BATTLE OF KRITHIA

JUNE 4th, 5th, 6th 1915.

The order of battle from the right was – French Division – Royal Naval Division – Three Brigades 42nd Division and 29th Division on the left, with the East Lancs Brigade of the 42nd Division attached. The objectives were KRITHIA and ACHI ВАВА.

The Battle commenced at 11 a.m. June 4th, 1915, with a terrific bombardment on the Turkish Lines, by every gun on the PENINSULA, and every gun of the Fleet. The bombardment lifted at 11:15 am, when every man sprung on to the Firing Step cheering and waving his bayonet in the direction of the Turk, at the same time a rapid fire was opened with the machine guns. At 11.30 am, our bombardment swooped down again on to the Turkish second line of trenches and remained there till 12 noon when our assault was launched, the Artillery fire moving on and searching Points of Concentration in the Turkish back areas.

The attack on the left and centre was successful, but the French were held up against a strong Turkish Redoubt (The Haricot) and unable to progress. This left our flanks on the ACHI BABA NULLAH exposed, and we suffered heavy casualties from bomber and rifle fire.

Darkness increased our difficulties. The blazing gorse, groans of the wounded, artillery fire, rifle fire, and bombs, and the weird cheers of our troops on the right as they made assault after assault in their effort to establish the position made the place a veritable hell on earth.

Dawn (June 5th) came at last, and found our position maintained. On Saturday and Sunday June 5th, and 6th, strong Turkish counter attacks were delivered, in which they suffered heavy casualties and failed to retake the ground gained by us on June 4th.

The line was straightened out, and the usual trench warfare carried out till June 18th, when a raid was made by one of the Regiments of the Brigade from Trench H.11. This was not a success and resulted in the death of two officers and several other ranks. The raid was carried out under extraordinary and difficult conditions. It was afterwards learned that the Turks themselves were to make a raid on our at trench H.11, from which our men were to launch their attack. The Turks attack was evidently timed to commence at the same time as ours. The opposing forces met in “no man’s Land” and a hand-to-hand fight ensued, with an indecisive result.

After 18 days in the Line

After 18 days in the Line

Our troops by this time were getting battle worn and weary, so we were sent to IMBROS for a rest and to re-equip.

Wilkinson-Lea-Baird-Bleakley at Imbros

Wilkinson Lea Dr. Baird & Bleakley at Imbros

IMBROS is a beautiful and highly fertile island In the AEGEAN SEA, with PANAKIA as its capital. The population is chiefly Greek.

On Sunday July 11th, 1915, we were back again at GALLIPOLI, disembarking at V BEACH at 2 a.m. In the afternoon of the same day, we moved into the VINEYARD TRENCH OF the Firing Line.

A Close Shave

Returning from a rest on the Island of Imbros we landed on W Beach at about noon on Sunday July 11, 1915, and as there was no way of conveying our machine gun equipment to the firing line other than carrying same, the equipment was divided up amongst the gun teams and manhandled.

We reached the cliffs surrounding the beach and moved into the Achi Baba Nullah leading up to the firing line.

Desultory shell and rifle fire was coming over and we would consider ourselves lucky if we got into the line without suffering casualties.

To get from the beach to the line we had to cross about 4 miles of open country with no cover except cover from view which we got in the nullah and as this was the main artery to the line the bulk of the enemy’s fire was directed on this route.

When about halfway up the nullah we heard the report of a gun and very shortly afterwards heard the sound of the approaching shell which we realized was in a direct line with us.

We flattened ourselves out on the ground and with a terrific whirl the shell half embedded itself in the ground about us.

We were covered in dust and stones and when we rose from the debris found that the shell had failed to explode.

A close shave, thanks to a dud.

To celebrate our victory in the Persian Gulf^[1], volley firing at the Turkish positions and cheering took place on July 30th, 1915. The Turk was evidently much surprised at this demonstration, and no doubt thinking an attack was pending, proceeded to bombard our Firing Line, which somewhat damped our ardour.

On August 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, 1915, large demonstrations were carried out on the CAPE HELLES front to hold the Turkish troops in that zone and prevent them re-enforcing their troops at SUVLA BAY who were opposing the new landings of British troops in there.

Sketch map of the Vineyard Trench

Bleakley’s Sketch Map of the Vineyard

After this, no operation of any magnitude took place until the evacuation of the Peninsula Dec 1915 – Jan 1916.

After the evacuation our troops were taken to MUDROS for a rest and then moved on to the SINAI DESERT for the protection of the SUEZ CANAL at which the Turks were preparing another thrust.

GALLIPOLI as far as we penetrated, would appear in normal circumstances to be a fertile and well developed land.

The cliffs at CAPE HELLES rise almost sheer out of the sea, there is no pier or other such means by which ships can discharge their contents. The way of getting from ship to land is by small boats. On reaching the top of the cliffs, the land stretches away in a flat saucer type formation, falling, gradually from the cliffs and rising again to the slopes of ACHI BABA. The ground which had not been disturbed by the passage of troops was covered with red poppies. At the first impression, one would take the ground to be fairly level, but on moving inland, large gullies or nulláhs are encountered, which gave us excellent cover when moving about in daylight. In the dry season the flow of water down these nullahs is very slight, in the wet season they are swept by raging torrents and practically impassable. It was for this latter reason and also on account of the poor anchorage at CAPE HELLES that the success of the campaign all depended on a quick and decisive, expedition. Once the Turk had been allowed to dig himself in, no guns we had at our disposal would move him. The Turk is an ideal soldier in defence, and an expert rifleman. In positions where our front line trenches were close to the Turk, we could clearly hear them offering their prayers to Allah.

Reserve Trench at Gallipoli

10th Manchesters’ in Reserve Trench at Gallipoli

The following is a copy of a Turkish proclamation (incomplete) to the Anglo-French Expeditionary Forces, dropped by a Turkish Aeroplane on W BEACH Cape Helles in July 1915.

PROCLAMATION TO THE ANGLO FRENCH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

Protected by the fire of a strong Fleet you have been able to land on the Gallipoli Peninsula on and since April 25^th. Backed up by the same men of war, you could establish yourselves at two points of the Peninsula. Your endeavours to advance into the enemy’s parts of the Peninsula have come to a failure, under your very heavy losses although your ships have done their utmost to assist you, by a murderous cannonade implying an enormous waste of ammunition,

Two fine battleships the Triumph and Majestic have been sunk before your own eyes by submarine boats. All protective means against them, being found utterly insufficient.

Since those severe losses to the British Navy, your Men of War have had to take refuge, and have abandoned you to your own fate. Your ships cannot possibly be of any help to you in future, since a great number of submarines are prepared to suppress them! Your forces have to rely on sea transport for reinforcement, supply of food and every kind of war material. Already the submarines, did sink several Steamers, carrying supplies for your destination. Soon all supplies will be cut off from your landed forces. You are exposed to certain perdition by starvation and thirst, even desperate attacks will not, overt that fate from you. YOU COULD ONLY ESCAPE USELESS SACRIFICE OF LIFE BY SURRENDERING. We are assured that you have not taken arms against us in hatred. Greedy England made you fight under a contract. You may confide in us for excellent treatment, our country disposes of ample provisions. There is enough to feed you well, and make you feel quite at your comfort. DON’T FURTHER HESITATE, COME AND SURRENDER

etc., etc., copy not complete.

SINAI

and the advance upon and capture of

EL ARISH

The SUEZ CANAL was protected by a chain of posts or blockhouses, approximately 20 miles East of the Canal, stretching from SUEZ to PORT SAID, and it was at Ashton Post^[2] SHALUFA near Suez that we found ourselves in February 1916.

Ashton Post

Ashton Post

The life was a pleasant change from the Peninsula, and the time was occupied with digging and wiring and generally strengthening the Post against attack.

In June 1916 we moved to EL FERDAN and in July were formed into a “flying column” with several other units at EL KANTARA and moved out into the desert to meet the Turk.

Battle of Romani - Aug 4th 1916

Battle of Romani – Aug 4th, 1916

The first encounter was at ROMANI which commenced on August 5th, and lasted two days, resulting in the route of the Turk. We took 4,000, Turkish prisoners in this battle and several machine gun teams manned by Germans.

Flying Column at Romani

Flying Column at Romani

We followed up the Turkish retirement, and made a halt for several weeks at PELUSIUM, from which place we were able to visit the battlefields of MOUNT ROYSTON and collect some interesting souvenirs. The Australian Light Horse in this encounter had outflanked the Turk, who beat a hurried retreat leaving behind immense quantities of rifles, ammunition and camels.

Pelusium Station

Pelusium Station

The advance East via OGHRATINA, BIR-EL-ABD and MAZAR was carried out in bounds, covering the construction of the railroad from EL KANTARA, and overcoming any Turkish opposition.

Railroad at Oghratina

Railway at Oghratina

Christmas 1916 found us in the Advanced Guard for the attack on EL ARISH, which according to the reports of spies and aerial photographs was strongly held and surrounded by a belt of 19 redoubts.

The Advance on El Arish

The Advance on El Arish

The advance was carried out on a wide front, the 52nd (Lowland) Division operating on the coastal sector with the 42nd Division on their right and detachments of the Imperial and Bikaner Camel Corps and Australian Light Horse guarding the right flank. Following up behind were the 53rd and 54th Divs.

El Arish

El Arish

Tomb of Nebi Yasir at El Arish

Tomb of Nebi Yasir at El Arish at El Arish

The Beach at El Arish

The Beach at El Arish

Locals at El Arish

Locals at El Arish

An action was fought on the 23rd, December 20 miles South of EL ARISH in the WADHI TI ARISH in which 1,000 prisoners were taken and large quantities of war materiel.

On Christman eve 1916 the Vanguard reached a point within easy-striking distance of EL ARISH and bivouacked. Bivouac fires were permitted and a huge glow was reflected in the sky, which we afterwards heard put the fear of Allah in the Turk, for when our advance screen of cavalry reached EL ARISH they found the Turk had evacuated.

Bivouac El Arish

Bivouac El Arish

We occupied EL ARISH for a fortnight during which time we were bombed daily by Taubes[3] and in January 1917, received orders for France, moving to Alexandria and embarking on the captured Austrian ship “Huntspill”.

The SINAI desert from EL KANTARA to EL ARISH is an undulating waste of sand dunes, and practically waterless. The water when obtained was very brackish and totally unfit for human consumption. The horses and mules would not at first touch it, but after enduring thirst for about three days; they eventually took to it. The camel is the animal for this country and units were supplied with them for the transportation of baggage etc. Water for the troops was brought up by train and stored in tanks. A pipeline was ultimately laid from EL KANTARA giving a supply of fresh water, but this was not in operation until the Division had left SINAI.

Desert well at Oghratina

Desert Well at Oghratina

FRANCE

On the morning of March 6th, 1917, we disembarked at MARSEILLES In a heavy rainstorm and entrained for the Northern part of France.

The journey took three days; the weather was intensely cold after the climate of EGYPT and very few of the carriages could boast of a full complement of windows. On March 8th, we detrained at PONT REMY and marched eight miles to our billets at ST MAXENT Near ABBEVILE.

A party of us were detailed to be attached to the 1st Division on the Somme, and left ST MAXENT in motor busses for CORBIE from where we were guided to the Brigade Headquarters at FOUCACOURT.

The Germans had commenced to withdraw the previous day, and on parts of the front were fighting a rearguard action back to the HINDENBERG LINE. In other sectors we had lost touch with him altogether. Next day we crossed the Somme at Brie and saw PERONNE in flames.

A few days letter we were recalled to our units and moved up into, the firing line at EPEHY.

After giving up a couple of days respite to pick up the lay of the land the Brigade was ordered to attack and capture a tactical feature called “The Knoll” West of the ST QUENTIN CANAL and close to the village of VENDHUILE Which the Germans had fired.

The attack opened at dawn with a heavy bombardment and was partially successful. We established a position on the near side of the KNOLL, the party going for OSSUS WOOD were not so lucky and had to withdraw in face of superior numbers and incurred many casualties.

About this time our Regimental Medical officer Dr. Baird, was killed by the explosion of a “Booby trap” and burled in the British Cemetery, at LONGAVESNES.

Trench warfare was the order of the day now at EPEHY and on May 19th, we drew out and made for HAVRINCOURT WOOD via FINS.

HAVRINCOURT WOOD lies between METZ -EN-COUTURE and ROYALCOURT, the firing line running through TRESCAULT on the East of the wood. The Germans had felled the timber on his side of the wood giving a clear field of fire from the Chateau to the edge of the wood making it extremely unpleasant and dangerous getting into the line during the day. At night he swept the whole of the ground with machine gun fire.

On July 15th, 1917, we moved out of the Havrincourt sector and went into G.H.Q. Reserve at COURCELLES.

Towards the end of August, we were on the move again for Belgium marching from COURCELLES through BEAUMONT HAMEL to BEAUCOURT-SUR-ANCRE where we entrained. On the night of August 22nd, 1917, we detrained at PROVEN and marched into billets in the Trapiste Monastry at WATOU.

From here we moved into the Battle line at YPRES This is generally acknowledged to be the hottest part on the Western Front and as preparations were well advanced for our attack on PASCHENDALE the Germans gave us very little rest. YPRES itself was drenched in mustard gas and all ways of approach under shell fire. They also kept up continuous bombing raids day and night on our back areas and shelled transport lines with high velocity Naval shells. Our casualties were very heavy and on September 16th, we pulled out, and after two days rest marched to NIEUPORT where we relieved our 2nd, Line Division.

From NIEUPORT we side-stepped to the right into the ST GEORGES Sector. The River Yser at NIEUPORT branches off in five directions at a place known to the enemy as “FIVE BRIDGES” and the majority of these bridges had to be crossed to get into the line. The Germans had the range to a nicety and could break the bridges with minenwerfer or heavy shell at his will, and which he did throughout the day and night.

Towards the end of November 1917, we handed over this part of the line to a French Division and moved to the Bethune area, going into the firing line on each side of the LA BASSE CANAL in turn with other units of the Division.

We carried out a successful raid in January, between FESTUBERT and GIVENCHY capturing several Germans, burnt their dugouts, and came back with one casualty only.

In February 1918, the Division went into G.H.Q. Reserve and moved to billets in rear of BETHUNE.

Since the beginning of the year the Germans had been making active preparations for a great offensive, and hundreds of new gun emplacements were spotted daily by our airmen behind his lines. He carried out large raids with the object of testing our strength, for identification purposes and made destructive shoots on our back areas.

On the early morning of March 9th, 1918, we awoke to the rumble of a huge bombardment, and although we were in reserve some six miles behind the line, the windows of the Chateau were rattling in their frames with the vibration

The G.S.0. 1 of the Division rang up to say that the Portuguese had been attacked in Front of LACOUTURE, and that we were to proceed at once up the line to reinforce. Within an hour motor buses had arrived to convey us with the Machine Gun Co. to the front. On the way large columns of our troops were on the move.

This turned out to be another raid, but several days afterwards on March 21st, 1918, his great offensive commenced in earnest.

Assisted by the mist, he was able to gain an initial advantage and before many days were past, our troops on parts of the front had been driven back a matter of 30 miles. But by a system of perfectly organised withdrawals, we were able to prevent our line being broken, and forced the German to use up his reserves and turn the tables on him.

In Sept 1918, we opened a terrific offensive, from which the German was never to recover.

He was rapidly driven back, evacuated the Coast Line of Belgium, and in early November was in such a state of disorganisation and suffering from the lack of manpower that he was forced to sue for an Armistice which was declared on November 11th, 1918 at 11 a.m.

Footnotes:

[1] Nasiriyah fell to the Allies on 25 July, the Turks retreating to Kut al-Imara. This was the latest in a string of successes against Ottoman forces in Mesopotamia contrasting starkly to the failures and stalemate at Gallipoli.

[2] A series of posts were constructed on the East bank of the Suez Canal by the 42^nd East Lancs Division and named after some of the hometowns of the battalions in their brigades: Ashton, Oldham, Wigan and Salford.

[3] A Taube was a type of German plane, but the name became generic for any type of German plane. At this time, the Germans were flying out of Beersheba having lost their air base at El Arish.

Acknowledgement:

This journal has been transcribed from originals held at the Imperial War Museum. The transcription is provided here under Non Commercial Use License and remains the copyright of the IWM.

The papers are catalogued here at the IWM.

Deputy Judge Advocate General, MEF War Diary 1915

Below is the transcription of the Deputy Judge Advocate General, Gallipoli MEF War Diary 1915, (WO 154/116). Included in the papers was a pamphlet titled: Instructions For the Use of Officers in Connection with Field General Courts Martial, and was issued with General Routine Orders, dated May 11th, 1915. This is provided as an appendix at the end of the diary transcription.

The PDF version of the War Diary transcription is available to download here and the pamphlet is available here. The originals are available at the British National Archives.

G.H.Q. April 30th.

There have been 100 Courts Martial proceedings up to date, of which 42 were held in March and 58 in April. (N.B. Up to April 25th, out of 95 cases, 61 were on Australians, 17 on the 29th Division, and the balance from other units). I joined G.H.Q. on April 3rd, having up till that time since February 22nd been attached to the Base Headquarter Staff. “Rules for the guidance of Officers called upon to convene Field General Courts Martial” were prepared and issued with General Routine Orders. These were based on those in use in France, with a few additions.

Court Martial Warrants.

Warrants delegating the power to convene and confirm General Courts Martial were sent to the Australian Army Corps and two Divisional Commanders on 6th April, on which date the G.O.C. in Chief left Alexandria.

Australian Cases.

On the 19th, the A.G.’s branch having arrived at Mudros and the Staff being complete again, the G.O.C. in Chief reduced some unduly severe sentences on 19 Australians who had been tried on March 11th there, and whose cases had arrived at Alexandria too late to be dealt with before his departure. These cases were mostly of 3 mos F.P. No 1, and were all reduced to 5 weeks F.P. No 1, this amounting to their immediate release. The evidence showed a lack of control and discipline; action was accordingly taken. The majority of the cases were committed when either under the influence of liquor, or in order to procure it.

Suspension of Sentences.

On April 23rd notification was received as to the Suspension of Sentences Act, which was put into immediate operation, and the powers of a “Competent Authority” delegated as a preliminary measure to Divisional Commanders. An explanatory circular was sent to all concerned, and a General Routine Order published on the matter.

Routine Orders.

Other Routine Orders published during the month included G.R.O. 60, declaring the Old Gabbary Prison to be a Military Prison in the Field; G.R.O. 67, delegating to Divisional Commanders the powers under Section 183 of the Army Act with regard to the reduction of N.C.O.’s and G.R.O. 91 relating to amendments to Section 184 of the Army Act. After discussion of the above amendments, and seeing that the aim of the amendments was the maintenance of discipline, it was decided that the Royal Naval Division should be brought under the provisions of the Army Act, it being impossible to preserve “command and discipline” without the means of enforcing them.

It was recognized at the same time that in order to preserve the men’s rights as to “punishment”, (which was excluded) that where the punishments varied, the men of the Royal Naval Division should be dealt with on the scale made applicable to them under the Naval Discipline Act.

Omission in K.R.

It was further noted that whereas the new subsections provided for reciprocal powers of command by W.O.’s and N.C.O.’s (including sergeants), there is nothing in the Admiralty Instructions or King’s Regulations dealing with the matter, Paragraph 1767 only dealing with some of the higher grades of Warrant Officers.

Clive Hodgson
Captain. D.J.A.G.

G.H.Q. May 31st.

There were 82 cases of Courts Martial in the month, 56 of these came from the Gallipoli Peninsula and 26 from the Base. There were eight sentences of death for cowardice but none of these were carried out, the G.O.C. in chief taking into his consideration the hardships that the men had undergone, and for the reasons shown in G.R.O. 131 of May 9th.

There were also a certain number of cases of self mutilation, but after one outburst of this the offence ceased. The difficulty of obtaining satisfactory evidence in cases of this kind was shown on several occasions. Several men were also tried for absence without leave, they having got away and drifted down to the beaches, which at this time were almost blocked with stores and men of various units.

Owing to the difficulties of obtaining rest and sleep there were a good number of cases of men asleep on duty, but on the whole, considering the inevitable confusion and difficulties attaching to this month’s work, crimes were remarkably few. Six of the cases of cowardice came from Regular soldiers, at least half of whom had shown by their previous record that they were not ordinarily other than brave men. One had led his platoon in the charge which cleared the village of Seddil Bahr and the others had later that same night, though under arrest, been sent up with their own acquiescence with ammunition to the trenches under heavy fire, which they did more than once. They had been without rest for five days, including the landing from the “River Clyde”.

Some drastic sentences on Australians were reduced, and a new pamphlet was issued with General Routine Orders on May 11th for the guidance of Officers in connection with Field General Courts Martial. In this pamphlet several matters were dealt with which experience showed were not properly understood, and its influence was soon apparent in the records of proceedings as well as in the sentences, which at the beginning, especially among the Australians, were so drastic and severe as to completely defeat their object, the same men appearing time after time! and the large majority of sentences having to be reduced.

Remission of Sentences. (21st May).

On this date the power to remit suspended sentences was delegated to Brigadiers, who were required to send a report as to the circumstances under which action was taken.

Armistice. 24th May.

An Armistice was arranged at Anzac, which was carried out in due form, and scrupulously observed by the enemy.

Crime at the Base.

At the end of the month it appeared that there was a large amount of crime of a serious nature at the Base, especially drunkenness and robbery from shops. As it was clear that Courts Martial were not being sufficiently severe, the G.O.C. Base was informed that a notification as to the prevalence of these crimes must be published in accordance with K.R. 583 (xi). At the end of the month there were only four men in the Gabbary Prison, all committed on charges of theft.

Release of Prisoners.

A favourable report having been received from the Governor, and in consideration of the sentence passed upon them having been very severe, three of the men (Australians) were released on their petition, having served two months of their sentence.

Clive Hodgson
Captain. D.J.A.G.

G.H.Q. June 30th.

The force having largely increased there were 237 cases of men being tried by Courts Martial, 91 of which came from the front and 146 from the Base.

Crime among the troops at Gallipoli continued small, and there were few serious cases. In the period from the 25th April to the end of June, (apart from cases which owing to the great delay in communication arrived later than the end of the month) only 50 per cent of the cases received came from the troops in the firing line. Of the other cases, twenty-three on Australians, 22 from various units and 47 from the 52nd Division came from the Base, the cases in the 52nd Division practically all consisting of absentees from a transport. The men concerned seemed to have made every attempt to rejoin. As a consequence of this, further orders were issued by the I.G.C., dealing with the picketing of the Docks, which, owing to their great size are difficult to police.

22nd June.

A War Office pamphlet re Field General Courts Martial was circulated.

Legal Position of Royal Naval Division. 4th June.

Owing to a War Office telegram advising that the Royal Naval Division were not under Military Law, a new G.R.O. No 240 was issued, cancelling G.R.O. 91. This was followed by a letter from the G.O.C. of the Division on June 6th which contained the following remarks “As I understand it, No 91 placed the whole of the Royal Naval Division under the Army Act, a simple and convenient plan, but this is now amended so that as regards powers of punishment the Royal Naval Division other than Royal Marine Light Infantry remain under the Naval Discipline Act.”

“I submit this is unworkable in practice. As regards minor punishment Naval punishments are perhaps suited for ship life, but certainly not in the field. Field Punishment is illegal. I fancy there is only one officer who has ever sat on a Naval Court Martial. There is no such thing as a Field General Court Martial; This I suggest is an insuperable difficulty; the principle that punishment in the field should follow on the heels of the offence is impossible under such conditions”.

A copy of this letter and of correspondence with the Vice Admiral on the subject was forwarded to the War Office, with a representation as to the position. Meantime, as the G.O.C. of the Royal Naval Division had not been supplied with a copy of the Naval Discipline Act as amended, a copy was sent to him, together with some “Notes on Naval Courts Martial” prepared for the guidance of Officers of the Division.

It appears very unfortunate that the G.O.C. in Chief has not disciplinary powers over a part of his own force, especially as, since the enemy’s submarine activity has begun, there are now no facilities for obtaining Naval Officers to form a Court. It is equally impossible to spare the officers of the Royal Naval Division from the trenches. In one case which has just been reported the C.O. and 2nd in command are necessary witnesses, while the Vice Admiral is away and there are no available ships from which Officers can be spared.

Clive Hodgson
Captain. D.J.A.G.

G.H.Q. July 31st.

The policy of suspending sentences whenever possible has proceeded with excellent results. Out of the 72 cases where sentence has been suspended only one man (a regular soldier) has seriously misused the leniency shown, while the only other man in this category has just been found guilty of drunkenness after nearly 3 mos good conduct. It is curious to note that both these two Irishmen were originally sentenced to death, but their sentence was reduced by the G.O.C. in Chief. The first was on the earlier occasion selected as one of the worst cases. He was within a fortnight found guilty of neglecting his duty, and within a month was condemned to death for a second offence of this nature. The sentence was carried out. It is remarkable that a man should have twice within the month after his eleventh-hour reprieve committed acts which called for the severest penalty.

There were 317 cases dealt with during the month, of which 173 were held during the month and 143 others from earlier months, which have been recorded. Of the July cases received to date 96 came from the Base and 77 from the Peninsula. It is not till the third week of any month that the total of Courts Martial held during the previous month can be made out, this being due to the delays in communication and the time taken in receiving cases from the Base, whence more than half the cases come.

Table “A”.

A table, “A”, is appended showing the distribution of offences for the 10 weeks from April 25th up to July 3rd. In the three months since May there have been recorded 271 cases from the Base as against 224 on the Peninsula.

Cases of men sleeping on their post continued frequent, though in nearly every case it was shown to be directly due to exhaustion of the men, who are living under a hot sun in trenches from the moment they arrive.

Table “B”.

A further table is appended showing the figures up to the end of the tenth week of operations. It will be noted that in that period there were 117 cases on the Peninsula against 98 at the Base, though half of these latter were for the same offence, as noted.

Table “C”.

Another table, “C”, shows the distribution of crime in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps up to July 11th. The high percentage of offences in third Brigade is mainly due to the fact this Brigade was left at Mudros, and the men were continually breaking camp there, an offence accompanied by drunkenness. The N.C.O.’s were very lax, and suitable disciplinary measures were taken. The Brigade is a mixed one, mainly recruited from country districts, and has latterly improved, though it still furnishes the majority of cases.

Legal Position of Naval Division.

A representation was received from the Base asking for instructions as to the treatment of men of the Royal Naval Division on whom Courts Martial might be necessary, and pointing out that as His Majesty’s Ships call very infrequently at Alexandria, it is practically impossible to assemble a Court Martial. A reply was sent stating that the matter had been referred to the Army Council and to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and that it was hoped a satisfactory solution might soon be arrived at.

The G.O.C. of the Royal Naval Division applied on 9th July for two Naval Courts Martial, one on an officer; one has been proposed by the Vice Admiral at Mudros on August 5th or 6th, but it is very doubtful whether it can be held. In the interim, one of the principal witnesses in each case has been invalided.

It further appears from the correspondence between the Vice Admiral and G.O.C. Royal Naval Division relative to these cases that the necessary examination of the ships’ books cannot be carried out as they are not available here.

Field Punishment. July 25th.

The question of the advisability of suspending Field Punishment No 1 was put to the Army Corps Commanders, and as the result of their unanimous agreement it was prohibited on the Gallipoli Peninsula from July 25th. In view of the fact that it exposed the men to undue punishment, there being practically no situation on the Peninsula secure from shell fire, it was held that such a punishment was too severe, as well as being unfair to the men.

Modification of Sentences.

At the same time, owing to the heat of the climate, F.P. No 1 was prohibited till the hour of 6 p.m. (18:00) in other stations in the command. This was agreed to by the Medical Authorities. A circular letter had some time previously been sent through G.O.C.’s Divisions directing the attention of C.O.’s and presidents of Courts Martial to the necessity of paying particular regard to the locality and heat of the climate when awarding punishment.

Delays in assembling Courts Martial.

The difficulty of assembling Courts Martial promptly still continues, and is quite inevitable under the present military conditions. As it is impossible for troops on the mainland to obtain any rest such as is procurable in France or Belgium, the policy of interfering as little as possible with proceedings has been adhered to. It is very creditable to Officers, especially in view of the composition of the force, that Courts Martial have been conducted as well as is the case. It is interesting in this connection to note that the worst conducted cases come from the Base.

Clive Hodgson
Captain. D.J.A.G.

Table

Court Martial Cases to end of July.

DJAG Table

N.B. July totals incomplete for reasons mentioned in text.

Clive Hodgson
Captain. D.J.A.G.

Table A

Analysis of Court Martial cases to date (July 3rd 1915)

DJAG Table

Clive Hodgson
Captain. D.J.A.G.

Table B

Court Martial Cases

DJAG Table

* Nearly all were cases of absence off a transport at Alexandria

Clive Hodgson
Captain. D.J.A.G.

Table C

ANZAC Court Martial Cases

DJAG Table

Clive Hodgson
Captain. D.J.A.G.

Table

ANZAC Court Martial Cases

DJAG Table

G.H.Q., IMBROS, Sept.30th, 1915

I arrived at Imbros on 18th September to take up the appointment of Deputy Judge Advocate General, and took over on the following day.

At present the general standard of efficiency in Court Martial work seems to be very much below that in France, owing to the scarcity of regular officers who have any experience, both in units and on staffs.

Charges of sleeping on post represent a very large proportion of the cases on the Peninsula – and it seems that the excessive periods of duty for which sentries are posted is to a considerable extent the cause of the prevalence of this offence.

The total number of cases for the month of August was 258

W. Percy Capt.
D.J.A.G.

G.H.Q. Imbros, 31-10-15.

In view of that fact that G.R.O.’s. in M.E.F. on the subject of Courts Martial appear to be somewhat confusing (and in some cases actually misleading) and that procedure under the Suspension of Sentences Act did not appear to be understood, a new G.R.O. on Courts Martial was drawn up (G.R.O.530) which was practically a transcript of 2nd Army Orders in France, and this was issued on October 2nd.

Sleeping on post.

Throughout the month of October charges of sleeping on post continued to supply a large percentage of the cases brought to trial, and the number of such trials in each Bde. in the month of September (97) was nearly equalled. This was certainly largely due to the conditions of health on the peninsula but was unduly augmented by bad regimental arrangements, and the want of frequent reliefs. A table showing the numbers of such trials in the months of July, August and September is attached. X

Self-Injury.

This offence is steadily becoming more prevalent, and is becoming so common as to demand drastic action, especially in view of the fact that a very small proportion of the cases in which this offence has in fact been committed are brought to trial.

The present conditions render the offence extremely difficult to deal with. It is impossible to keep and treat a large number of cases close to the firing line with a view to return the offenders to duty at an early date, as in France, and in the great majority of cases in which a man is invalided from the Peninsula he does not return at all. The temptation is therefore greater in this force than in France, and the benefits to be gained by commission of the offence are more easily achieved. For these reasons this matter was brought to the notice of the D.A.G. by me and an order on the subject drafted for approval. [Appendix 1, No 2]

This offence could in all probability have been put down at once had the maximum punishment allowed by the Army Act permitted the infliction of the extreme penalty in one clearly proved case. The maximum penalty (2 years I.H.L.) is wholly inadequate, and it is difficult to understand why the punishment of death should be sanctioned by the Army Act in the case of absence with the intention to avoid some particular service (constructive desertion), and yet no greater punishment than 2 years I.H.L. provided for in the case of an offence which is committed with the most deliberate intention of the avoidance of all further service.

Suspension of Sentences.

Suspension continues to be carried out in the vast majority – perhaps in almost too great a majority of cases.

General efficiency of Court-Martial Procedure.

There is still excessive delay in bringing soldiers to trial, and in the forwarding of proceedings, and although every effort is being made to reduce it as much as possible the present condition of communications, etc., render it to some extent unavoidable.

The general standard of efficiency in Courts Martial is not high, but shows some improvement. The majority of officers composing courts show an almost complete lack of acquaintance with the elements of the laws of evidence, and with the procedure of Courts Martial. On the other hand, an unnecessary degree of formality is often demanded by Brigade and Divisional Staffs, whereas the essentials of proof of a charge are neglected and overlooked.

Inoperative sentences are very common, e.g. ‘confinement to camp’, ‘admonished’, ‘reduction to and from acting rank’, etc., but as under present conditions is it impossible to collect officers for Court Martial instruction as in France, the only means of effecting any improvement is by means of written instructions and copious supplied of “Notes on Field General Courts Martial”, which do not serve the same purpose.

The number of trials in the month of September was 307.

W. Percy Captain
D.J.A.G.

Imbros, Nov. 30th, 1915.

One of the chief difficulties with regard to the procedure of F.G.C.M. lies not in irregularities in the conduct of proceedings but in the difficulty which is experienced in inducing the various staffs to dispense with the formalities of peace time procedure.

The appearance of such inapplicable forms as A.F.B. 116, and the return of proceedings for wholly unnecessary alterations, are of frequent occurrence, and these things seem often to have more attention paid to them than the essential proofs of an offence at the trial. The delays occasioned in this way are most objectionable and subversive of the whole object of F. G.C.M. especially under present conditions as sea communication is irregular, and papers are not infrequently lost altogether. A very general improvement in these matters is however noticeable.

On 30th November I moved to Mudros and took up my quarters on H.M.T. Minnetonka in Mudros Harbour.

The total number of trials by Courts Martial for the month of October was 427.

W. Percy Capt.
D.J.A.G.

Mudros Harbour 31-12-15.

Death Sentences.

During the month of December, two Death Sentences were ordered by the Commander-in-Chief to be carried out: 1st, No. 16734 Pte. H. Salter, 6th East Lancashire Regiment, tried on November 22nd for Desertion; 2nd, No. 227 Pte. J. Downey, 6th Leinster Regiment sentenced on 1st December for Wilful Defiance. The latter was a case from Salonika and it was particularly requested by the G.O.C. there that this sentence should be carried out in view of the marked tendency towards insubordination which had recently been evident from the proceedings of Courts Martial in that command.

These are the only two death sentences that have been carried out in M.E.F. since I joined the Force in September, and only one had been carried out prior to that.

Between the 25th April and the 31st December 101 men had been sentenced to Death, but in every case except the three mentioned above the Commander-in-Chief has refused to confirm death sentence.

Salonika.

On 22nd December I proceeded to Salonika to confer with Captain Peel, appointed legal D.A.A.G. to that command, and returned to Mudros 2 days later.

Mudros Harbour, 31-12-15.

Salonika Army and Dardanelles Army.

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

On the departure of G.H.Q. from Mudros, instructions were sent to the G.O’s.C. Salonika Army and Dardanelles Army that for the future, owing to the time it must necessarily take for proceedings to reach G.H.Q., Army Commanders would avail themselves of the powers of confirming death sentences, etc. under R.P. 120 (D) proviso (II).

The total number of cases received in this office in the month of November was 414, but proceedings of nearly a hundred Courts Martial were sent by A.H.Q. Salonika by an error straight to the J.A.G., London. Steps were taken to supply 3rd Echelon with records of these cases.

W. Percy
Captain.
D.J.A.G.

Appendix – 1

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE USE OF OFFICERS IN CONNECTION
WITH FIELD GENERAL COURTS MARTIAL.

TO BE LAID BEFORE THE PRESIDENT.

ISSUED WITH GENERAL ROUTINE ORDERS.

May 11th, 1915.

(1.) CONVENING.

A Field General Court Martial may be convened by an Officer in command of any Corps or portion of a Corps or by any Officer in immediate command of a body of forces when it is not practicable to convene a General Court Martial.

N.B. A Commanding Officer is an Officer who under normal circumstances has power to “tell off” a soldier (e.g., a C.O., or Officer commanding a detachment.) R.P. 129.

COMPOSITION OF COURT (R.P. 106).

(a.) Normally not less than three Officers (see para. 12a.).

(b.) A convening Officer must not appoint as President any Officer below the rank of Field Officer unless he (the convening Officer) is himself below that rank.

(c.) Each Officer should have held a commission for at least one year.

(d.) R.P. 22a and 23 must be complied with.

CHARGES.

The statement of an offence may be made briefly in any language sufficient to describe or disclose an offence under the Army Act. Each charge should state one offence only, and the particulars of the offence must be shown. (R.P. 108.)

OATH.

The President, members, and witnesses must be duly sworn, and this fact must be recorded on the proceedings.

The forms of oath for members of the Court and witnesses are to be found on page 633 of the Manual of Military Law.

EVIDENCE.

The Provost Marshal, or Assistant Provost Marshal, if present, and failing them, the President must take down all material evidence in writing and attach it to the proceedings. (R.P. 107.)

1. The evidence of all witnesses should be read over to them at its conclusion before they leave the Court, (R.P. 83 B), and the President should insert a statement in the proceedings that this has been done.
2. When it is necessary to prove that a soldier was a defaulter at the time of the commission of an offence or that any special force order existed, the certified record must be given in evidence. (K.R. 581a.)
3. If it is not practicable to appoint another officer, the prosecutor may give evidence himself, but must be the first witness. (R.P. 39c.)

FINDING.

The finding of the Court on each charge will usually be recorded simply as a finding of “Guilty” or “Not Guilty” unless a special finding is absolutely necessary. If the evidence is not fully sufficient to prove the commission of an offence the court will acquit the accused. (See also R.P. 117.)

CONVICTION.

An accused charged before a Court Martial with any offence under the Army Act may, on failure of proof of an offence being committed under circumstances involving a higher degree of punishment, be found guilty of having committed a cognate lesser offence. (A.A. 56.)

1. If the court find a soldier guilty of a offence they must take evidence of and record the character, age, service and any recognised acts of gallantry or distinguished conducts of the accused, as well as such other matters as are material. The accused may always call witnesses as to these matters in his defence. (R.P. 46.)

SENTENCE.

(a.) Of death or penal servitude.

A sentence of death requires the concurrence of all members of the court. A.A. 49 (2). If there are only two officers on the Court, the sentence cannot exceed 2 years imprisonment or 3 months field punishment.

(b.) The limits of sentences that may be passed upon a soldier are.

(i) Penal servitude (not less than 3 years).

(ii) Imprisonment (with or without hard labour, for not more than 2 years).

(iii) Detention (not more than 2 years).

(iv) Field Punishment (not more than 3 months).

(v) Stoppages of pay (not more than 3 months).

In passing sentence a court martial will have regard not only to the nature and degree of the crime and the previous character of the accused, but also to any matters in extenuation or aggravation of the offence.

Any statements which have a bearing on the sentence should be investigated, as well as any matters which appear to call for disciplinary action. (K.R. 589a.)

The proper amount of punishment to be awarded is the least amount by which discipline can be efficiently maintained.

CONFIRMATION.

(a) The proceedings will usually be sent for confirmation through the Headquarters of the unit to the proper confirming authority, as laid down in Divisional or Brigade Orders.

(b) With reference to the proviso in para. 15, if the Court was convened by an officer in command of a portion of a corps the proceedings may be confirmed by the senior officer present (being a field officer) or if there is not a field officer present, by any field officer to whom it may be possible to take the proceedings.

1. No sentence of death or penal servitude shall be carried into effect unless or until it has been confirmed by the G.O.C., subject only to the proviso that where the confirming officer is of opinion that owing to the nature of the country, the great distance, or the operations of the enemy it is not practicable to delay the case, the above sentences may be carried out if confirmed by the general or field officer commanding the force with which the person under the sentence is present. (R.P. 120 D. ii. A.A. 54.)

SUSPENSION OF SENTENCES ACT, 1915.

Where a soldier is sentenced to penal servitude or imprisonment the confirming authority may, when confirming the sentence, direct that the soldier be not committed to prison until the orders of the G. O. C.-in-Chief have been obtained.

If the sentence has been suspended the confirming officer shall appoint a day within the following three months on which the case shall be reconsidered with a view to a remission of the sentence. Such remission may be made by a general officer holding a warrant to convene General Courts Martial. The G. O. C.-in-Chief has power, on representation being made to him, to terminate the suspension of any sentence.

Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas Burgess

Thomas Burgess was born on June 14, 1862 in Ashton under Lyne to Thomas Burgess Snr and Esther Shaw Torrington. He was raised and educated in Ashton and by 1881 was employed as a Brass Moulder. In July 1883 he married Sarah Lees and their son Harold was born 15 months later. By 1891 he was the landlord of the Collier’s Arms pub in Ashton and Thomas and Sarah had adopted a daughter.

Early Military Service:

Thomas Burgess enlisted in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, The Manchester Regiment on 29 May 1885,[1] being allotted the service number 5107 and posted to “A” Company. By 1894, he had attained the rank of Corporal.

A marksman of some distinction, Corporal Burgess won a Battalion Musketry Medal in 1894, and in 1901 secured a further award as Best Shot in his Company. His steady progress continued, and by 1903 he had been promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant (QMS).

In that same year, he competed for the Ladies’ Cup, which required firing ten rounds from the magazine at 200 yards upon a disappearing target. Tying with Sergeant Chadderton, both men achieved perfect scores; Burgess prevailed in the ensuing shoot-off to win the trophy outright.

He was a member of the battalion Shooting Team of 1904–05 and led one of the two teams in 1906 which captured the inter-battalion Clapham Cup for a third time, a notable achievement among the six Volunteer units of the Manchester Regiment which competed for it each year.

On April 8, 1905, after 20 consecutive years of efficient service, QMS Burgess was awarded the Volunteer Long Service Medal by the battalion’s commanding officer, Colonel J.W. Pollitt. He remained a member of the Volunteers until the Haldane Reforms of 1908, when the unit was reconstituted as the 9th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment (Territorial Force).

On 11 April 1908, Burgess enlisted into the new formation, retaining his rank of Quartermaster Sergeant in “A” Company, and receiving the new service number 160.

Service During the Great War:

On the 5th of August 1914, Quartermaster Sergeant Burgess was mobilised with the battalion at the outbreak of war. Later that month the unit proceeded to Chesham Fold Camp, Bury, and on 10 September 1914 embarked for Egypt, disembarking at Alexandria on 27 September, 1914. QMS Burgess was one of three senior warrant officers named on the disembarkation register.

The battalion, now reorganised from eight to four companies, was stationed at Kasr-el-Nil Barracks, Cairo, where in mid-October, Burgess sustained an injury after misjudging a flight of steps, aggravating an old groin complaint.

He was admitted to the Citadel Hospital, Cairo, remaining there approximately six weeks before rejoining his unit sometime in December 1914. On January 31 1915 the battalion moved to Heliopolis where they went under canvas for the first time overseas. His medical report notes that despite recovering from his fall he suffered from lumbago, myalgia and chronic epididymitis.

In March 1915, Burgess was again admitted to hospital, now suffering from nephritis. On 18 March 1915, he was medically evacuated to England, where he was treated at the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester. Declared permanently unfit for overseas service, he was discharged from the 1/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment (Territorial Force) on 11 June 1915, under Paragraph 392 of King’s Regulations (1912) after just over 30 years continuous and exemplary service.

Further Service at Home:

Undeterred by his medical discharge, Burgess re-enlisted the very next day in the 3/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, and was given the service number 3854.

He assumed responsibility for the Armoury Stores, equipping new recruits, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Garside, with whom he had served for fifteen years. He remained at the Armoury when the 3/9th moved to Southport in July 1915, now falling under the command of Captain Ralph Lees, and in addition to equipping new recruits he also drilled them before they departed to join the battalion.

The 3/9^th Battalion moved successively to Southport and then Codford, becoming the 9th (Reserve) Battalion in April 1916. In September 1916, it amalgamated with the reserve battalions of the 8th and 10th Manchesters to form the 8th (Reserve) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, stationed at Ripon from January 1917.

During the Territorial Force renumbering of February 1917, QMS Burgess received the new six-digit number 351880.

He was finally discharged for a second and last time on 4 May 1917, again under Paragraph 392 of King’s Regulations (1912).

Civilian Life:

By 1901 Thomas was a father of two boys and a licensed victualler of the Railway Hotel, Audenshaw. In 1906 he was elected to the Audenshaw District Council, representing the West Ward as an Independent. He was also a member of the Ashton Lodge of Freemasons, serving as Worshipful Master in 1911. By 1913, Thomas Burgess was Chairman of the Audenshaw District Council and a Justice of the Peace. He retained the Council chairmanship while he was serving overseas in Egypt and was re-elected unopposed in 1915 just before he returned home.

By 1921 Thomas and Sarah were still living at and operating the Railway Hotel, Audenshaw but by 1927 they had retired to Bournemouth where on August 20 Thomas died of cardiogenic shock caused by a perforated gastric ulcer. Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas Burgess was 65 years old.

Awards and Recognition:

For his long and faithful service, Quartermaster Sergeant Burgess was awarded the Volunteer Long Service Medal in 1905, and subsequently the Territorial Efficiency Medal in May 1922 — a fitting recognition of more than thirty years of continuous and exemplary military service.

Volunteer Long Service Medal (Edward VII) – Engraved “5107 Q. M. SJT. T. BURGESS. 3RD V. B. MANCH. REGT”.
Territorial Efficiency Medal (George V) – Engraved: “351880 W.O. CL. II. T. BURGESS. 9-MANCH. R.”
1894 “A” Company, 3rd VBMR Shooting Club, Class B star won by Corpl. Burgess.
“A” Company Best Shot for 1901, O.R. Sgt. Burgess.
3rd V.B. The Manchester Regt. Winners of the Clapham Cup 1904-1905.

All these medals were donated to the Manchester Regiment Museum, Tameside Local Studies and Archives, Central Library, Old Street, Ashton under Lyne, OL6 7SG in June 2013.

Notes:

[1] 22 years 317 days before he enlisted in the 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment (TF).

3/9th Battalion Manchester Regiment

During the week of December 29, 1914 Captain Ralph Lees, in command of the Depot at Ashton, received orders to raise an additional 240 men for the newly reorganized 9th Reserve Battalion, Manchester Regiment in training at Southport. These men were recruited in just over a week, (January 4-13, 1915). Facilities were provided for training the men at the Ashton Golf links, and the Secondary School playing field near the Infirmary. The Brushes shooting range was used for firing practice. Captain George Makin and Lieuts. A.W.F. Connery and N. Wilkinson were transferred from the 2/9^th Battalion at Southport to assist Captain Lees in the training of the men.[1]

Major Edward Garside

On January 25th, 1915, Major (temp Lieut.-Col.) Edward Garside, having relinquished his temporary appointment as brigade major to the 2^nd/East Lancs Brigade, was appointed to the command of the battalion depot at the Armoury and of the newly formed company of 240 men who were in training there.[2]

Major Edward Garside

By Saturday May 1, 1915 the 240 men in training at Ashton had been designated as the nucleus of a new Territorial unit to be formed under the command of Major Garside at the Ashton Armoury. Of the 556 rank and file required, the names of 476 men had been enrolled up to the previous Thursday night, so that, exclusive of the officers, only about 50 or 60 men were required to complete the establishment. It was anticipated that this would be achieved by the end of the week (May 7, 1915).[3]

Move to Southport

By Saturday May 22, 1915 the third Territorial unit was fully established and an additional 100 recruits were being actively sought. These men moved from the Armoury at Ashton under Lyne to Southport on July 7, 1915 under the command of Lieut.-Col. Garside. There were in all 666 men on parade that day.[4]

Supplying Drafts

Meanwhile, in August the 2^nd/East Lancashire Brigade was numbered the 198^th Brigade and the 2^nd/East Lancashire Division was numbered the 66^th Division and they now formed part of the Second Army, Central Force. By the end of August all the home service men left the 2/9^th Battalion, Manchester Regiment and only those men were retained who had Imperial Service obligations. This effectively ended the 2/9^th Battalion’s role as an infantry feeding unit for Gallipoli, and those duties were now taken up by the 3/9^th Battalion, Manchester Regiment.

October 22, 1915

On October 22, 1915 the 3/9th Battalion supplied a final large draft of men for the 1/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment in Gallipoli. The draft consisted of 3 Officers and 134 Other Ranks who left Devonport on October 8, 1915 sailing on the Transport Ship DEMOSTHENES. In fact, embarkation records show that the DEMOSTHENES sailed with 3 Officers and 140 other ranks.

The following list of 121 men were part of this draft.

Rank	No.	Forename	Middle	Surname
Pte	3610	JOSEPH		BEAUMONT
Pte	3208	JOSEPH	WILLIAM SCHOFIELD	EVANS
L/Cpl	3233	ROBERT	HENRY	VINT
Pte	3286	ALBERT		SHAW
Pte	3311	ERNEST		JONES
L/Cpl	3334	THOMAS		RIDLEY
Pte	3341	EDWIN		BEECH
Pte	3353	JOSEPH		HYDE
Pte	3359	HARRY		JONES
Pte	3378	WILLIAM		HADFIELD
Pte	3394	JOHN		STANDRIN
Pte	3194	TOM		PLATT
Pte	3248	WILLIAM		HULIN
Cpl	3392	RICHARD		WRIGHT
Pte	3287	LEONARD		PENNINGTON
Pte	1328	WILLIAM	NOEL	BEACON
Pte	3306	ALBERT	GEORGE	OLD
Pte	3190	RALPH		PLATT
Pte	3192	JAMES		FRATER
Pte	3193	WALTER		SILCOCK
Pte	3196	PERCY		MARLAND
Pte	3201	JOHN		BROCK
Pte	3203	ARTHUR		BOOTH
Pte	3206	JOHN	ALFRED	CHADWICK
Pte	3210	THOMAS	MULLEN	HOWARD
Pte	3211	ROBERT		OGDEN
Pte	3216	WILLIAM		KINDER
Pte	3217	NORMAN		WHITTAKER
Pte	3218	JOHN	EDGAR	NEWTON
L/Cpl	3220	ROBERT		SHANDLEY
Pte	3222	JAMES		FALLON
Pte	3223	JOHN		FLETCHER
Pte	3224	JAMES		BUCKLEY
Pte	3225	HAROLD		MAYALL
L/Cpl	3232	ERNEST	GEORGE SPROSTON	NOKES
Pte	3237	HARRY		NAISH
Pte	3241	ALFRED		METCALF
Pte	3243	DAVID		HANSON
L/Cpl	3246	HARRY		LAWLER
Pte	3255	JAMES		ALBINSON
Pte	3258	ARTHUR		GREEN
Pte	3260	JAMES	WILLIAM	MANSFIELD
Pte	3262	THOMAS		WILMOTT
Pte	3266	HAROLD		TOMLINSON
Pte	3268	JAMES		MARLAND
Pte	3269	ALBERT		THOMAS
Pte	3276	WILLIAM	FREDERICK	POTTER
Pte	3279	HAROLD		SUGDEN
Pte	3281	JAMES	RALPH	FERNLEY
Pte	3283	JAMES		WHITEHEAD
L/Cpl	3284	NIMROD		HAIGH
Pte	3288	THOMAS		PENNY
Pte	3290	SIDNEY		WILLIAMS
Pte	3291	AARON		JONES
L/Cpl	3294	ARTHUR		ROWE
Pte	3295	EDMUND		LOMAX
Pte	3296	FRED		PEMBERTON
Pte	3297	ALBERT		POTTS
Pte	3302	JAMES		WATERFORD
Pte	3305	HARRY		RAYNER
Pte	3312	HAROLD		GREEN
Pte	3314	JAMES		CUNCAR
Pte	3315	HARRY		ROBERTS
Pte	3317	WALTER		DONE
Pte	3320	CAMPBELL		REECE
Pte	3321	JOHN	JAMES	BALLAGHER
Cpl	3322	JOSEPH	SIDNEY	HOLT
Pte	3323	HAROLD		WARBERG
Pte	3329	NORMAN		BRAMWELL
L/Cpl	3335	MARTIN		GATELEY
Pte	3338	WILLIAM		NALLY
Pte	3340	CLARENCE		BOOTH
Pte	3343	JOHN	EDWIN	TATE
Pte	3346	CHARLES		BOTTOMS
Pte	3347	WALTER		EASTWOOD
Pte	3351	ROBERT	WILLIAM	THOMAS
Pte	3355	SAMUEL	ALEXANDER	DAVENPORT
Pte	3356	SAMUEL		LEES
Pte	3357	FRANK		ROBERTS
L/Cpl	3358	HARRY		ANDREW
Pte	3360	ARTHUR		APPERLEY
Pte	3361	ROBERT		HARRISON
Cpl	3364	JAMES		MILLER
Pte	3365	JOHN		DUNKERLEY
Pte	3367	JOHN		GREENHALGH
Pte	3368	LEONARD		BROADHURST
Pte	3369	WILLIAM		WALKER
Pte	3376	MICHAEL		CUNCAR
Pte	3377	JAMES		LEAH
Pte	3379	THOMAS		FARRELL
Pte	3383	WILLIE		GREEN
Pte	3386	JOHN		DORAN
Pte	3387	JOHN		O’BRIEN
Pte	3389	PHILIP		DONNELLY
Pte	3391	HORACE		BENNETT
Pte	3395	FRANK		TAYLOR
Pte	3396	HARRY		GREGORY
Pte	3397	WILLIAM		WILKINSON
Pte	3398	WILLIAM	ALBERT	RUSSELL
Pte	3399	FRANK		HAMER
Pte	3400	JOHN		THOMPSON
Pte	3406	WILLIAM		HACKWELL
Pte	3408	FRED		ALLEN
Pte	3410	EDWARD		MERCER
Sgt	3411	JAMES		CLARE
Cpl	3413	HENRY		OGDEN
Pte	3414	WILLIAM		FEATHERSTONE
Pte	3415	GEORGE		PARKER
L/Cpl	3416	JOHN		HUGHES
Pte	3417	THOMAS		MITCHESON
Pte	3418	RALPH		SCHOFIELD
Pte	3420	HARRY		LOWE
Pte	3422	JOHN	JAMES	BOOTH
Pte	3423	ERNEST		BRADBURY
L/Cpl	3426	IRVINE		SCHOFIELD
Pte	3427	HARRY		MARSLAND
Pte	3608	ALFRED		JONES
Pte	3729	HENRY		THOMPSON
Pte	3765	FRED	WHITEHEAD	DICKINSON
Pte	3802	JAMES	HARRY	BROADBENT
Pte	3301	CHARLES	HENRY	WARD

One of these men, 3301 Pte. Charles Ward, has a Medal Index Card disembarkation date of October 25th but an examination of his service record reveals that his B.103 form was missing the disembarkation date and, upon request, the Manchester Regiment provided the next dated entry which was when he joined ‘B’ Company on October 25th. This neatly illustrates the problems inherent in compiling nominal rolls of men from inconsistently created medal rolls. Nevertheless, he was clearly a member of the October 22, 1915 draft.

The officers who accompanied the draft were:

Rank	Christian	M.I.	Surname
2/Lt.	THOMAS		AINSWORTH
2/Lt.	BELTRAN	F	ROBINSON
2/Lt.	WILLIAM	H	DEMEL

October 26, 1915

On October 26, 1915 a draft of 11 Officers arrived in Gallipoli from England, via Alexandria, along with 110 Other Ranks returning from hospital treatment in Egypt. The Officers embarked HMT SCOTIAN at Devonport on October 13th, 1915 arriving at Mudros on October 24th, finally joining the Battalion on the 26th.

Rank	Forename	Middle	Surname
2/Lt.	WILLIAM	NEVILLE BROADBENT	BURY
2/Lt.	SYDNEY		NAYLOR
2/Lt.	IRVINE		DEARNALEY
2/Lt.	BERNARD	HAROLD	BRISTER
2/Lt.	OSCAR	STOCKTON	NEEDHAM
2/Lt.	PERCY	PARKER	FIELDING
2/Lt.	FRANCIS	CYRIL	HAMPSON
2/Lt.	FREDERICK		BEARD
2/Lt.	ROBERT	JACOMB NORRIS	DALE
2/Lt.	JOHN	REGINALD	TOMMIS
2/Lt.	ALFRED		GRAY

December 1, 1915

On December 1, 1915 a draft of 7 Other Ranks, (machine gunners), arrived from England having departed Devonport on the transport ship CALEDONIA on November 15.

Rank	No.	Forename	Middle	Surname
Pte	3717	JOHN		BURGESS
L/Cpl	3594	ERNEST		RILEY
Pte	3697	JAMES	GORDON	WHITEHOUSE
Pte	3705	MATTHEW		ELLISON
L/Cpl	3853	ALBERT		SHEPLEY
Pte	1084	JOHN		JACKSON
Pte	3289	CHARLES	HENRY	BROWN

This was the final draft of men supplied from England for the Gallipoli Campaign of the 1/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment.

Move to Codford

At midnight on Monday December 13, 1915, the battalion entrained for a hutted camp at Codford St. Mary, Wiltshire. Sick and wounded men of the 1/9th Battalion who were medically repatriated to England from Gallipoli, were either discharged being no longer fit for military service or time expired, or after recovering at home, were sent to join the 3/9th Battalion. By Christmas 1915, around 280 such men were reportedly stationed there and formed an “Overseas Company” housed separately from the other members of the 3/9th who had not yet deployed overseas or experienced the hostilities.[5]

"Overseas Company" at Codford 1916

“Overseas Company” at Codford, 1916

In January 1916, as officers and men of the 1/9^th Battalion continued to join the battalion at Codford, other men of the “Overseas Company” started preparing to be deployed back to the 1/9^th Battalion in Egypt and to other units as dictated by the War Office. Lieut.-Col. D.H. Wade, now sufficiently recovered from his wounds from Gallipoli, arrived back in Egypt on January 27, 1916. Others, such as Lieut. F. A. Makin and Captain T. A. Platt were assessed as fit only for permanent home service and so joined the 3/9th Battalion and remained with them.

On March 18, 1916 it was reported that Lieutenant-Colonel R. B. Nowell, was temporarily in command of the 3/9th Manchester Regiment (Ashton Territorials) at Codford, in the absence of Lieut.-Colonel Garside, who was at that time temporarily engaged on other duties. Earlier that week a grand concert was held at Codford to bid farewell to a draft of ex-Gallipoli officers, senior NCOs and men returning to Egypt under the command of Col. Nowell along with men of the 3/9^th battalion who were deploying overseas for the first time.

8th (Reserve) Battalion

On April 8, 1916 the 3/9th Battalion officially became known as the 9th (Reserve) Battalion and on September 1, 1916 the 9th and 10th Reserve Battalions were absorbed into the 8th (Reserve) Battalion, then located at Southport. The 8th (Reserve) Battalion, moved to Ripon in January 1917 and then to Filey, (Hunmanby), in June 1917 where they remained for the duration of the war.

The 8th (Reserve) Battalion maintained a presence at Filey from June 1917 until the end of the war and their primary purpose was to train reserve troops prior to their re-deployment on the Western Front. As such, it was also tasked with rehabilitating recuperating men in their transition from military hospital, to convalescent hospital, to Command Depot, to Reserve Battalion and finally re-deployment.

Lt-Col. Edward Garside

Major Edward Garside, no longer the battalion’s commanding officer, relinquished his temporary rank of Lieut.-Col. on November 2, 1916. On February 24, 1917 the Ashton Reporter noted that: Under the War Office Authority, dated February 9th, 1917, Major Edward Garside, the late commanding officer of the 9th (Res.) Battalion the Manchester Regiment, has been appointed permanent president of the Garrison Quartering Committee, Mersey Defences, and to be temporary Lieut.-Col. whilst so employed. He remained with the Mersey Defences for the duration of the war.

Notes:

[1] “Recruiting Record in Ashton” published January 16, 1915 in the Ashton Reporter.

[2] “Ashton Notes” published February 13, 1915 in the Ashton Reporter.

[3] “Lady Aitken at the Armoury” published May 1, 1915 in the Ashton Reporter.

[4] “3rd Ashton Territorial Battalion goes to Southport” published July 10, 195 in the Ashton Reporter.

[5] “The Ashton Territorial Overseas Men” published January 1, 1916 in the Ashton Reporter.

Acknowledgements:

Photographs of Lieut-Colonel Garside kindly provided by the Garside Family and remain their copyright. Please do not copy them without permission.

Gallipoli Landing May 9, 1915

On the 9th of May, 1915 the 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, Territorial Force landed under heavy fire at Sedd-el-Bahr, (V Beach), and moved quickly from the beach into bivouac (HMT Commodore with the battalion’s Transport section and Brigade HQ arriving on the 10th).

The Nominal Roll of men of the 1/9th Manchesters landing on that day and the next included at least the following 915 men listed below.

Rank	No.	Forename	Middle	Surname
Col Sgt	5	GEORGE		BOOCOCK
Pte	11	JOHN		FOSTER
Pte	16	JAMES		RYDER
Sgt	22	WALTER		HAWKINS
Pte	23	TOM		LEE
Sgt	27	JAMES		NOLAN
Pte	29	ALBERT		HAGUE
Sgt	31	THOMAS		LOMAS
Sgt	41	JAMES		STOPFORD
Pte	48	WILLIAM		LITTLEFORD
Sgt	54	ARTHUR		BERESFORD
Sgt	58	ARTHUR		BASHFORTH
Sgt	64	ALFRED		SMITH
Sgt	65	JOSEPH		FERNS
Sgt	76	JAMES		LAWTON
Sgt	83	THOMAS		MCDERMOTT
Sgt	104	HARRY		INGHAM
Col Sgt	108	ROBERT		JACKSON
Pte	109	SAMUEL	CHARLES	WHITTON
L/Cpl	113	FRANK		SHAW
Cpl	121	JOHN	WILLIAM	TASKER
Sgt	128	THOMAS		LANGAN
Sgt	136	HENRY		HARRISON
CQMS	154	GEORGE		NEWTON
Cpl	156	JAMES		TOWNSEND
Sgt	164	ALFRED		SCOTT
Cpl	174	JOHN	HENRY	SHAWCROSS
Sgt	176	HENRY (HARRY)		COOPER
Pte	177	JOE		BRIDGE
Pte	179	RICHARD		COOPER
Cpl	180	SAMUEL		BAYLEY
Pte	183	JOHN		CHADWICK
Sgt	220	ALBERT	EDWARD	FLETCHER
Pte	226	ALFRED		ASHWORTH
Sgt	236	GEORGE		TURNER
CSM	237	HENRY (HARRY)		STRINGER
Pte	242	LEONARD		BROOKE
Cpl	243	THOMAS		VALENTINE
Col Sgt	257	JOHN		WILLIAMSON
CSM	266	ALBERT		GREEN
Pte	270	RICHARD		HANDLEY
Pte	282	GEORGE		SHAW
Pte	283	TIMOTHY		McDERMOTT
Sgt	287	CHARLES		SPENCER
Pte	288	JOHN		PHILLIPS
Sgt	313	GEORGE	GRAYSON	MELLOR
Pte	317	JOSEPH		ROTHWELL
Pte	326	JAMES	WILLIAM	HARLOW
Col Sgt	339	MATHEW	JAMES	BUCKLEY
Sgt	341	JOHN	WILLIAM	LEE
CSM	344	JOSEPH		CHADDERTON
Pte	379	THOMAS		GHENTY
Sgt	400	JAMES		CHAPMAN
Dmr	419	FREDERICK	ORAM	WYATT
Sgt	427	THOMPSON		TYM
Sgt	445	JOHN	ALBERT	SIMCOX
Pte	447	ERNEST		EYRES
Pte	459	ARTHUR		ROYLE
Pte	463	HENRY		RICHARDSON
Sgt	469	HARRY		ILLINGWORTH
Pte	487	JOSEPH		TURNER
Pte	489	JAMES		EASTHAM
L/Cpl	508	HARRY		GIBSON
Pte	512	JOHN		MORGAN
Pte	515	WILLIAM		VICKERS
Pte	517	FRANK		CAWLEY
Sgt	526	THOMAS		MOSS
Pte	528	HARRY		HAUGHTON
CQMS	540	WILLIAM		BIRCHALL
Pte	548	SAMUEL		POWERS
Dmr	551	HAROLD	ARNOLD	CRITCHLEY
Pte	555	WILLIAM		BARKER
Pte	580	WALTER		WILD
Pte	583	SAMUEL		POTTS
Pte	596	HARRY		WHITEHEAD
Pte	621	FRANK		GOODE
Sgt	643	SQUIRE		ELLOR
Pte	660	THOMAS		ALDRIDGE
Sgt	680	THOMAS		HARGREAVES
Cpl	714	REGINALD		WARNER
Sgt	719	JOHN		MUTCH
Cpl	724	JOSEPH	EDWARD	APPLEBY
Cpl	728	ARTHUR		GREEN
Cpl	736	JAMES		WHITTLE
Pte	745	ARNOLD		BOOTH
Dmr	759	SAMUEL		SCHOLES
Pte	768	JAMES		BENYON
Pte	781	HARRY		TAYLOR
Pte	782	HARRY		EDWARDS
Pte	787	GEORGE	WILLIAM	STRINGER
Sgt	806	CORNELIUS		FINCH
Pte	822	THOMAS		DAVIES
Pte	839	WILLIAM	HERBERT	PASCOE
Pte	849	HERBERT		NADIN
Pte	885	FRANK		GODDARD
Cpl	921	HARRY		BOLTER
Pte	930	ERNEST		BRADBURY
Pte	932	WILLIE	HORTON	HAMER
Pte	956	HAROLD		PYE
Sgt	969	HARRY		GRANTHAM
Pte	972	SAMUEL		TAYLOR
Pte	973	HARRY		SMITH
Pte	998	HARRY		HOLDEN
L/Cpl	1000	JAMES		EARNSHAW
Pte	1004	ALBERT		CUNDAY
Sgt	1010	SIDNEY		WOOD
Pte	1019	SAMUEL		ATHERTON
Pte	1028	FRED		HODGIN
Pte	1042	HARRY		HOLLAND
Pte	1044	THOMAS		GORMAN
Pte	1057	JAMES	WILLIE	STOPFORD
Pte	1066	TOM		GARLICK
Pte	1068	PETER		NOLAN
Pte	1070	CHARLES		SMITH
Pte	1071	JAMES	FRANCIS	BARLOW
Pte	1081	CLAUDE		DAVIES
Pte	1083	SAMUEL		LITTLEFORD
Pte	1112	WILLIAM	EMMANUEL	HAWLEY
Pte	1118	DOUGLAS	GERALD	HORNBY
Cpl	1119	PERCY		BORSEY
Cpl	1120	THOMAS		FORREST
Pte	1121	JOHN	JOSEPH	KENNEY
Pte	1123	WIL		MARSH
Sgt	1125	NOEL	DUNCAN	BRAITHWAITE
Sgt	1126	JOSEPH	COX	HARROP
Pte	1127	HARRY		TAYLOR
Sgt	1128	HARRY		EARLE
Cpl	1129	BENJAMIN		NEWTON
Pte	1130	RUPERT		PILLING
Pte	1132	HARRY	GORDON	CARPENTER
Pte	1133	ALBERT		MULLEN
Pte	1134	FRANK	ERNEST	ORTON
Pte	1137	TOM		SMITH
Pte	1139	HARRY		PARTRIDGE
Pte	1140	ARTHUR		PRITCHARD
Pte	1141	JAMES		SMITH
Pte	1142	DAVID		SMITH
Pte	1146	JOHN	WILLIAM	JAKEMAN
Pte	1147	JAMES		RATCLIFFE
Pte	1148	JOHN		MUTTER
L/Cpl.	1150	FRED		ARMITAGE
Pte	1152	JOHN	GEORGE	BLANDFORD
Pte	1153	JOHN		PEAKE
Dmr	1154	HAROLD		COOKE
Pte	1155	WILLIAM		BURKE
Pte	1156	FRANK		BARKER
Pte	1157	WILLIAM	HENRY	ILLINGWORTH
Pte	1158	JOHN		RILEY
Pte	1159	WILLIAM		WATSON
Drm	1160	HAROLD		BROADHURST
Pte	1164	FRANK		DYSON
Drm	1165	EDWARD		BERRY
Pte	1167	WILLIAM		OGDEN
Pte	1169	HERBERT		HOPKINS
Pte	1170	ROBERT	KERSHAW	ILLINGWORTH
Sgt	1171	GEORGE		EYRE
Pte	1175	ALBERT	CLEMENT	CLAYTON
Pte	1178	MATTHEW		REDFERN
Pte	1179	SAMUEL	EDWARD	BONSALL
Cpl	1180	ARTHUR		BRITTON
Pte	1182	JAMES		HOPWOOD
Pte	1184	ALBERT		BROADHURST
Pte	1187	WILLIAM		KINDER
Cpl	1188	WILLIAM	HENRY	MARTIN
Pte	1189	HAROLD		NEWTON
Pte	1190	JOSEPH	HARRISON	ROWBOTTOM
Pte	1192	HARRY		TRUNKFIELD
Pte	1193	JOSEPH		BATTY
Cpl	1194	WILLIAM		CHORLTON
Pte	1195	THOMAS		DORAN
L/Cpl	1197	JOHN		LOWNDS
Cpl	1199	THOMAS		RADCLIFFE
Pte	1200	WILLIAM		TAYLOR
Pte	1201	JAMES		WILLIAMS
Cpl	1202	ROBERT		GRIMSHAW
Pte	1203	JOHN		CUMMINS
Cpl	1205	SAMUEL		EYRE
Pte	1209	LEONARD		WHITEHEAD
Pte	1210	JOHN	ARTHUR	CRANE
Pte	1211	BEN		CUTHBERT
Pte	1212	THOMAS		HOLDEN
Pte	1215	JOSEPH		WILDE
Pte	1216	JOSEPH		CARUS
L/Cpl	1217	HAROLD		COOKE
Pte	1218	JAMES		HOLLINGWORTH
Pte	1220	FRANK		MADELEY
Pte	1221	THOMAS		PORTER
Pte	1222	JOHN		ROURKE
Pte	1224	WILLIAM		TEMPEST
Pte	1225	JOSEPH	HAROLD ARMSTRONG	WHITTAKER
Pte	1226	TOM	GODDARD	WOOD
Pte	1230	WILLIAM	EDISON	LOFT
Dmr	1234	JAMES		BRADLEY
Pte	1235	SAMUEL		INGHAM
Pte	1236	BENSON		BARRETT
Pte	1239	HAROLD		BULLOCK
Pte	1240	GEORGE		MOSS
Pte	1243	ARNOLD		LEES
Sgt	1244	WALTER	STEUART	EATON
Pte	1246	JOHN		HAMPSON
Pte	1252	ERNEST	MITCHELL	SMITH
Pte	1253	JOHN		BENNETT
Pte	1255	JAMES		BURKE
Dmr	1257	TOM		JACKSON
Dmr	1258	ROBERT		LANDERS
Pte	1262	GEORGE		ALLOTT
Dmr	1263	ALBERT		MARLAND
Pte	1266	FREDERICK	WILLIAM	KERFOOT
Pte	1268	JESSE	EDWIN	CONNOLLY
Pte	1269	OLIVER		JONES
Pte	1270	JONATHAN		HAWKE
Sgt	1271	JAMES		TAYLOR
Pte	1273	JOSEPH	HAROLD	HIGGINBOTTOM
Pte	1274	JOHN	WILLIAM	DONNELLY
Pte	1276	GEORGE		MARLAND
Pte	1277	JOHN	CHARLES	TURNER
Pte	1278	ALBERT	EDWARD	SUMMERSGILL
Pte	1280	JOHN		MARTIN
Pte	1281	JOHN		TRAVIS
Pte	1283	SAMUEL	JEPSON	DONOGHUE
Pte	1284	WILLIAM		BLACKSHAW
Pte	1285	ALBERT		MacCORMACK
Pte	1286	WILLIAM		BENNISON
Pte	1287	WILLIAM		THORNTON
Pte	1288	CLARENCE	WILLIAM	PAUL
Pte	1289	GERALD		MASSEY
Pte	1290	JOHN		SMITH
Pte	1291	ROBERT	EDWARD	DALEY
Pte	1292	GEORGE		HALL
Pte	1293	THOMAS		BELL
Pte	1294	FRANK		CHEVALIER
Pte	1295	PERCY		BRADSHAW
Pte	1298	ENOCH		MARTYN
Pte	1300	JOHN		KINSELLA
Pte	1301	WILLIAM	POTTER	MURPHY
Pte	1302	HARRY		WOLSTENHOLME
Pte	1303	HARRY		ALLEN
Pte	1305	JAMES		WRIGHT
Cpl	1306	REUBEN		TYSON
Pte	1307	ROBERT		CONSTANTINE
Pte	1308	THOMAS		TAYLOR
Pte	1309	HERBERT		BROOKE
Sgt	1310	HERBERT	ALLEN	MORRIS
Pte	1311	WILLIAM		HULME
Pte	1313	JAMES	WILLIAM	RAMSDALE
Pte	1314	JOHN	WILLIAM	ANDREW
Pte	1316	WILLIAM		ADAMS
Pte	1317	JAMES	WILLIAM	STOCKTON
Pte	1322	JAMES		HALKYARD
Pte	1324	JAMES	SHAW	MILLAR
Pte	1325	JOSEPH		KENT
Sgt	1326	HAROLD		SHAW
Pte	1327	GEORGE	HENRY	BURGESS
Pte	1330	HARRY		POTTER
Pte	1331	WILLIAM	HIGGENBOTTOM	WOOD
Dmr	1332	WILLIAM		MALONEY
Pte	1334	CHARLES		LEE
Pte	1338	GEORGE	HENRY (HARRY)	STEWART
Pte	1339	JAMES	WILLIAM	DALEY
Pte	1340	THOMAS	ROLAND	BUTTERWORTH
Pte	1341	THOMAS	HENRY	TWEEDALE
Pte	1342	HERBERT		BRADBURY
Pte	1343	TOM		HALL
Pte	1345	ERIC		GOLIGHTLY
Pte	1346	FREDERICK		FLINDLE
Pte	1347	REGINALD	HUXLEY	POTTS
Drm	1348	WILLIAM		SHAW
Pte	1351	ROBERT		MELIA
Pte	1353	JOHN	WILLIAM	DODD
Pte	1354	WILLIAM	LLOYD	SHUTTLEWORTH
Pte	1357	WILLIAM		DALTON
Cpl	1358	GEORGE	JAMES	SILVESTER
Pte	1361	THOMAS		HAWKINS
L/Cpl	1364	FRANK		HOWARD
Pte	1365	HARRY		COOKE
Pte	1366	ALFRED		HODGSON
Pte	1367	FRANK	DITCHFIELD	RADCLIFFE
Pte	1368	WILLIE		GIBSON
Pte	1369	ALBERT		GIBSON
Pte	1371	ALBERT	EDWARD	NEALE
Pte	1373	NOEL	WILLIAMSON	STOCKDALE
Pte	1374	JOSEPH		DUTTON
Pte	1375	BEN		CUSICK
L/Cpl	1377	FRANK		OLDFIELD
Pte	1380	BERNARD		RAWLINGS
Pte	1381	ERNEST		LOWNDS
Pte	1382	SAM	ERNEST	ROBINSON
Pte	1383	CHARLES	IRVINE	RIMINGTON
Pte	1384	THOMAS	LEWIS	EVANS
Pte	1386	HERBERT		LAMB
Pte	1388	WILFRED		LOCKWOOD
Pte	1389	CHARLES	VERE	KINNA
Pte	1390	ALBERT		HAGUE
Pte	1391	GEORGE	GORDON	HAUGHTON
Pte	1393	PERCY		TILBURY
Pte	1394	BENJAMIN		COWLEY
Pte	1396	WILLIAM		HEBBLEWAITE
Pte	1397	JOHN		HANSON
Pte	1399	JAMES	ALBERT	EDWARDS
Pte	1400	WILLIAM	BROWN	HODGKISS
Pte	1401	EDWARD		HODGKISS
Pte	1402	CEPHAS		TURNER
Pte	1404	JAMES		DUNDAVAN
Pte	1405	JOHN		DALEY
Pte	1407	WALTER		LEIGH
Pte	1408	JOSEPH		CROPPER
Pte	1410	RICHARD		FLETCHER
Pte	1411	LEWIS		BEELEY
Pte	1413	THOMAS		PENNY
L/Cpl	1415	WILLIAM		MASON
Pte	1422	GEORGE	WILLIAM	MOORES
L/Cpl	1423	ALBERT		BURGESS
Pte	1424	HARRY		JONES
Cpl	1425	EDWARD		BROWN
Pte	1426	JOHN (JACK)		WALKER
Pte	1427	SAMUEL		KELLETT
Pte	1428	STANLEY	HAYDEN	STEPHENS
Pte	1429	ROBERT		HARTLEY
Pte	1430	JOHN	BRUCKSHAW	LEES
Pte	1434	PERCY	BAILEY	LEES
Dmr	1437	WILLIAM		REVELL
Pte	1438	TOM		RADCLIFFE
Pte	1439	TOM		HILL
Pte	1440	ROBERT		NICHOLS
Pte	1442	ALBERT		CROWTHER
Pte	1443	JAMES		MALLINSON
Pte	1445	ERNEST	CECIL	MATLEY
Pte	1446	RICHARD	MORTON	MAY
Pte	1448	JOHN		HALL
Pte	1450	GEORGE		SHAWCROSS
Cpl	1451	WILLIAM		ROWLAND
Pte	1453	LAWRENCE		KING
Pte	1455	SYDNEY	VICTOR	HILL
Pte	1457	JOHN		BRADY
Pte	1458	GEORGE		MOORES
Pte	1460	JOHN	ALBERT	DAWSON
Pte	1464	GEORGE		BROMLEY
Pte	1465	JAMES	THRIFT	PYE
Pte	1466	FRED		HANSON
Cpl	1468	ALFRED		ATHERTON
Pte	1470	THOMAS		HEWITT
Pte	1472	HARRY		ANDREW
Pte	1473	GEORGE	HENRY	LAMB
Pte	1475	WALTER		BENNETT
Pte	1476	GEORGE	EDWARD	HANSON
L/Cpl	1478	BENJAMIN		LOVE
Pte	1479	THOMAS		ROGERS
Cpl	1480	JAMES		HORSFIELD
Pte	1481	CLIFFORD		HOLDEN
Pte	1483	JAMES		PORTER
Cpl	1484	JOHN	WILLIAM	HUGHES
Cpl	1486	CHARLES	ERNEST	WOOD
Cpl	1487	ERNEST		RIMINGTON
Pte	1488	RICHARD	EDWIN	BURGESS
Pte	1490	BERT		ASHWORTH
Pte	1491	FRED		GENDERS
Pte	1493	FRANK	SHEPHERD	LEES
Sgt	1495	THOMAS	JAMES	KNIGHT
Pte	1496	JOHN		BULLOCK
Pte	1497	JAMES	WILLIAM	CHATBURN
Pte	1498	JOHN		WHARTON
Pte	1499	ALBERT		ASHTON
Pte	1500	HERBERT		MONKS
Pte	1501	GEORGE		MARKHAM
Pte	1503	RAYMOND		PLANT
Pte	1504	ALBERT		TOWNSEND
	1506	WILLIAM		HEADDOCK
Pte	1509	RICHARD		ASPDEN
Pte	1511	ALFRED	VINCENT	CLEGG
Pte	1512	WILLIAM		ASPINALL
Pte	1513	ALBERT		BURKE
Pte	1514	HARRY		SYKES
Pte	1515	JAMES	WILLIAM	CHEETHAM
Pte	1516	ERNEST		BARLOW
Pte	1517	SAMUEL		HOOD
Sgt	1520	FRANK		MORTON
Pte	1521	JAMES		ATHERTON
Pte	1524	JOHN	WILLIAM	JENNEYS
Pte	1528	WILLIAM		DEAN
Pte	1529	GEOFFREY		CLEGG
Pte	1531	WALTER		MUTTER
Pte	1532	HERBERT		BERTENSHAW
Pte	1534	ALFRED	EDWIN	SNAPE
Pte	1535	JOHN	HENRY	CONNOLLY
Pte	1536	LEWIS	LONGSON	GRIMSHAW
Pte	1540	WALTER		BRYAN
Pte	1542	FRED		McDONNELL
Pte	1544	JOHN		BURGESS
Pte	1545	NORMAN		TAYLOR
Pte	1546	JOHN	FRANCIS	FINNIGAN
Pte	1549	JOHN	EDWARD	CUNNINGHAM
Sgt	1550	THOMAS		WINDED
Pte	1553	HAROLD		MORRIS
Pte	1554	HAROLD		SMITH
Pte	1555	GEORGE		ELLIS
Pte	1556	ERNEST	RICHARD	BELL
Pte	1557	ISAAC		WALKER
Pte	1558	LAWRENCE		FINNERAN
Pte	1559	ANDREW		WINTERBOTTOM
Pte	1560	WILLIAM		WOOD
Pte	1561	ROBERT		KENWORTHY
Pte	1562	JOHN	WALSHAW	BLAND
Pte	1566	GEORGE		BOSWELL
Pte	1567	ALBERT		IVELL
Pte	1568	ALBERT	VICTOR	GODDING
Pte	1569	JOHN		BATES
Pte	1570	WILLIAM	GENT	ANDREWS
Pte	1571	GEORGE		ALCOCK
Pte	1573	SAM		ENTWISTLE
Pte	1574	THOMAS		BOON
Pte	1575	WILLIAM	HENRY	VINEY
Pte	1576	WILLIAM	PETER	BRIERELY
Pte	1578	THOMAS		GASKELL
Pte	1579	JOHN (JACK)	WILLIAM	GASKELL
Pte	1580	NORMAN		HARGREAVES
Pte	1581	SAMUEL		BARBER
Pte	1583	NORMAN		LEIGH
Pte	1584	FRED		BRADLEY
Pte	1585	JOSEPH		GEE
Pte	1586	HERBERT		POTTER
Pte	1588	WILLIAM		SIDEBOTTOM
Pte	1591	EDWARD		LEES
Cpl	1592	EDWARD		ALLOTT
Pte	1593	ALBERT		EASTWOOD
Pte	1595	WILLIAM		RUSHWORTH
Pte	1596	JOHN		OAKDEN
Pte	1597	ERNEST		HAWKRIDGE
Cpl	1598	ARTHUR		ARTINGSTALL
Pte	1601	WALTER		CLEGG
Pte	1604	WILLIAM	HENRY	CORLETT
Pte	1605	STANLEY		CARTER
Pte	1606	WILLIAM		TOWNLEY
Pte	1607	ERIC		LISTER
Pte	1608	HARRY		WHITTAKER
Pte	1609	ROBERT	DANIEL	MacCORMACK
Pte	1612	GEORGE		LITCHFIELD
Pte	1613	EDWARD		JONES
Pte	1615	LEONARD		GILL
Pte	1616	WILLIAM		PRIESTNALL
Pte	1617	JOHN		TURNER
Pte	1618	CHARLES	LLEWELLYN	HIGGINS
Pte	1619	PERCY		SAMPSON
Pte	1621	JOHN		BRIDGE
Pte	1622	HARRY		JACKSON
Pte	1623	JAMES		GREENHALGH
Pte	1625	ARTHUR		BURN
Pte	1626	HENRY		BENT
Pte	1627	GEORGE		FRATER
Pte	1628	HAROLD		MOSS
Pte	1629	JOSEPH		WHIPP
Pte	1632	WILFRED	EDWARD	BARBER
Pte	1634	JAMES	EDWARD	HOKE
Drm	1635	WILLIAM	HENRY	TAYLOR
Pte	1637	HERBERT		FISH
Pte	1638	WILLIAM	HENRY	HAZELL
Pte	1639	JAMES	HENRY	DAWSON
Pte	1640	JAMES		GARRAGAN
Pte	1641	EDWARD	LEWIS	GREEN
Pte	1642	ENOCH	CHARLES	WARHURST
Pte	1643	SAMUEL		NEWTON
Pte	1644	ARTHUR		ADSHEAD
Pte	1645	TOM		LONGWORTH
Pte	1646	JOHN		MASON
Pte	1649	TIMOTHY		WIDDUP
Pte	1651	FRANK		NEWTON
Pte	1652	RICHARD		STOTT
Pte	1653	GEORGE	SAMUEL	ASHTON
Pte	1654	JOHN	HUGH	HAMER
Pte	1655	RICHARD		BOON
Pte	1656	EDWARD		HENNESSEY
Pte	1658	JONATHAN	TAYLOR	POTTER
Pte	1659	PERCY		WOODRUFF
Pte	1660	HAROLD		GARTSIDE
Pte	1662	HARRY		OWEN
Pte	1663	WILLIAM		ALLCOCK
Pte	1664	JOHN		EASTWOOD
Pte	1665	HARRY		BYROM
Pte	1667	JOHN		HILL
Pte	1668	JOSEPH		TAYLOR
Pte	1669	JOSEPH		WILDE
Pte	1670	JOSEPH		O’DONNELL
Pte	1671	ERIC		HYATT
Pte	1673	RONALD	MACIVOR	WATERS
Pte	1674	CHARLES	ARTHUR	MIDDLETON
Pte	1675	ALFRED		SUMNER
Pte	1676	TOM		LITTLEFORD
Pte	1677	RUPERT		RYLANCE
Pte	1678	ARTHUR		BUCKLEY
Pte	1679	GEORGE		LOWE
Pte	1681	HARRY		ROBINSON
Pte	1682	ERNEST		PEPPER
Pte	1683	FRANK		HADFIELD
Pte	1684	EDWIN		JONES
Pte	1685	ROBERT		FISH
Pte	1686	JOSEPH		LEES
Pte	1688	JAMES	WILLIAM	WILSHAW
Pte	1690	ANDREW		GEE
Pte	1691	GEORGE		NEWTON
Pte	1693	ALBERT	EDWARD	ORTON
Pte	1694	BEN		CUMMINGS
Pte	1695	ALFRED		SMITH
Pte	1696	JAMES		CROWTHER
Pte	1698	JAMES		BROUGH
Pte	1700	FREDERICK	GRAHAM	WORSLEY
Pte	1702	ARNOLD		MYERS
Pte	1703	THOMAS		GILBEY
Pte	1706	JAMES	ALFRED	HILL
Pte	1708	PERCY		POULSTON
Pte	1709	JAMES		TAYLOR
Pte	1710	EDWARD		BROWN
Pte	1711	SIDNEY		OGDEN
Pte	1712	THOMAS		McBRIDE
Pte	1713	WILLIAM	EDWARD	LOMAS
Pte	1715	WALTER		ROEBUCK
Pte	1716	WILFRED		BRIERLEY
Pte	1718	DAVID		THORPE
Pte	1720	JOE		TRUNKFIELD
Pte	1722	ALFRED		PHILLIPS
Pte	1725	WILFRED	PEACH	COLCLOUGH
Pte	1727	ROBERT	ALLEN LEWIS	THOMAS
Pte	1728	HARRY		HULME
Pte	1729	HARRY		SMITH
Pte	1730	THOMAS	HARROP	BYROM
Dmr	1731	JAMES	HENRY	ELLIOTT
Pte	1733	THOMAS		HUGHES
Cpl	1734	HERBERT	WILFRED	MATTHEWS
Pte	1735	WILLIAM	HENRY	BATKIN
Pte	1736	WILLIAM	HENRY	PRIDHAM
Pte	1737	THOMAS		RACKSTRAW
Pte	1740	JOSHUA		BENNETT
Pte	1741	ARTHUR		BANTON
Pte	1742	HARRY		SIDEBOTTOM
Pte	1744	ANTHONY		SHERIDAN
Pte	1745	WILLIAM	HENRY	HALL
Pte	1746	JOHN		CHAPMAN
Pte	1748	WILLIAM		HIGGINBOTTOM
Pte	1751	CHARLES		LEE
Pte	1753	JOSEPH		SWINTON
Cpl	1754	GEORGE	ALFRED	WALKER
Pte	1755	EDWARD		SPRAGG
Pte	1757	EDWARD		ASHWORTH
Pte	1758	PERCY	LAWRENCE	WATSON
Pte	1759	SAMUEL		HALKYARD
Pte	1760	JAMES	HENRY	COOPER
Pte	1767	WILLIAM		ROBERTSON
Pte	1768	MAURICE		BARKER
Pte	1769	HERBERT		BARRATT
Pte	1770	BENJAMIN	GLADSTONE	DRANSFIELD
Pte	1771	WILLIAM		WILSON
Pte	1772	CECIL		MURRAY
Cpl	1773	ALFRED		BINNS
Pte	1774	JOHN	JOSEPH	CARROLL
Pte	1775	WILLIAM		POSTLE
Pte	1776	THOMAS		FINNERTY
Pte	1778	CHARLES	GEORGE	GOODWIN
Pte	1782	ALFRED		WILDE
Pte	1785	ERNEST		WILLIAMSON
Pte	1786	JOHN		COFFEY
Pte	1787	FRED		JONES
Pte	1789	NORMAN		RICHARDSON
Pte	1790	GEORGE	HARRY	CLOUGH
L/Cpl.	1792	ALBERT		DAVIES
Pte	1794	WILLIAM		WALTON
Pte	1796	RICHARD		VAREY
Pte	1799	HAROLD		ABBOTT
Pte	1800	WILLIAM		BOOTH
Pte	1801	WILLIAM		BARFIELD
Pte	1802	FRANCIS		TAYLOR
Pte	1803	JAMES		RYDER
Pte	1804	HARRY		MARSDEN
Pte	1807	HENRY		ELLIOTT
Sgt	1808	ERNEST	ALFRED DUDILL	SUTHERLAND
Pte	1809	ISAIAH		SMITH
Pte	1810	EDWARD		BORSEY
Pte	1811	HARRY		ANDREW
Pte	1812	FRANK		WARHURST
Pte	1816	ALEXANDER	McKENZIE	WHITTET
Pte	1817	JOHN		COFFEY
Pte	1818	JAMES	HENRY	CRUTCHLEY
Pte	1820	JOHN	PATRICK	TAGGART
Pte	1821	GEORGE	WILLIAM	HUDSON
Pte	1823	WALLACE		LILLEY
Pte	1825	HUGH	CAMPBELL	WHITE
Pte	1827	ADAM		PLENDERLEITH
Pte	1829	JOHN	WILLIAM	JUBB
Pte	1830	WILLIAM		MURPHY
Pte	1831	JAMES		SMITH
Pte	1832	JAMES		CASSIDY
Pte	1833	JOSEPH		HAGUE
Pte	1834	JOSEPH		ARMITAGE
Pte	1835	WILLIAM		HANDLEY
Pte	1836	JAMES		HAMPSON
Pte	1837	JOHN	ROBERT	NIELD
Pte	1840	EARL		WILKINSON
Pte	1841	EDWARD		JONES
Pte	1843	JOHN		LEWIS
Pte	1848	JOSEPH		ABBOTT
Pte	1850	WILLIAM		NUTTALL
Pte	1851	WILLIAM		MATHER
Pte	1852	ALBERT		WILKINSON
Pte	1853	HENRY		LEWIS
Pte	1854	CHRISTOPHER		MURRAY
Pte	1855	JOHN	EDWARD	SWAIN
Pte	1857	ROBERT		WALKER
Pte	1858	JOSEPH	WILFRED	BENNISON
Pte	1859	EDDY		HEINEMANN
Pte	1860	GEORGE	FREDERICK	CAIN
Pte	1862	FRANK		JACKSON
Pte	1863	WILLIAM		ADSHEAD
Pte	1864	WALTER		HODGKISS
Pte	1865	HARRY		GRAFTON
Pte	1866	JOSEPH	STARKEY	BELL
Pte	1867	JAMES		BELL
Pte	1868	SYDNEY		WILDE
Pte	1869	GEORGE		BARKER
Pte	1871	JOSEPH		RUSHTON
Pte	1872	HARRY		OGDEN
Pte	1873	THOMAS		CARTER
Pte	1874	JOHN	RICHARD	PURCER
Pte	1876	TOM		FIELDING
Pte	1878	SAMUEL	WILLIAM	MORLEY
Pte	1879	WILLIAM		HARROTT
Pte	1880	THOMAS	CRONIN	HARDY
Pte	1882	ALFRED		FINAN
Pte	1884	ALFRED		DIXON
Pte	1885	EMANUEL		KEMP
Pte	1886	ALBERT		BENDEL
Pte	1887	MARK		ROBINSON
Pte	1888	HARRY		JACKSON
Pte	1889	JAMES	WILLIAM	GARSIDE
Pte	1890	PERCY		HALL
Pte	1891	JOSEPH		JACKSON
Pte	1892	JAMES		MORRISON
Pte	1893	ARTHUR		RANSON
Pte	1894	JOSEPH		McDERMOTT
Pte	1895	GEORGE		WRIGHT
Pte	1896	THOMAS		HARDMAN
Pte	1897	EDWARD		JONES
Pte	1900	WILLIAM		CUSICK
Pte	1903	HAROLD		ELLIS
Pte	1904	JOSEPH	EDWARD	TAYLOR
Pte	1905	ERNEST		OATES
Pte	1906	THOMAS	ISAAC	EVANS
Pte	1907	JOHN	JAMES	DONALD
Pte	1909	WILLIAM	SIMPSON	HALL
Pte	1910	THOMAS		TAYLOR
Pte	1911	SAMUEL		OGDEN
Pte	1913	GEORGE	EWDARD	DRANSFIELD
Pte	1914	ARTHUR		OWEN
Pte	1915	GEORGE		MURPHY
Pte	1916	JOHN		SEDDON
Pte	1917	FRED	CHARLES BRADBURY	LEE
Cpl	1920	WILLIAM		MITCHESON
Pte	1921	JAMES		PLAYER
Pte	1922	EDWARD		KELLY
Pte	1923	HARRY		WHITTAKER
Pte	1924	FRED		CHAPMAN
Pte	1927	JOSEPH		SELLARS
Pte	1930	JAMES	HENRY	THWAITES
Pte	1931	DAVID		CLINTON
Pte	1933	ROBERT		GATER
Pte	1935	HARRY		BARRATT
Pte	1936	ARTHUR	SAMUEL	GROSVENOR
Pte	1937	THOMAS	JOHN	LUXON
Pte	1939	ALBERT		BROADBENT
Pte	1941	JAMES		HODGSON
Pte	1944	SAMUEL		NEWTON
Pte	1945	WILLIAM		FIELDER
Pte	1946	MOSES	“RALPH”	BIRCHENOUGH
Pte	1947	HAROLD		RHODES
Pte	1948	JOHN	JAMES	KELLY
Pte	1950	HERBERT		HAMPSON
Pte	1951	JOHN		TINDALL
Pte	1952	HAROLD		HARGREAVES
Pte	1954	JAMES	ALBERT	TRUEMAN
Pte	1955	SAMUEL		BARDSLEY
Pte	1957	JAMES		ROWBOTTOM
Pte	1958	JAMES	THOMAS	MOTTERSHEAD
Pte	1959	WILFRED		SCHOFIELD
Pte	1960	MICHAEL	JOSEPH	KEARNS
Pte	1961	RICHARD		LAPTHORNE
Pte	1962	ENOCH	GODFREY	CLAY
Cpl	1963	RAYMOND		GIBSON
Pte	1964	JOHN	(JACK)	DODD
Pte	1966	NORMAN		JACKSON
Pte	1968	ARNOLD		WILLERTON
Pte	1972	GEORGE		BARRATT
Pte	1973	JOSEPH		WRIGLEY
Pte	1974	JAMES	HENRY	THORPE
Pte	1975	THOMAS	ANDREW	HALL
Pte	1977	JAMES		McGRATH
Cpl	1978	ARTHUR	THURSTON	SPURRETT
Pte	1979	WILLIAM	EDWARD	COYNE
Pte	1980	WILLIAM		SMITH
Pte	1982	TOM		HALL
Pte	1983	GEORGE		CRIGHTON
Pte	1984	JAMES	EDWARD	KERR
Pte	1985	LEONARD		SMART
Pte	1988	RICHARD		MASSEY
Pte	1989	WILLIAM		ROBERTS
Pte	1990	ARNOLD		ASHLEY
Pte	1991	ARNOLD		RUSHFORTH
Pte	1993	FRED		ASPINALL
Pte	1994	JOHN		FLORANDINE
Pte	1996	WILLIAM		JONES
Pte	1997	JOSEPH	EDWIN	ANDREW
Pte	1998	SAMUEL		ARMITAGE
Pte	1999	ALBERT		SMITH
Pte	2000	ROBERT		PENNY
Pte	2003	FRANK		BALLARD
Pte	2004	THOMAS	HENRY	RAMSBOTTOM
Pte	2005	FRANCIS		McCLUSKY
Pte	2006	JAMES	GILBERT	CRAGG
Pte	2007	THOMAS		BUTLER
Pte	2009	FRANK		MYCOCK
Pte	2010	JOHN	GLADSTONE	TYSON
Pte	2011	JOSEPH		POLLARD
Pte	2012	JOHN	ROBERT	TETLOW
Pte	2013	ARTHUR		LILLEY
Pte	2014	HAROLD		VICKERS
Pte	2015	THOMAS		LEE
Pte	2016	JOSEPH		COOPER
Pte	2018	WILLIAM		WILLIAMS
Pte	2019	WILLIAM		GASKELL
Pte	2022	WILLIAM		DEAKIN
Pte	2026	WILLIAM	HENRY	HEELAM
Pte	2027	FREDERICK		GORMAN
Pte	2028	JOHN		POTTER
Pte	2029	JAMES	ROBERT	OGDEN
Pte	2030	WILLIAM		CHATTERTON
Pte	2031	JOHN		SCHOLES
Pte	2032	JOSEPH		SHAW
Pte	2033	HARRY		SAXON
Pte	2035	WILLIAM	HENRY	McDONALD
Pte	2036	ALBERT		COMMERFORD
Pte	2037	ALBERT	VICTOR	FORD
Pte	2038	JOB		LLOYD
Pte	2039	WILLIAM		OATES
Pte	2041	GEORGE		BIRCHALL
Pte	2042	HARRY		HESKETH
Pte	2043	JOHN	LONGSON	BROADBENT
Pte	2045	JAMES	WILLIAM	HURST
Pte	2048	WILLIAM		DONNELLY
–	2049	CHARLES	WILLIAM	GIBSON
Pte	2050	PETER		TAYLOR
Pte	2051	THOMAS		ASHCROFT
Pte	2052	JAMES	HILTON	DRAYCOTT
Pte	2054	WILLIAM	HENRY	CADMAN
Pte	2055	ROBERT		HALL
Dmr	2057	STEPHEN		WOOD
Pte	2058	WILLIAM		MOSS
Pte	2059	ANDREW		HOWARD
Pte	2060	THOMAS		KERSHAW
Pte	2061	HUGH	DAVENPORT	RYDING
Pte	2062	ERNEST	EDWARD	ALTHORPE
Pte	2063	THOMAS	WILLIAM PRESTON	PORTINGTON
Pte	2064	JOHN	HENRY	WOODCOCK
Pte	2065	EDWARD		ATHERTON
Pte	2066	JAMES		CROMPTON
Pte	2067	JOSEPH	CUNLIFFE	SWINDELLS
Pte	2068	ALBERT		WRIGLEY
Boy	2069	ALFRED		BOOCOCK
Boy	2070	JAMES		BOOCOCK
Cpl	2071	CHARLES	DEVINE	JOYCE
Pte	2072	HENRY		McCLUSKY
Pte	2073	EVERRETT		JONES
Pte	2074	JAMES		HALL
Pte	2075	HARRY		GIBSON
Pte	2077	JOHN	WILLIAM	EASTHAM
Pte	2078	FRED		WARD
Pte	2079	JOHN		VAUSE
Pte	2081	WALTER		BLAKE
Pte	2083	FRANK		SMITH
Pte	2084	MATHEW		SWAIN
Pte	2085	MATTHEW		BAILEY
Pte	2086	TIMOTHY		TIPTON
Pte	2087	WILLIAM		OLLERENSHAW
Pte	2088	WILLIAM	HENRY GILBERTSON	COOKE
Pte	2089	PERCY		STONES
Pte	2090	JAMES		HORROCKS
Pte	2091	HARRY		WATERHOUSE
Cpl	2092	JOHN		CUPPELLO
Pte	2093	EDMUND		WHITTAKER
Sgt	2094	GEORGE		ROEBUCK
Pte	2095	JOHN	JOSEPH	O’CONNOR
Pte	2096	JOHN		SLATER
Pte	2097	HAROLD		WALSH
Pte	2098	HARRY	SAMUEL	FARRER
Pte	2100	HAROLD		CLAYTON
Pte	2102	DAVID		KIRK
Pte	2103	THOMAS		PICKFORD
Pte	2104	SAMUEL		COX
Pte	2105	LAW	TAYLOR	GREGORY
Pte	2106	JAMES	FREDERICK	ROGERS
Pte	2107	ABEL		HUGHES
Pte	2108	CHARLES		WARBURTON
Cpl	2109	JAMES		JOYCE
Pte	2110	THOMAS	HENRY	BATES
Pte	2111	RALPH		THOMPSON
Pte	2112	FRANK		ALLONBY
Pte	2113	HARRY		HADFIELD
Pte	2115	ARTHUR		COLE
Sgt	2116	WILLIAM	HENRY	GARNER
L/Cpl.	2117	TITUS	KNIGHT BROADLEY	CROPPER
Pte	2118	WILLIAM	ROWBOTTOM	SMITH
Pte	2119	HARRY		LILLEY
Pte	2120	ARTHUR	CECIL	HIRST
Cpl	2121	ROBERT		HANDLEY
Pte	2122	JAMES	WILLIAM	BRAY
Pte	2123	THOMAS	EDWARD	GARSIDE
Pte	2125	JOHN		HYSLOP
Pte	2126	JAMES		MARTIN
Cpl	2127	SIDNEY		GARSIDE
Pte	2128	FRED		KENWORTHY
Pte	2129	JOHN		HOWARTH
Pte	2130	REUBEN		HILL
Pte	2131	WILLIAM		MATHEWS
Pte	2132	JAMES	EDWARD	GREENWOOD
Pte	2133	JOSEPH		SMITH
Pte	2134	ROBERT		SENTHOUSE
Pte	2137	THOMAS		BAILEY
Pte	2138	JAMES	GARSIDE	BROADHURST
Pte	2139	GILBERT		HIGHAM
Pte	2140	JOHN	HENRY	JONES
Pte	2141	JOSEPH	RICHARD	BERTENSHAW
Pte	2142	JAMES		McDONALD
Pte	2143	HERBERT		ROBERTS
Pte	2145	THOMAS		LUMLEY
Cpl	2146	ALBERT		PLATT
Pte	2147	JOHN	HENRY	BRYAN
Pte	2148	STANLEY		PEARSON
Pte	2149	ELKANAH		HULLEY
Pte	2150	PERCY		HILTON
Pte	2151	WILLIAM	HENRY	FODEN
Pte	2152	RICHARD		LONGSDEN
Pte	2153	CHARLES	WILLIAM	BAGWELL
Pte	2154	ROBERT		CHEETHAM
Pte	2155	REUBEN		TURNER
Pte	2156	JAMES	WILLIAM	YOUNG
Pte	2158	PERCY		BERTENSHAW
Pte	2159	JOHN	WILLIE	GREAVES
Pte	2160	THOMAS		JACKSON
Pte	2161	JAMES		TRAVIS
Pte	2165	EDWARD		BARLOW
Pte	2166	THOMAS		FOSTER
Pte	2167	JOSEPH		ARTINGSTALL
Pte	2168	ALBERT		BARRATT
Pte	2169	JOHN		JACKSON
Pte	2170	GEORGE		NOONAN
Pte	2171	JOHN		JACKSON
Pte	2172	POLLARD		MITCHELL
Pte	2173	FRED		HAGUE
Pte	2174	HARRY		PRATT
Pte	2175	FRANK	LIONEL	FAVIER
Pte	2176	WILLIAM		RATCLIFFE
Pte	2177	JAMES	PATTERSON	BEVAN
Pte	2178	GEORGE	HENRY	ROBSON
Pte	2179	ERNEST	SPENCER	EVANS
Pte	2180	HAROLD		ELLOR
Pte	2182	GEORGE	HARRY	WALKER
Pte	2183	EPHRAIM		MARGRAVE
Pte	2186	PERCY		BORWICK
Pte	2187	WILLIAM		BELL
Pte	2189	FRANK		EMMERSON
Pte	2190	JOHN (JACK)		THOMPSON
Pte	2191	JOHN (JACK)		CUMMINGS
Pte	2192	JOHN (JACK)		JONES
Pte	2193	SYDNEY		STELFOX
Pte	2195	HARRY		KENYON
Pte	2197	SAMUEL		YARWOOD
Pte	2198	HENRY (HARRY)		OGDEN
Pte	2201	FRED		ARCHER
Pte	2202	JOHN (JACK)		HAGUE
Pte	2203	HUBERT	WILLIAM EDWARD	LEACH
Pte	2204	JAMES		McCARTHY
Pte	2205	CHARLES	TUCKER	WELLS
Pte	2206	JOHN		RICHARDSON
Pte	2207	BEN		THOMPSON
Pte	2208	GEORGE	ALMA	PRICE
Pte	2209	WILLIAM		BRITTON
Pte	2210	JOSEPH		HILTON
Pte	2211	FRANK		LOMAS
Pte	2212	WILLIAM		BLACKSHAW
Pte	2216	ABRAHAM		HARE
Pte	2217	HERBERT		HARRISON
Pte	2218	GEORGE		VAUSE
Pte	2219	FREDERICK	EDWARD	COLLINS
Cpl	2220	THOMAS		FOGERTY
Pte	2221	HARRY		FERNLEY
Pte	2222	WILLIAM		LORD
Pte	2224	WILLIAM		BROMLEY
Pte	2225	GILBERT		RATCLIFFE
Pte	2226	THOMAS		PATTISON
Pte	2227	THOMAS		ORMESHER
Pte	2228	HARRY		CLAYTON
Pte	2229	JOSEPH		FOSTER
Pte	2230	HENRY		CONSTANTINE
Pte	2231	WILLIAM		SHEEKEY
Pte	2232	GEORGE	JACOB	HOWELL
Pte	2234	JOHN		ANDERSON
Pte	2235	JAMES		McGUINNESS
Pte	2236	ALBERT		HESKETH
Pte	2237	JAMES	ALBERT	BOSTOCK
Pte	2238	JOHN		LOVE
Pte	2239	WALTER		REVELL
Cpl	2240	HIRST		CHADDERTON
Pte	2242	JOHN		WALSH
Pte	2243	HAROLD		HODGIN
Pte	2243	HARRY		BAISTOW
Pte	2244	THOMAS		HOWARTH
Pte	2245	JOHN		McNAB
Pte	2246	ALBERT		WOODWARD
Pte	2248	HERBERT	WALTER	CLEGG
Pte	2249	WILLIAM		RABY
CSM	2716	JOSEPH		FOWLER

Convention (X) for the Adaptation to Maritime Warfare of the Principles of the Geneva Convention. The Hague, 18 October 1907.

Preamble

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Article 4

Article 5

Article 6

Article 7

Article 8

Article 9

Article 10

Article 11

Article 12

Article 13

Article 14

Article 15

Article 16

Article 17

Article 18

Article 19

Article 20

Article 21

Article 22

Article 23

Article 24

Article 25

Article 26

Article 27

Article 28

“EGYPTIAN” HOSPITALS: THE CARE OF OUR GALLANT WOUNDED

ALEXANDRIA.

Egypt 1915

Gallipoli

Dardanelles Cup

Egypt 1916

Post-War Football

England 1914/15

Gallipoli

Repatriated to England 1915

Egypt 1916

France 1917

England 1918

France 1918/19

England 1919

England, 1915

Gallipoli

Battle of Krithia Vineyard

Repatriated to England

England, 1917

Egypt 1917

France 1917

EXTRACTS FROM A DIARY KEPT DURING THE PERIOD OF THE GREAT WAR. 1914 – 1918.

INTRODUCTION

Private Papers of Major James Franklin Bleakley

MOBILIZATION AND EMBARKATION FOR EGYPT

SUEZ CANAL 1915

GALLIPOLI

June 3rd, 1915

BATTLE OF KRITHIA

JUNE 4th, 5th, 6th 1915.

A Close Shave

SINAI

EL ARISH

FRANCE

G.H.Q. April 30th.

Court Martial Warrants.

Australian Cases.

Suspension of Sentences.

Routine Orders.

Omission in K.R.

G.H.Q. May 31st.

Remission of Sentences. (21st May).

Armistice. 24th May.

Crime at the Base.

Release of Prisoners.

G.H.Q. June 30th.

22nd June.

Legal Position of Royal Naval Division. 4th June.

G.H.Q. July 31st.

June 3^rd, 1915