Tag: Ashton Pals

Before the War

Between 1906 and 1912 a series of sweeping changes were made to the British Army and named after the then Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane. These “Haldane Reforms” were the first major reforms since the “Childers Reforms” of the early 1880s and were aimed to rectify shortcomings uncovered during the Second Boer War.

Along with changes to the Regular Army, the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 completely restructured the reserve forces to ensure a properly trained set of units and recruits to supplement the Regular Forces in times of war and to provide a more efficient force for home defence. The act called for the old Volunteer Force and Yeomanry to be reorganized into a new Territorial Force, administered by County Territorial Associations, and the old Militia was formed into the Special Reserve. The result was that the Territorial Force was established on April 1, 1908 and the men who joined agreed to be liable for service with the regular forces in wartime but the Act stipulated that ‘they could go abroad if they wish’.

Additionally, to help provide a ready supply of militarily trained potential officers, the Haldane Reforms also established an Officer Training Corps, (OTC), in public schools and Universities. Many of the men commissioned into the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment immediately after the outbreak of war came directly from, or had previously belonged to, an OTC.

In Ashton, the 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, Territorial Force was duly formed on April 1st 1908 and the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Manchester Regiment (VBMR) was dissolved. At that time, the “establishment”, (the official, authorized strength and structure of a military unit), of the battalion was set at 29 Officers and 980 men, as were the other 11 battalions of the East Lancashire Division. At the Annual Prize Giving Dinner for the 3rd VBMR on January 28, 1908 the commanding officer Lt.-Col. Charles Richard Wainright stated that the battalion then consisted of 927 men earning them a full capitation grant of £2,156. Indicative of the dissatisfaction that many of the ‘Old Volunteers’ felt with the new rules and requirements of the Territorial Force, by August 31, 1908 the battalion’s numbers had shrunk to just 25 Officers and 458 men.

Nevertheless, each of the NCOs and men of the old Volunteer Battalion were given the opportunity to re-engage with the new Territorial Force on April 1, 1908 and this process continued over the following weeks. New Territorial Force service numbers were assigned starting at ‘1’ and increasing sequentially based upon the date and the order in which their attestation paperwork was processed rather than by prior tenure in the Volunteers.

Thus, Cpl. Thomas Valentine who joined the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Manchester Regiment on April 15, 1898 but did not re-engage with the Territorial Force until April 23, 1908, (22 days after the first group of men), was assigned a Territorial Force service number of 243. Whereas Sgt. Arthur Bashforth, who joined the Volunteers on March 20, 1903, (5 years after Valentine), was given a lower Territorial Force service number of 58 because he was part of the first batch of men who re-engaged with the Territorial Force on April 1, 1908.

The London Gazette belatedly announced in November 1908 that:

“Officers from the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, are appointed to the battalion with rank and precedence as in the Volunteer Force. Dated 1st April, 1908.”

Territorial Pre-War Training Camps

One of the requirements of service was to attend annual training camps and the following were those attended by the 9th Manchesters:

From	To	Camp Location
07-Jun-08	14-Jun-08	Ramsey (Isle of Man)
25-May-09	13-Jun-09	Salisbury Plain
14-May-10	28-May-10	Salisbury Plain
20-Aug-11	03-Sep-11	Dolphinholme, Lancs
28-Jul-12	11-Aug-12	East Marton, Yorks
10-Aug-13	24-Aug-13	Aldershot

The annual training camp for 1914 was scheduled to start on August 9, 1914 at Caernarfon, for two weeks but for obvious reasons was cancelled.

9th Battalion Annual Pre-War Training Camp, Aldershot 1913

In July 1913, Major D. H. Wade was appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer of the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment, vice Lt.-Col. Charles Richard Wainright.

Pre-War Recruiting

The following table shows the “establishment” of each of the units of the East Lancashire Division and the actual numbers of men in each unit during the successful recruiting drive of January 1 to March 31, 1914.

Unit	Estab	1-Jan	1-Feb	14-Feb	31-Mar
DLOY	438	450	460	464	470
1st EL Bde RFA	595	536	535	565	593
2nd EL Bde RFA	596	589	583	638	620
3rd EL Bde RFA	595	513	540	578	611
EL Divisional RE	485	426	491	491	512
5th Batt. LF	974	761	796	900	986
6th Batt. LF	979	859	846	890	902
7th Batt. LF	977	710	802	849	889
8th Batt. LF	975	619	751	811	873
4th Batt. ELR	976	559	571	670	690
5th Batt. ELR	976	562	587	607	716
9th Batt. MR	977	579	601	804	870
10th Batt. MR	976	728	806	878	889
5th Batt. MR	980	735	771	771	795
6th Batt. MR	987	852	934	934	987
7th Batt. MR	987	899	1057	1,084	1,046
8th Batt. MR	982	692	758	819	908
EL T & S Column	488	445	459	469	473
RAMC	1,004	951	967	964	996
Totals	16,008	12,465	13,315	14,186	14,826

It was further noted that the 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment had 11 men due for discharge prior to that year’s Annual Camp and that on aggregate the East Lancashire Division expected only 50% of those men discharged for time served to re-enlist.

ENGLAND 1914

On July 1, 1914 the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment, Territorial Force (Ashton Territorials), found themselves still substantially below their minimum required strength of 28 Officers and 977 men having a nominal roll of only 26 Officers and 888 men, despite a recent surge of over 150 new recruits from a very successful recruiting drive at Ashton Town Hall on the evening of February 14.

When War was declared on Tuesday August 4, 1914, another wave of recruits queued up outside the Armoury on Old Street to enlist in the battalion and by Friday evening at least 94 men had joined who were later to serve overseas; almost half with prior military service and with an average age of 25 years, substantially older and more experienced than most of those who had joined in February. Around a dozen more similarly aged and experienced recruits joined during the following week.

On the 10th August, 1914 Lord Kitchener announced that the Territorial Force could now volunteer to serve overseas. The news arrived at the battalion the following morning, via telegram, and it was explained to the men that although it could mean active service, it was more likely to be garrison duty in Malta, Gibraltar or Egypt to relieve the regular Army troops currently stationed there. The men went on a short route march and after they returned the names of volunteers were taken. It was reported that 858 men indicated their willingness to serve overseas. The following day a message was received from Brigadier-General Prendergast, the commanding officer of the East Lancashire Infantry Brigade:

My Dear Colonel Wade,

I must address you a line to send you my sincere congratulations on the splendid and patriotic response the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment has given to W.O. call for volunteers by units. I am much gratified by the results, as I feel now I shall have my brigade intact with me wherever we may have to go.

Very truly,

G. PRENDERGAST, Col.

On Saturday August 15, 1914 the complete list of officers and men of the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment was published in the local papers of the Reporter newspaper group and is provided here. The list names around 1,000 men from Ashton, Bardsley, Limehurst, Waterloo, Hooley Hill, Smallshaw, Woodhouses, Littlemoss, Taunton, Hurst, Hurst Brook, Guide Bridge and Park Bridge along with men from the nearby towns of Dukinfield, Hyde, Stalybridge, Denton, Audenshaw, Openshaw, Droylsden, Gorton, Newton Heath, and Clayton.

At this point, the battalion being fully up to strength, recruiting into the battalion was halted.

On Thursday August 20th, the 9^th Manchesters marched into Chesham Fold Camp, Bury (a tented camp at Chesham Fold Farm). Bury was the divisional headquarters of the East Lancashire Infantry Brigade, which included, the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment, the 4th East Lancashires, (from Blackburn, Darwen and Clitheroe), the 5th East Lancashires, (from Burnley, Accrington, Haslingden, Baccup, Padiham and Ramsbottom), and the 10th Manchesters (from Oldham), three sections Signal Company, Headquarters Company of Engineers, Lancashire Brigade Company A.S.C., Transport and Supply, and the 2nd Field Ambulance. The battalion was housed in around 100 European pattern tents pitched on the long slope of a hillock overlooking Bury.

Signallers (Attached)

The nominal roll of the battalion published in the Reporter newspapers indicated that 18 men of the No. 3 Section, East Lancashire Divisional Signal Company were attached to the Battalion for pay, rations, and discipline. These men, having arrived at Chesham Fold Camp two days earlier, now joined the battalion.

RAMC (Attached)

The nominal roll of the battalion published in the Reporter newspapers also indicated that 5 men of the Royal Army Medical Corps, Territorial Force from the 1/2nd East Lancs Field Ambulance were attached to the battalion for war service. Amongst many other routine medical and sanitary duties, their role in combat would be to man the Regimental Aid Post when the battalion was in the trenches.

Rank	No.	Forename	Surname
L/Sgt	176	HENRY (HARRY)	COOPER
Pte	177	JOE	BRIDGE
Pte	179	RICHARD	COOPER
Pte	270	RICHARD	HANDLEY
Pte	317	JOSEPH	ROTHWELL

Almost a week later, on Wednesday August 26^th, the day after Lord Kitchener’s first address to the House of Lords as secretary of state for war, Brigadier-General Prendergast addressed the men. According to the Ashton Reporter, he asked the battalion to volunteer as a whole for any service they were asked to do not simply the garrison duty he had stated two weeks earlier. He promised them their own officers and companies and asked them “to loyally represent their dearly loved company and patriotic town of Ashton in this cruel but necessary war.”

Lt.-Col. D. H. Wade also addressed the men and exhorted them to “Be British!“. The men were then asked to show their willingness to volunteer for overseas service “anywhere” and around 70% of them showed their assent by sloping arms.

Three days later, with rumours of their imminent departure overseas becoming more concrete, a sense of urgency and reality set in. Lt.-Col. Wade again addressed the men and this time asked them in earnest, “Were they British enough” to volunteer for overseas service? The men debated amongst themselves and in the end 25 officers and 834 men gave their names. Orders were received to separate the “overseas” men from the “home service” men and a small camp of ten or eleven European pattern tents was setup a little removed from the rest of the battalion. By the evening of Monday August 31^st around 25 home service men had changed their minds and re-joined the rest of the battalion.

At this point, the battalion was around 120 men and seven officers short of their full establishment.

Even though almost all the officers had volunteered, Major Edward Garside, the battalion’s second in command, at 55 evidently had failed the medical and so was not permitted to serve overseas. Additionally, Lieutenants Douglas Buchanan Stephenson and Alfred George Birchenall had not been able to join the battalion at Bury due to illness. And at camp, Captain Ralph Lees became quite ill and had to return to Ashton for an operation. Finally, Lt. George Makin, in charge of the battalion’s signallers, was also unable to serve overseas. Consequently, the following Second Lieutenants were quickly added to the battalion’s strength on September 2^nd: William Hampson Lillie, Oliver Jepson Sutton, Hugh George Shatwell, John Mayall Wade (the CO’s son), Charles Earsham Cooke and Albert Edward “Ned” Stringer. Also, John Broadbent*, recently retired from the battalion, was in the process of rejoining which he officially did on September 5^th. With the battalion now up to its full officer strength, Second Lieutenants Philip Sydney Marsden and Harold Edward Butterworth were added as supernumeraries.

*JOHN BROADBENT was commissioned in 1895, served in the Boer War, and reached the rank of Major before resigning his commission with the 9th Manchesters in 1912. He rejoined in 1914 at the outbreak of war, losing his rank and seniority and leaving behind a pregnant wife. He was 42 years old when he landed in Gallipoli.

To rectify the 120-man shortfall, on Tuesday September 1^st the battalion sent word to Ashton that an additional 120 recruits were needed and Lt.-Col. D. H. Wade travelled from Bury to ensure they were quickly added. In the event, 125 men were recruited for the battalion in just 2 hours; 40 traveling to Bury with Lt.-Col Wade the following day and the remainder joining them on Friday. With recruiting done and departure overseas imminent, Capt. R. B. Nowell, who had been in command of the Depot at Ashton, along with QMS Thomas Burgess and the handful of others assisting them in the recruiting work joined the battalion at Bury on Saturday Sept 5th. The 120 new recruits had been required to sign their overseas paperwork (Army Form E.624) when they attested and in Bury the rest of the battalion started to sign theirs too.

A telegram, dated Saturday September 5, was received by the East Lancs Divisional Commander from Lord Kitchener:

“Inform the Division from me that I hope that they will push on hard with their training in Egypt, as, before they are ready, there will be plenty of troops from India to garrison Egypt, and I hope they will be one of the first of the Territorial Forces to join our Army on the Continent. All will depend on their fitness for service against the enemy in the Field. – Kitchener.”

In a final two-day push, back in Ashton on Monday September 7^th Lt. A.G. Birchenall and Sergeant Thomas Lord resurrected the paused recruiting effort and attested another 20 men who immediately left Ashton to join the battalion in Bury. After they arrived, seven men from the 5^th East Lancs Regiment, (from Burnley), were transferred to the ranks of the 9^th Manchesters at Chesham Fold and without the proper coordination with the recruiting effort in Ashton, duplicate service numbers were allocated causing much confusion 110 years later. Nevertheless, with the last-minute additions to the ranks completed, and after weeks of rumours and false starts, the battalion entrained for Southampton, bound for Egypt, on the evening of Wednesday September 9th. The following day they boarded HMS Aragon, leaving at midnight bound for Egypt.

Boy Soldiers of the Battalion

At least 28 members of the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment who left for Egypt were, (or would have been), under the age of 17 when they landed in Gallipoli on May 9, 1915 and incredibly three of them were just 14 years old when they landed in Egypt on September 27, 1914. A detailed review of these boy soldiers can be found here.

Back in Ashton

Shortly after the 9th Manchesters left for Egypt a 2nd line battalion was formed in Ashton to receive recruits who would be trained in the UK before providing reinforcements for the overseas men. This new battalion was designated the 2/9th Manchesters and the overseas men became the 1/9th Manchesters.

Egypt 1914

The 1/9th Manchesters arrived at Alexandria on the 25th September but, due to the scale and complexity of disembarking an entire Division, did not land until September 27th. Once disembarked they were transported to the Citadel and Kasr-el-Nil barracks, Cairo. The day before they arrived at the port of Alexandria they suffered their first casualty when 18 years old Private 1705 John Bridge died of pneumonia and was buried at sea, (commemorated at the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria).

Back home in Ashton, recruiting continued at a healthy rate with more than 475 new recruits volunteering in October and November alone. These men were recruited into the newly formed 2nd line battalion, the 2/9th Battalion Manchester Regiment, whos purpose was to supply men to the 1/9th once they entered combat.

The Black Sea Raid

On October 29, 1914 two recently purchased ships of the Ottoman Empire’s navy, which were still crewed by German sailors and commanded by their German admiral, carried out the Black Sea Raid, a surprise attack against Russian ports. Russia replied by declaring war on November 1, 1914.

As a consequence, on November 1st martial law was declared throughout Egypt and Sudan. Egypt, which had been nominally part of the Ottoman Empire but under de facto British control since 1882, became a British protectorate, marking the end of the Khedivate and the establishment of the Sultanate of Egypt. On November 5th Britain and France declared war on Turkey.

The following promotions were Gazetted on November 4, 1914 in connection with the Ashton Territorial Battalion:
Captain R.B. NOWELL to be Major.
Lieut. F.W. KERSHAW to be Captain.
Second Lieuts. R.G. WOOD, W.T. FORSHAW, T.G. HYDE,  J.A. PARKER and W.H. LILLIE to be Lieutenants.

Later that month the Battalion’s second death occurred when 15 year old Private 1845 Frederick Finucane died of dysentery on the 27th and was buried at the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.

On December 14, 1914 the Battalion left Kasr-el-Nil for Abbassia main barracks.

On the 20th December the Khedive was deposed and Prince Hussein Kamel became the new Sultan of Egypt. British Troops stationed in and around Cairo lined the streets as an honour guard and a show of strength to the local populace. The contingent from the 9th Battalion taking charge of a section of Soliman Pasha Street, close to the Kasr-el-Nil barracks.

For months the Division had undergone strenuous training and by the end of 1914 the men were drilled, acclimated and thoroughly fit.

EGYPT 1915
From the beginning of 1915 the training became even more intense with long marches in the desert, in full marching order. And as part of their duties, from time to time, the East Lancs Divisional troops found themselves guarding the Suez Canal.

On January 30, 1915 the battalion moved from Abbassia and deployed to tents at Heliopolis in preparation for possible deployment to the Suez Canal.

In the early hours of February 3, 1915 12,000 Turks & Germans attacked the Canal defences South of Ismailia between Serapeum and Toussoum. They were repulsed and 1,600 prisoners taken by the Indians, Anzacs and East Lancs Division but the 1/9th were not directly involved in the hostilities. A contemporary newspaper report is provided here.

Ferry Landing at Ismailia. [Source: Australian War Memorial]

Sadly, in February and March the Battalion lost two of its senior Officers. Major WILLIAM HENRY ARCHBUTT suffered a heart attack on February 8, 1915 and Surgeon-Major ALBERT HILTON, the Battalion’s Medical Officer (M.O.), died of disease on March 4, 1915 while the 9th Battalion were under canvas at Heliopolis. Both are buried at the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery. Major Hilton was temporarily replaced as the battalion’s M.O. by Major Thomas Frankish, RAMC.

On Palm Sunday, 28th March 1915, General Sir Ian Hamilton, (the newly appointed commander of the Allied Mediterranean Expeditionary Force), reviewed the Division in Cairo.  Verbal orders were received for the 9th Battalion (as part of the East Lancashire Division) to prepare to move to the Dardenelles at short notice.

According to the 126th Brigade War Diary, the 1/9th arrived, by train, at Kantarra from Cairo with 32 Officers and 912 men on April 16, 1915. They spent the rest of the month defending the Suez Canal from Turkish attack.

On the 2nd May, 1915 the 9th Battalion received their firm orders to leave for Gallipoli and were concentrated at Port Said by the evening of the 4th. On 5th May, the men of 9th Battalion (and 1/2 of the 10th Battalion) embarked on the HMT AUSONIA. The transport section which included horses, mules, one cart and two machine-gun carriages, along with the recently promoted Major RICHARD BOTTOMLEY NOWELL, Lt. JOHN BROADBENT and 26 other ranks of the 1/9th embarked on HMT COMMODORE.

Approximately two dozen men were discharged from service, (primarily due to sickness rendering them not physically fit enough to serve in combat), during the 3 months leading up to the battalion’s embarkation for Gallipoli.

Rank	No.	1st Name	MI	Surname	Discharged
Pte	2136	JAMES		DOOLEY	15-Mar-15
Pte	2213	ABRAHAM	J	HADGETT	15-Mar-15
Pte	2214	CHARLES		PARKER	15-Mar-15
Pte	2194	HARRY		SPEAKMAN	15-Mar-15
Pte	1699	ROBERT		THORNTON	15-Mar-15
Pte	1526	FREDERICK		WALLWORK	15-Mar-15
Pte	1349	ROBERT		BELL	23-Apr-15
Pte	2185	THOMAS		BOWDEN	23-Apr-15
Pte	1362	THOMAS		SMITH	23-Apr-15
Pte	2164	JAMES		ASHTON	03-May-15
Pte	2082	JOHN	A	BLACK	03-May-15
Pte	2157	SYDNEY		BURTON	03-May-15
Pte	1577	WILLIAM		CONSTANTINE	03-May-15
Pte	471	WILLIAM		FOGG	03-May-15
Pte	2023	WILLIAM		HUNTER	03-May-15
Cpl	2163	JOHN		IRVING	03-May-15
Pte	2017	ROBERT		KING	03-May-15
Pte	1912	JOHN	P	MILLWOOD	03-May-15
Pte	1707	HARRY		OLDFIELD	03-May-15
Pte	2114	BENJAMIN		RENSHAW	03-May-15
Pte	2144	LAWRENCE		SCHOFIELD	03-May-15
Pte	2233	WILLIAM		WHEATLEY	03-May-15
Pte	2215	WILLIAM		WHITTLE	03-May-15
Cpl	1992	JOSEPH		WILSHAW	03-May-15

And at least three more men were discharged after returning home from Egypt in the following months without ever serving in Gallipoli.

Rank	No.	1st Name	MI	Surname	Discharged
Pte	2188	WILLIAM	G	COLLIER	31-May-15
Col. Sgt	160	THOMAS		BURGESS	11-Jun-15
Pte	1932	JAMES		WATERS	28-Jun-15

Additionally, a member of the pre-war permanent staff of the Battalion, 2673 Col. Sgt. James Holt, returned from Egypt in March and did not land in Gallipoli. It is very likely that upon Col. Sgt. Holt’s departure, Sgt. John Alexander Christie, of the 5th East Lancashire Regiment, became permanently attached to the 9th Manchesters.

Note: First-hand, contemporaneous accounts of the battalion’s time in Egypt in late 1914 and early 1915 have been transcribed and are available here, here and here.

GALLIPOLI 1915
On the 9th May the 9th Battalion landed under heavy fire at Sedd-el-Bahr, (V Beach), and moved quickly from the beach into bivouac (the Commodore with the Transport section and Brigade HQ arriving on the 10th).

Context from Despatches:

The following short section seeks to put the landing of the 1/9th Manchesters into context from the selected despatches of Sir IAN HAMILTON, General, Commanding Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

At the close of the ten days and ten nights described in my first despatch our troops had forced their way forward for some 5,000 yards from the landing places at the point of the peninsula. Opposite them lay the Turks, who since their last repulse had fallen back about half a mile upon previously prepared redoubts and entrenchments. Both sides had drawn heavily upon their stock of energy and munitions, but it seemed clear that whichever could first summon up spirit to make another push must secure at least several hundreds of yards of the debatable ground between the two fronts. And several hundred yards, whatever it might mean to the enemy, was a matter of life or death to a force crowded together under gun fire on so narrow a tongue of land.

The net result of the three days’ fighting had been a gain of 600 yards on the right of the British line and 400 yards on the left and centre. The French had captured all the ground in front of the Farm Zjimmerman, as well as a redoubt, for the possession of which there had been obstinate fighting during the whole of the past three days.

From nightfall till dawn on the 9th-10th efforts were made everywhere to push us back. A specially heavy attack was made upon the French.

On the 11th May, the first time for eighteen days and nights, it was found possible to withdraw the 29th Division from the actual firing line and to replace it by the 29th Indian Infantry Brigade and by the East Lancs Division, which had completed its disembarkation two days previously.

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

Amongst them were a number of “Old Volunteers” (men who had served with the Volunteer Force before April 1, 1908).

And the battalion’s Officers with the rank and seniority they held on landing, included:

Rank	Forename	Middle	Surname	Age
L. Col.	DOCTOR	HERBERT	WADE	50
Maj.	MICHAEL	HENRY	CONNERY	61
Maj.	RICHARD	BOTTOMLEY	NOWELL	35
Capt.	JOHN	ALFRED	DEARDEN	34
Maj.	THOMAS	EGBERT	HOWORTH	37
Capt.	HAROLD		SUGDEN	37
Capt.	FRANK		HAMER	35
Capt.	THOMAS	ALBERT	PLATT	35
Capt.	FRANK		WOODHOUSE	24
Capt.	GEORGE	HAROLD	O’KELL	37
Capt.	FREDERICK	WILLIAM	KERSHAW	29
Capt.	ERIC		RICHARDSON	25
Lt.	FREDERICK	ARTHUR	MAKIN	40
Lt.	GEORGE	WILLIAM	HANDFORTH	30
Lt.	HENRY	CHORLTON	SHAW	25
Lt.	ROBERT	GARTSIDE	WOOD	25
Lt.	WILLIAM	THOMAS	FORSHAW	25
Lt.	THOMAS	GRIMSHAW	HYDE	19
Lt.	JAMES	ALFRED	PARKER	28
Lt.	WILLIAM	HAMPSON	LILLIE	27
Lt.	OLIVER	JEPSON	SUTTON	33
2/Lt.	HUGH	GEORGE	SHATWELL	26
2/Lt	JOHN	MAYALL	WADE	20
2/Lt.	PHILLIP	SIDNEY	MARSDEN	21
2/Lt.	HAROLD	EDWARD	BUTTERWORTH	27
2/Lt.	CHARLES	EARSHAM	COOKE	19
2/Lt.	ALBERT	EDWARD	STRINGER	37
2/Lt.	JOHN		BROADBENT	42
2/Lt.	FRED		JONES	20
2/Lt.	ALLAN	HARRISON	HUDSON	20
2/Lt.	JOHN	MATLEY	ROBSON	23
2/Lt.	ARTHUR	WILLIAM FIELD	CONNERY	28
2/Lt.	WALTER	JAMES	ABLITT	23

Notes:

1. 2/Lt. J.M. Robson remained in Egypt commanding the base depot in Alexandria and did not land at Gallipoli until June 2, 1915.
2. Capt. F.W. Kershaw arrived with the Battalion at Gallipoli on May 9, 1915 but did not disembark and instead returned to Alexandria and was soon invalided to Malta due to sickness and did not rejoin them until June 20, 1915.
3. Major Thomas Frankish RAMC landed with the Battalion as their Medical Officer having been officially attached on May 5th.
4. Capt. F. Hamer had been assigned for duty as Adjutant and Quartermaster of the Turkish Prisoners’ Camp at Mahdi, Egypt but returned just before the battalion departed for Gallipoli and landed with them on May 9, 1914.

On May 11th, the East Lancs Division received orders to take over the front line. The 9th Battalion, as part of the 126th East Lancashire Brigade, were now in reserve positions behind the (127th) Manchester Brigade and the (125th) Lancashire Fusilier Brigade.

The 1/9th went into the line on May 21st and remained there until the 26th. At this time, the “line” was actually three lines; the firing line, the redoubt line and the support line each one further back from the Turkish trenches. Divisional orders for the 126th Brigade were to advance the line by digging new trenches under cover of darkness.

On May 23, Lt. Col. DOCTOR HERBERT WADE, commanding officer of the 1/9^th, was shot by a sniper while stepping over some sleeping men. He was evacuated from the peninsula and did not return to the battalion until March 1916, when they were in Egypt. During his absence the 1/9^th went through half-a-dozen temporary C.O.s. Major RICHARD BOTTOMLEY NOWELL temporarily assumed command on the 23rd. A list of all of the battalion’s COs throughout the war can be found here.

On the evening of May 23/24 the 1/5th East Lancs battalion on the right and the 1/9^th Manchesters in the center both advanced 100 yards by digging a series of rifle pits but the 1/10^th Manchesters on the left failed in their attempt. During the night’s digging 1358 L/Cpl. GEORGE JAMES SILVESTER saw that 1413 Pte. THOMAS PENNY had been wounded and brought him back to the trenches and then went back out and returned to digging even though he himself had been wounded.  Pte. PENNY died of his wounds in hospital in Malta two weeks later.

The following day, on May 24, 2/Lt. FRED JONES was shot and killed and became the first of the 1/9th Battalion’s Officers to die in Gallipoli. He would not be the last. Also on that day, Lt. Col. ARTHUR FREDERICK EGERTON, DSO (9th Royal Scots) took over command of the Battalion.

The 1/10th Manchesters having failed to advance their line under cover of darkness were forced to try again during the day. The Divisional war diary reports that they were able to advance the firing line by 50 yards. The following day, on May 25, Lieut. ROBERT GARTSIDE WOOD brought back a wounded man of the 1/10th Manchesters but was seriously wounded in the leg. Evacuated by hospital ship to Malta, he declined to have his leg amputated en-route, and surgeons managed to save it after two operations. Lieut. WOOD was awarded the Military Cross in November 1915 for his actions that day.

On May 25th, the designation of the Division was changed and as the 42nd East Lancashire Division it took precedence in numerical order over the other Territorial Divisions since it had been the first to deploy overseas.

Meanwhile, on May 24, Lieutenant-General Sir Aylmer Gould Hunter-Weston was promoted to acting Lieutenant-General and placed in command of VIII Corps (29th Division, the Royal Naval Division, 42nd Division and the 49th Indian Infantry Brigade). On May 27 he issued orders to immediately and simultaneously advance the front line trenches across the whole of the British and French fronts to within assault distance (200 yards) of the Turkish trenches. This they mostly accomplished over the following days.

May Fatalities:

Rank	No.	Forename	MI	Surname	When	How
Pte.	1178	MATTHEW		REDFERN	23-May	DoW
Pte.	1524	JOHN	W	JENNEYS	23-May	DoW
Pte.	1809	ISAIAH		SMITH	28-May	DoW
Pte.	1690	ANDREW		GEE	30-May	KIA
Pte.	2175	FRANK	L	FAVIER	31-May	KIA
2/Lt.		FRED		JONES	24-May	KIA

Note: The primary difference between Killed in Action (KIA) and Died of Wounds (DoW) is that men designated as Died of Wounds were deaths recorded in the  medical evacuation chain rather than on the battlefield. Also note that some of the men listed as Killed in Action were actually Missing in Action and their bodies were never recovered or otherwise identified.

May Casualties:

Note: The list of Casualties provided here (and in the tables below for each month) is the list of men appearing in the Times of London daily casualty lists published throughout the following month. Anecdotal evidence from local newspaper reports indicate that many more men were wounded but they are not listed here.

Rank	No.	Forename	Middle	Surname
Pte.	555	WILLIAM		BARKER
Pte.	1837	JOHN	ROBERT	NIELD
Pte.	781	HARRY		TAYLOR
Pte.	1727	ROBERT	ALLEN LEWIS	THOMAS

May Honors:

1358 L/Cpl. GEORGE JAMES SILVESTER, DCM
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Although wounded on 20th May 1915, he continued to perform his duties, and showed the highest courage on 25th May in aiding the wounded under fire. [Gazetted Sept 15, 1915]

Additionally, 1904 Pte. J. E. TAYLOR, 1155 Pte. W. BURKE and Lt. R. G. WOOD were all recommended for gallantry for their actions on May 25th. Pte. Burke carrying Lt. RG Wood from the trench to the Field Ambulance and Pte. Taylor rescuing another man while under fire. All three men were subsequently mentioned in despatches, as reported in the London Gazette of November 5, 1915.

Field General Courts Martial:

32 enlisted men of the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment were court martialed in Gallipoli, the first two of which were held on May 21, 1915. The range of offences was quite broad resulting in punishments ranging from the loss of one day’s pay to death. A full account of these cases is provided here.

Contradicting the implication that this group of men were somehow of low moral fiber it’s important to note that at least two of them were underage and four of them were subsequently decorated for bravery in the field. And nobody from the battalion was charged with cowardice or desertion.

June Operations:

Now that the 8^th Army Corps front line had been painstakingly moved closer to the Turkish front lines, orders were issued to attack them on June 4^th, the attack to be preceded by heavy artillery fire. This action was to become known as the Third Battle of Krithia.  This action and the subsequent operations in June resulted in the deaths of at least 110 Officers and men of the Battalion.

Context from Despatches:

This brings the narrative up to the day of the general attack upon the enemy’s front line of trenches which ran from the west of the Kereves Dere in a northerly direction to the sea. Taking our line of battle from right to left the troops were deployed in the following order: -The Corps Expeditionnaire, the Royal Naval Division, the 42nd (East Lancs) Division and the 29th Division. The length of the front, so far as the British troops were concerned, was rather over 4,000 yards, and the total infantry available amounted to 24,000 men.

On the stroke of noon the artillery increased their range and along the whole line the infantry fixed bayonets and advanced. The assault was immediately successful.

The attack, timed for 3 p.m., was twice postponed at the request of General Gouraud, who finally reported that he would be unable to advance again that day with any prospect of success. By 6.30 p.m., therefore, the 42nd Division had to be extricated with loss from the second line Turkish trenches, and had to content themselves with consolidating on the first line which they had captured within five minutes of commencing the attack.

Although we had been forced to abandon so much of the ground gained in the first rush, the net result of the day’s operations was considerable- namely, an advance of 200 to 400 yards along the whole of our centre, a front of nearly 3 miles.

The Manchester Brigade of the 42nd Division advanced magnificently. In five minutes the first line of Turkish trenches were captured, and by 12.30 p.m. the Brigade had carried with a rush the line forming their second objective, having made an advance of 600 yards in all. The working parties got to work without incident, and the position here could not possibly have been better.

By 1.30 p.m. the whole of the captured trenches in this section had been lost again, and the Brigade was back in its original position, the ”Collingwood” Battalion, which had gone forward in support, having been practically destroyed. The question was now whether this rolling up of the newly captured line from the right would continue until the whole of our gains were wiped out. It looked very like it, for now the enfilade fire of the Turks began to fall upon the Manchester Brigade of the 42nd Division, which was firmly consolidating the furthest distant line of trenches it had so brilliantly won. After 1.30 p.m. it became increasingly difficult for this gallant Brigade to hold its ground. Heavy casualties occurred; the Brigadier and many other officers were wounded or killed; yet it continued to hold out with the greatest tenacity and grit.

The 1/9th went into the line on June 3rd and remained there until they were relieved on June 22nd.

June 7th:

The result of the recent actions were that on the morning of June 7^th the 125^th Brigade reported that the 1/6 Lancs Fusiliers were not able to be relieved due to a Turkish machine gun flanking their position. The Brigade proposed an attack, supported by artillery, along a line from the S.E. corner of the Vineyard to the Western Nullah. The objective of the 1/9^th in the center was to capture trench G.11.

After dark on 7th June 100 men of C company of the 9th Battalion, along with two Companies of the Chatham Battalion of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Royal Naval Division engaged in a frontal assault of the Turkish front line trenches. Although the 9th battalion succeeded in taking the Turkish trench, the Royal Naval Division failed to achieve their objective. Consequently, the 1/9^th had to relinquish the trenches they had just captured at dawn.

Capt. GEORGE HAROLD OKELL and Lieut. ALBERT EDWARD STRINGER led the charge against one trench, and Capt. FRANK HAMER and 2/Lieut. JOHN (JACK) MAYALL WADE against the other trench. Capt. HAMER fell before reaching the trench. Lieut. STRINGER succeeded in reaching the trench but was subsequently killed by the enfilading fire from a machine gun. At least 20 men were killed and many more wounded.

Context from Despatches (Continued):

From the date of this battle to the end of the month of June the incessant attacks and counter-attacks which have so grievously swelled our lists of casualties have been caused by the determination of the Turks to regain ground they had lost, a determination clashing against our firm resolve to continue to increase our holding. Several of these daily encounters would have been the subject of a separate despatch in the campaigns of my youth and middle age, but, with due regard to proportion, they cannot even be so much as mentioned here.

On June 9th 2/Lt. PHILIP SIDNEY MARSDEN was reported wounded and on June 12, 2/Lt. ALLAN HARRISON HUDSON was reported missing (later reported to have been killed). Three days later Major MICHAEL HENRY CONNERY, the Battalion’s Quarter Master was slightly wounded when a Turkish shell hit his dug-out.

June 18:

An attack was planned to retake trench H.11 which had been partially re-taken by the Turks.  However, 30 minutes before the attack the Turks heavily shelled the position causing the 88^th Brigade to withdraw from the left.  The allied attack was repulsed by the Turks who were already massed in the trenches for their own attack. They then counter-attacked causing trenches H.10 and H.11 to be entirely lost along with one machine gun and one trench mortar.

The initial attack was undertaken by B Company and included 2/Lt. JOHN MAYALL WADE and 2/Lt. ARTHUR WILLIAM FIELD CONNERY of C Company who had both volunteered to join them. Capt. HAROLD SUGDEN lead the attack and was mortally wounded. 2/Lt. WADE was seen jumping into a Turkish trench with six men and was never seen again.

The Turkish counter-attack was against a trench held by some men of C Company along with men of the 1/10th Manchesters. By the end of the fighting 2 Officers and 30 men had been killed, with dozens more wounded.

On June 22, 2/Lt. EDWARD BALMFORD and 16 men arrived from England, the first reinforcements to do so. An additional four men arriving on the 25^th. The men from this draft are listed here.

The Battalion left the line on June 22nd but the next day the bivouac was heavily shelled requiring the 1/9^th to move a further 600 yards back to their old bivouac but not before 9 men had been wounded. This just after they had suffered so heavily in the line.

June Fatalities:

Rank	No.	1st Name	MI	Surname	When	How
Pte.	1405	JOHN		DALEY	1-Jun	Fever
Sgt.	469	HARRY		ILLINGWORTH	5-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1401	EDWARD		HODGKISS	5-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1606	WILLIAM		TOWNLEY	5-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1866	JOSEPH		BELL	5-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2216	ABRAHAM		HARE	5-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1413	THOMAS		PENNY	6-Jun	DoW
Sgt.	76	JAMES		LAWTON	7-Jun	KIA
Sgt.	1125	NOEL	D	BRAITHWAITE	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1210	JOHN	A	CRANE	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1215	JOSEPH		WILDE	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1321	GEORGE	W	HUDSON	7-Jun	DoW
Pte.	1339	JAMES	W	DALEY	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1382	ERNEST		ROBINSON	7-Jun	KIA
Pte	1384	THOMAS	L	EVANS	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1542	FRED		McDONNELL	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1859	EDDY		HEINEMANN	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1860	GEORGE	F	CAIN	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1896	THOMAS		HARDMAN	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2009	FRANK		MYCOCK	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2012	JOHN		TETLOW	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2050	PETER		TAYLOR	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2061	HUGH		RYDING	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2068	ALBERT		WRIGLEY	7-Jun	KIA
Cpl.	2121	ROBERT		HANDLEY	7-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2126	JAMES		MARTIN	7-Jun	KIA
L/Cpl.	2141	JOSEPH	R	BERTENSHAW	7-Jun	KIA
Cpl.	1734	HERBERT	W	MATTHEWS	8-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1775	WILLIAM		POSTLE	8-Jun	DoW
Pte.	2085	MATTHEW		BAILEY	8-Jun	DoW
L/Cpl.	1000	JAMES		EARNSHAW	9-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1354	WILLIAM		SHUTTLEWORTH	9-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1380	BERNARD		RAWLINGS	9-Jun	KIA
L/Cpl.	1415	WILLIAM		MASON	9-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1760	JAMES	H	COOPER	9-Jun	DoW
Pte.	1796	RICHARD		VAREY	9-Jun	Died
Pte.	1390	ALBERT		HAGUE	11-Jun	DoW
Pte.	1546	JOHN		FINNIGAN	11-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2238	JOHN		LOVE	11-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2193	SYDNEY		STELFOX	12-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1652	RICHARD		STOTT	13-Jun	DoW
Pte.	1746	JOHN		CHAPMAN	13-Jun	Fever
Pte.	2003	FRANK		BALLARD	13-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2151	WILLIAM	H	FODEN	13-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2192	JOHN		JONES	13-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1044	THOMAS		GORMAN	14-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1488	RICHARD		BURGESS	14-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1855	JOHN	E	SWAIN	14-Jun	Died
Pte.	555	WILLIAM		BARKER	15-Jun	DoW
L/Cpl.	1152	JOHN	G	BLANDFORD	16-Jun	KIA
L/Cpl.	1484	JOHN	W	HUGHES	16-Jun	Fever
Pte.	1660	HAROLD		GARTSIDE	16-Jun	KIA
Sgt.	1128	HARRY		EARLE	17-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1278	ALFRED	E	SUMMERSGILL	17-Jun	DoW
Pte.	1851	WILLIAM		MATHER	17-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1853	HENRY		LEWIS	18-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1927	JOSEPH		SELLERS	18-Jun	KIA
Cpl.	508	HARRY		GIBSON	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	932	WILLIE	H	HAMER	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1070	CHARLES		SMITH	19-Jun	KIA
Pte	1137	TOM		SMITH	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1154	HAROLD		COOKE	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1169	HERBERT		HOPKINS	19-Jun	KIA
Sgt.	1171	GEORGE		EYRE	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1263	ALBERT		MARLAND	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1269	OLIVER		JONES	19-Jun	KIA
L/Cpl.	1289	GERALD		MASSEY	19-Jun	KIA
L/Cpl.	1377	FRANK		OLDFIELD	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1426	JOHN		WALKER	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1427	SAMUEL		KELLETT	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1428	STANLEY	H	STEPHENS	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1466	FRED		HANSON	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1569	JOHN		BATES	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1601	WALTER		CLEGG	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1684	EDWARD		JONES	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1698	JAMES		BROUGH	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1700	FREDERICK	G	WORSLEY	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1736	WILLIAM		PRIDHAM	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1740	JOSHUA		BENNETT	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1742	HARRY		SIDEBOTTOM	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1803	JAMES		RYDER	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1807	HENRY		ELLIOTT	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1862	FRANK		JACKSON	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1872	HARRY		OGDEN	19-Jun	DoW
Pte.	1886	ALBERT		BENDEL	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1917	FRED		LEE	19-Jun	DoW
L/Cpl.	2075	HARRY		GIBSON	19-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2170	GEORGE		NOONAN	19-Jun	Died
Pte.	1708	PERCY		POULSTON	20-Jun	Died
Pte.	1711	SIDNEY		OGDEN	20-Jun	DoW
Pte.	2043	JOHN		BROADBENT	20-Jun	DoW
Pte.	2161	JAMES		TRAVIS	20-Jun	DoW
Pte.	1195	THOMAS		DORAN	21-Jun	DoW
Pte.	1786	JOHN		COFFEY	21-Jun	DoW
Pte.	2133	JOSEPH		SMITH	21-Jun	KIA
Pte.	2183	EPHRAIM		MARGRAVE	24-Jun	DoW
Pte.	1375	BEN		CUSICK	25-Jun	Fever
Pte.	1758	PERCY		WATSON	25-Jun	Died
Pte.	1768	MAURICE		BARKER	25-Jun	KIA
Pte.	1785	ERNEST		WILLIAMSON	25-Jun	KIA
Cpl.	1920	WILLIAM		MITCHESON	26-Jun	DoW
L/Cpl.	1769	HERBERT		BARRATT	28-Jun	DoW
Pte.	1298	ENOCH		MARTYN	29-Jun	DoW
Pte.	2066	JAMES		CROMPTON	30-Jun	DoW

Rank	Forename	Middle	Surname	Died	Cause
Capt.	FRANK		HAMER	07-Jun	KiA
Lt.	ALBERT	EDWARD	STRINGER	07-Jun	KiA
Lt.	ALLAN	HARRISON	HUDSON	13-Jun	KiA
2/Lt	JOHN	MAYALL	WADE	18-Jun	KiA
Capt.	HAROLD		SUGDEN	20-Jun	DoW

June Casualties:

Rank	No	First	Middle	Surname
Pte.	339	MATHEW	JAMES	BUCKLEY
Pte.	2006	JAMES		CRAGG
Pte.	1192	HARRY		TRUNKFIELD
Pte.	2179	ERNEST	SPENCER	EVANS
Pte.	2132	JAMES	EDWARD R	GREENWOOD
Pte.	1848	JOSEPH		ABBOTT
Pte.	2081	WALTER		BLAKE
Pte.	1374	JOE		DUTTON
Pte.	1745	WILLIAM	HENRY	HALL
Pte.	1891	JOSEPH		JACKSON
Pte.	1607	ERIC		LISTER
Pte.	2152	RICHARD		LONGSDEN
Pte.	1675	ALFRED		SUMNER
Pte.	1358	GEORGE	JAMES	SILVESTER
Pte.	1570	WILLIAM		ANDREWS
Pte.	1993	FRED		ASPINALL
Pte.	1496	JOHN		BULLOCK
Pte.	1535	JOHN	HENRY	CONNOLLY
Pte.	2123	THOMAS	EDWARD	GARSIDE
Pte.	1706	JAMES		HILL
Pte.	1389	CHARLES		KENNA
Pte.	1988	RICHARD		MASSEY
Pte.	2226	THOMAS		PATTISON
Pte.	2032	JOSEPH		SHAW
Pte.	1127	HARRY		TAYLOR
Pte.	1951	JOHN		TINDALL
Sgt.	236	GEORGE		TURNER
L/Sgt.	1010	SIDNEY		WOOD
Pte.	2243	HAROLD		HODGIN
Pte.	1884	ALFRED		DIXON
Pte.	1473	GEORGE	HENRY	LAMB
Pte.	1148	JOHN		MUTTER
Pte.	1545	NORMAN		TAYLOR
Pte.	1857	ROBERT		WALKER
Pte.	1544	JOHN		BURGESS
Pte.	1945	WILLIAM		FIELDER
Sgt. Mjr.	2716	JOSEPH		FOWLER
Pte.	2128	FRED		KENWORTHY
Pte.	1674	CHARLES	ARTHUR	MIDDLETON
Pte.	1068	PETER		NOLAN
Pte.	1789	NORMAN		RICHARDSON
Pte.	1715	WALTER		ROEBUCK
Dmr.	1348	WILLIAM		SHAW
Pte.	1200	WILLIAM		TAYLOR
Pte.	1998	SAMUEL		ARMITAGE
Pte.	1733	THOMAS		HUGHES
Pte.	2198	HARRY		OGDEN
Pte.	1487	ERNEST		RIMINGTON
Pte.	1681	HARRY		ROBINSON
Pte.	1592	EDWARD		ALLOTT
Pte.	1516	ERNEST		BARLOW
Pte.	1236	BENSON		BARRATT
Pte.	1293	THOMAS		BELL
Pte.	1655	RICHARD		BOON
Pte.	1625	ARTHUR		BURN
Pte.	1873	THOMAS		CARTER
Pte.	1066	TOM		GARLICK
Pte.	2019	WILLIAM		GASKELL
Pte.	1623	JAMES		GREENHALGH
Pte.	2120	ARTHUR	CECIL	HIRST
Pte.	23	TOM	LMA	LEE
Pte.	2204	JAMES		McCARTHY
Pte.	1643	SAMUEL		NEWTON
Pte.	174	JOHN	HENRY	SHAWCROSS
Pte.	973	HARRY		SMITH
Pte.	1137	TOM		SMITH
Pte.	1300	JOHN		KINSELLA
Pte.	2029	JAMES	ROBERT	OGDEN
Pte.	1799	HAROLD		ABBOTT
Pte.	1521	JAMES		ATHERTON
L/Cpl.	1156	FRANK		BARKER
Pte.	1604	WILLIAM	HENRY	CORLETT
Pte.	2036	ALBERT		COMMERFORD
Pte.	1748	WILLIAM		HIGGINBOTTOM
Pte.	1182	JAMES		HOPWOOD
Pte.	1212	THOMAS		HOLDEN
Pte.	2183	EPHRAIM		MARGRAVE
Pte.	288	JOHN		PHILLIPS
Pte.	2208	GEORGE	ALMA	PRICE
Pte.	2004	THOMAS	HENRY	RAMSBOTTOM
Pte.	1668	JOSEPH		TAYLOR
Pte.	1649	TIMOTHY		WIDDUP

July Operations:

July was a month of consolidation for the 42^nd Division. The 1/9^th were in the trenches from July 2 to July 18, then going to bivouac at divisional reserve.  However, the number of deaths due to sickness and disease started to rise.

On July 2,  four new Officers arrived and were assigned to the 1/9^th; Lt. ARTHUR CLAUDE VYVYAN-ROBINSON, (10th South Lancs Regiment), Lt. SAMUEL PORTER, Lt. JOHN KNOWLES and 2/Lt. HARRY YORSTON DIXON all of the 11^th Yorks and Lancs Regiment. Lt. PORTER and 2/Lt. DIXON were assigned to C company.

C company lost two Officers in early July.  On July 5^th 2/Lt. ARTHUR WILLIAM FIELD CONNERY was badly wounded in the mouth by shrapnel and went to hospital. Shortly after, on July 7^th, 2/Lt. JOHN MATLEY ROBSON went to hospital with fever and died of enteric fever on July 17 in Egypt.

On July 10 2/Lieut. OLIVER JEPSON SUTTON and 969 Sgt. HARRY GRANTHAM made a reconnaissance at night, using string to measure their distance from their trench, and discovered that the Turks were digging to the S.E. of trench G12. They repeated their reconnaissance the following night to verify their observations.

On July 14, the recently arrived, 2/Lt. HARRY YORSTON DIXON was killed by shrapnel during an advance by 52^nd Division and 2/Lt. EDWARD BALMFORD and 15 men were wounded. Two weeks later, on July 27, Lt. JOHN KNOWLES and 14 men were wounded.

On July 23, reinforcements arrived from England for all Infantry units of the 42^nd Division. The 1/9^th received 5 Officers and 222 men. The Officers arriving that day were:

Lt. DOUGLAS BUCHANAN STEPHENSON
2/Lt. WILLIAM MARSDEN BARRATT
2/Lt. SYDNEY WILLIAM RUTTENAU
2/Lt. HAROLD INGHAM
2/Lt. WILLIAM GILBERT GREENWOOD

The list of other ranks arriving that day is provided here.

July Fatalities:

Rank	No.	1st Name	MI	Surname	When	How
Pte.	2202	JACK		HAGUE	03-Jul	Fever
Pte.	1457	JOHN		BRADY	09-Jul	Fever
Pte.	419	FREDERICK	O	WYATT	12-Jul	DoW
Sgt.	1271	JAMES		TAYLOR	12-Jul	DoW
Pte.	1501	GEORGE		MARKHAM	12-Jul	KIA
Pte.	1922	EDWARD		KELLY	12-Jul	KIA
Pte.	1218	JAMES		HOLLINGWORTH	14-Jul	Fever
Pte.	1688	JAMES		WILSHAW	15-Jul	KIA
Pte.	2207	BEN		THOMPSON	15-Jul	Died
L/Cpl.	1957	JAMES		ROWBOTTOM	18-Jul	Died
Sgt.	31	THOMAS		LOMAS	22-Jul	KIA
Pte.	1557	ISAAC		WALKER	22-Jul	KIA
Pte.	1787	FRED		JONES	26-Jul	DoW
L/Cpl.	1155	WILLIAM		BURKE	28-Jul	Fever
Lt.		JOHN	M	ROBSON	17-Jul	Fever

July Casualties:

Rank	No.	Forename	Middle	Surname
Pte.	1972	GEORGE		BARRATT
QMS	5	GEORGE		BOOCOCK
Pte.	1576	WILLIAM	PETER	BRIERLEY
Pte.	2138	JAMES	GARSIDE	BROADHURST
L/Cpl.	1665	HARRY		BYROM
Pte.	2036	ALBERT		COMMERFORD
Cpl.	1120	THOMAS		FORREST
Cpl.	2127	SIDNEY		GARSIDE
Pte.	379	THOMAS		GHENTY
Pte.	1369	ALBERT		GIBSON
Pte.	1368	WILLIE		GIBSON
Pte.	1909	WILLIAM	SIMPSON	HALL
Pte.	2160	THOMAS		JACKSON
Pte.	1334	CHARLES		LEE
Pte.	2013	ARTHUR		LILLEY
Sgt.	1310	HERBERT		MORRIS
Pte.	512	JOHN		MORGAN
L/Cpl.	1313	JAMES	WILLIAM	RAMSDALE
Pte.	1271	JAMES		TAYLOR
Pte.	2086	TIMOTHY		TIPTON
Pte.	1688	JAMES		WILSHAW
Pte.	1150	FRED		ARMITAGE
Pte.	680	THOMAS		HARGREAVES
Pte.	1954	JAMES	ALBERT	TRUEMAN
Pte.	1597	ERNEST		HAWKRIDGE
Pte.	1388	WILFRED		LOCKWOOD
Pte.	1755	EDWARD		SPRAGG
Pte.	2197	SAMUEL		YARDWOOD
Pte.	2018	WILLIAM		WILLIAMS

July Honors:

969 Sgt. HARRY GRANTHAM, DCM
For conspicuous gallantry and ability south of Krithia, Gallipoli Peninsula, on 10th and 11th July 1915, when making a reconnaissance of the enemy’s new trenches under very dangerous circumstances. He gained valuable information and located the hostile positions. [Gazetted Sept 15, 1915].

Capt. OLIVER JEPSON SUTTON, MC
The War Diary for the 1/9th Battalion notes that both Sgt. GRANTHAM and Capt. SUTTON were congratulated by the Division Major-General for their reconnaisance work.  Capt. SUTTON was subsequently awarded the Military Cross. [Gazetted Feb 1, 1916].

August Operations:

August saw the Battalion heavily engaged in the Battle of Krithia Vineyard from the 7th – 9th August and the rigours of front line trench warfare throughout the rest of the month.

Context from Despatches:

Once the date was decided a certain amount of ingenuity had to be called into play so as to divert the attention of the enemy from my main strategical conception. This-I repeat for the sake of clearness-was: –
(1) To break out with a rush from Anzac and cut off the bulk of the Turkish Army from land communication with Constantinople.
(2) To gain such a command for my artillery as to cut off the bulk of the Turkish Army, from sea traffic whether with Constantinople or with Asia.
(3) Incidentally, to secure Suvla Bay as a winter base for Anzac and all the troops operating in the northern theatre.
My schemes for hoodwinking the Turks fell under two heads: First, strategical diversions, meant to draw away enemy reserves not yet committed to the peninsula. Secondly, tactical diversions meant to hold up enemy reserves already on the peninsula.

But upon the 6th of August attacks in the south were only to form a subsidiary part of one great concerted attack. Anzac was to deliver the knock-down blow; Helles and Suvla were complementary operations.

As the aim of my action in this southern zone was to advance if I could, but in any case to contain the enemy and prevent him reinforcing to the northwards, I persevered on the 7th with my plans, notwithstanding the counter-attack of the Turks which was actually in progress.

On the right and on the centre the first enemy line was captured, and small parties pushed on to the second line, where they were unable to maintain themselves for long. On the, left but little ground was gained, and by 11a.m. what little had been taken had been relinquished. But in the centre a stiff battle raged all day up and down a vineyard some 200 yards long by 100 yards broad on the west of the Krithia road. A large portion of the vineyard had been captured in the first dash, and the East Lancashire men in this part of the field gallantly stood their ground here against a succession of vigorous counter-attacks.

Two specially furious counter-attacks were delivered by the Turks on the 8th August, one at 4.40 a.m. and another at 8.30 p.m., where again our bayonets were too much for them. Throughout the night they made continuous bomb attacks, but the 6th Lancashire Fusiliers and the 4th East Lancashire Regiment stuck gamely to their task at the eastern corner of the vineyard. There was desperate fighting also at the northern corner, where the personal bravery of Lieutenant W. T. Forshaw, 1/9th Manchester Regiment who stuck to his post after his detachment had been relieved (an act for which he has since been awarded the V.C.), was largely instrumental in the repulse of three very determined onslaughts.

The 1/9th went into the trenches on Aug 7, remaining there until Aug 13, and were divided into two separate groups.

On Aug 7, Lt. SAMUEL PORTER was mortally wounded and Major RICHARD BOTTOMLEY NOWELL and Lt. OLIVER JEPSON SUTTON were both wounded.

On Aug 22 a draft of 4 Officers and 145 men (formerly of the 2/9th Battalion) arrived from England as reinforcements for the 1/9^th. The Officers arriving that day were:

2/Lt. PERCY ASPDEN WOODHOUSE
2/Lt. HAROLD HARRISON KNIGHT
2/Lt. PERCY AINSWORTH
Hon Lt. JOSEPH MICHAEL CONNERY*

* Another son of Major M.H. CONNERY the Battalion’s Quarter Master.

The list of other ranks who landed that day is provided here.

August Fatalities:

Rank	No.	1st Name	MI	Surname	When	How
Lt.		SAMUEL		PORTER	7-Aug	DoW
Pte.	1850	WILLIAM		NUTTALL	7-Aug	KIA
Pte.	2946	WILLIAM	B	FORRESTER	7-Aug	KIA
Pte.	745	ARNOLD		BOOTH	8-Aug	KIA
Pte.	1189	HAROLD		NEWTON	8-Aug	KIA
Pte.	1324	JAMES	S	MILLAR	8-Aug	KIA
Pte.	1568	ALBERT	V	GODDING	8-Aug	KIA
Pte.	2089	PERCY		STONES	8-Aug	KIA
Pte.	2514	ALFRED		MOLYNEUX	8-Aug	KIA
Pte.	2742	JAMES		SPEDDINGS	8-Aug	KIA
Pte.	2971	ALBERT	G	HARLING	8-Aug	KIA
Pte.	1999	ALBERT		SMITH	9-Aug	KIA
Pte.	2330	HAROLD		CHADWICK	9-Aug	KIA
Pte.	2616	JOHN		BARDSLEY	9-Aug	DoW
Pte.	2182	GEORGE	H	WALKER	11-Aug	Died
Pte.	1342	HERBERT		BRADBURY	12-Aug	KIA
L/Cpl.	1423	ALBERT		BURGESS	12-Aug	DoW
Pte.	2095	JOHN	J	O’CONNOR	12-Aug	KIA
Pte.	1252	ERNEST		SMITH	13-Aug	KIA
Pte.	2625	JAMES		WALKER	13-Aug	KIA
Pte.	2718	BENJAMIN		SHATWELL	13-Aug	DoW
Pte.	1863	WILLIAM		ADSHEAD	15-Aug	DoW
Pte.	1535	JOHN	H	CONNOLLY	16-Aug	DoW
Pte.	2941	JAMES	H	BROWN	26-Aug	DoW
Pte.	1314	JOHN	W	ANDREWS	29-Aug	DoW
Pte.	2195	HARRY		KENYON	29-Aug	KIA
Pte.	1402	CEPHAS		TURNER	30-Aug	DoW

August Casualties:

Rank	No.	Forename	Middle	Surname
Pte.	2109	JAMES		JOYCE
Pte.	1305	JAMES		WRIGHT
Pte.	1300	JOHN		KINSELLA
Pte.	1570	WILLIAM		ANDREWS
Pte.	3118	WILLIAM		BOOTH
Pte.	3048	SAMUEL		CASE
Pte.	1294	FRANK		CHEVALIER
Pte.	1353	JOHN	WILLIAM	DODD
Pte.	1770	BEN	G	DRANSFIELD
Pte.	2994	ERNEST	GEORGE	ELLIS
L/Cpl.	1627	GEORGE		FRATER
L/Cpl.	3016	GEORGE		FULLARD
Cpl.	2049	CHARLES	WILLIAM	GIBSON
Pte.	2328	WILLIAM	S	GODDARD
Pte.	1936	ARTHUR	SAMUEL	GROSVENOR
Pte.	1397	JOHN		HANSON
Pte.	2345	ALFRED		HARDING
Pte.	1656	EDWARD		HENNESSY
Pte.	1470	THOMAS		HEWITT
Pte.	1829	JOHN	WILLIAM	JUBB
Pte.	2102	DAVID		KIRK
Pte.	2694	JOSEPH		MANCLARK
Pte.	2702	SAMUEL		MATLEY
L/Cpl.	1553	HAROLD		MORRIS
L/Cpl.	1133	ALBERT		MULLEN
Pte.	2341	PERCY		NICHOLSON
Pte.	2227	THOMAS		ORMESHER
Pte.	2605	ERNEST		SHAW
Pte.	1831	JAMES		SMITH
Pte.	1727	ROBERT	ALLEN LEWIS	THOMAS
Pte.	2014	HAROLD		VICKERS
Pte.	3066	WILLIAM		WALKER
Pte.	2260	THOMAS		WELLENS
Pte.	1895	GEORGE		WRIGHT
Pte.	2186	PERCY		BORWICK
Pte.	2465	HARRY		CHAPMAN
Pte.	1511	ALFRED		CLEGG
Pte.	1536	LEWIS	LOGSON	GRIMSHAW
Pte.	1952	HAROLD		HARGREAVES
Pte.	2107	ABEL		HUGHES
Pte.	1662	HARRY		OWEN
Pte.	1682	ERNEST		PEPPER
Pte.	2249	WILLIAM		RABY
L/Sgt.	1978	ARTHUR		SPURRETT
Pte.	2382	ARTHUR		STALEY
Pte.	1317	JAMES	WILLIAM	STOCKTON
Pte.	1820	JOHN		TAGGART
Pte.	2985	ROBERT		THEWLIS
Pte.	2485	FRANK		CUMMINS
Pte.	2831	WILLIAM	THOMAS	LOMAS
Pte.	1539	MATHEW		SHEA
Pte.	2808	WILLIAM		WOOD
Pte.	1863	WILLIAM		ADSHEAD
Pte.	2434	REGINALD		BENNETT
Pte.	1448	JOHN		HALL
Pte.	1381	ERNEST		LOWNDS
Pte.	2244	ABEL		ROBINSON
Pte.	1305	JAMES		WRIGHT

August Honors:

Lt. WILLIAM THOMAS FORSHAW, VC
For most conspicuous bravery and determination in the Gallipoli Peninsula from 7th to 9th August, 1915.  When holding the north-west corner of the “Vineyard” he was attacked and heavily bombed by Turks, whoi advanced time after time by three trenches which converged at this point, but he held his own, not only directing his men and encouraging them by by exposing himself with the utmost disregard to danger, but personally throwing bombs continuously for 41 hours. When his detachment was relieved after 24 hours he volunteered to continue the direction of operations.  At three times during the night of 8-9th August he was again heavily attacked, and once the Turks got over the barricade, but, after shooting three with his revolver. he led his men forward and recaptured it. When he rejoined his Battalion he was choked and sickened by bomb fumes, badly bruised by a fragment of shrapnel, and could barely lift his arm from continuous bomb throwing. It was due to his personal example, magnificent courage and endurance that this very important corner was held. [Gazetted Sept 9, 1915]

180 Cpl. SAMUEL BAYLEY, DCM
For conspicuous bravery on the 7th and 9th August 1915, at Cape Helles (Dardenelles), Cpl. BAYLEY remained with Lt. FORSHAW, VC; holding a barricade for forty-one hours continuously. On the evening of 8th August his party was relieved by another unit, but he volunteered to remain on. He displayed the greatest gallantry and endurance under the most trying circumstances in repelling many severe attacks, and when the barricade was at last broken through he was the foremost in the successful counter-attack, led by Lt. FORSHAW, which regained it, and finally retained it. On being ultimately relieved he was utterly exhausted by his arduous and gallant work of bomb-throwing. [Gazetted Nov 16, 1915]

2148 L/Cpl. STANLEY PEARSON, DCM
For conspicuous gallantry on the 7th and 8th August 1915, at Gallipoli, when acting as a look-out man and sniper. He displayed great bravery and skill and although enfiladed from both flanks he remained at his post and by his example gave great encouragement to all with him. [Gazetted March 11, 1916]

2103 L/Cpl. THOMAS PICKFORD, DCM
For conspicuous gallantry on the 8th August, 1915, at Gallipoli, when he rallied his party, which had been driven back by bombs in the Barricade of the Vineyard, and by his bravery and example was largely instrumental in saving a precarious position. [Gazetted March 11, 1916]

1347 Pte. REGINALD POTTS
On August 12, Pte. POTTS volunteered to join the bombing party of the 1/4th East Lancashire Regiment and subsequently was issued a Congratulatory Card for gallantry. [War Diary Aug 26th]

2/Lt. CHARLES EARSHAM COOKE, MC
The Battalion War Diary notes that the Brigadier-General of the 126th Brigade personally congratulated the commanding officer of the 1/9th Manchesters on the gallant behavior of Lt. FORSHAW, 2/Lt. COOKE and the 2 platoons under them. 2/Lt. COOKE was subsequently awarded the Military Cross. [Gazetted Feb 1, 1916]

September Operations:

September brought a welcome relief from the intense fighting of previous months but for the first time the number of sick exceeded those of the killed and wounded.  As the number of men reporting sick increased, the 126th Brigade began to record the numbers of sick per Battalion, starting on September 14th. In the second half of September 104 men of the 1/9th went onto the sick list.

On Sept 1, Capt. FRANK WOODHOUSE went to hospital sick.

On the evening of Sept 2, Lt. ARTHUR CLAUDE VYVYAN-ROBINSON and a party of 14 men were detailed to dig a trench joining the current Firing Line with the Northern Barricade. As they made their way in the dark they lost their bearings, going too far East, and were fired on by the Royal Naval Division.  Lt. VYVYAN-ROBINSON was wounded, one man was reported missing and three were wounded. A court of enquiry was held and the details passed to the Division.

The next day, on Sept 3 at around 2pm, the Turks exploded a mine right under a sap known as FOUR HOLE POST in the Firing Line where the 1/9th were located. The explosion destroyed the Sap and 12 yards of the Firing Line, killing 2 men and wounding 3 others. Four additional men were extracted suffering from shock.

On Sept 10 Lt. Col. ROBERT WORGAN FALCON, temporary commanding officer of the 1/9th reported sick. He was replaced the next day by Major RODERICK LIVINGSTONE LEES of the 1/6 Lancs Fusiliers who had distinguished himself in August at the Battle of Krithia Vineyard.

The 1/9th went into the trenches on September 18th and remained there until October 1st.  A few days later on Sept 20 Capt. GEORGE WILLIAM HANDFORTH reported sick. He was quickly followed by Lt. WILLIAM GILBERT GREENWOOD on the 22nd and by Lt. HAROLD EDWARD BUTTERWORTH on the 25th.

On Sept 27 Major RODERICK LIVINGSTONE LEES was awarded the DSO and on Sept 30 he relinquished command of the 1/9th and Major WILLIAM JAMES ANDERSON (of the 33rd Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) assumed command.

September Fatalities:

Rank	No.	1st Name	MI	Surname	When	How
Pte.	2063	THOMAS		PORTINGTON	3-Sep	KIA
Pte.	2304	PERCY		GARSIDE	3-Sep	KIA
Pte.	1618	CHARLES	L	HIGGINS	4-Sep	DoW
Pte.	2897	HARRY		CLEGG	4-Sep	KIA
Pte.	2306	PERCY		RIDINGS	6-Sep	Died
Pte.	2356	FRED		SMITH	6-Sep	DoW
Pte.	1947	HAROLD		RHODES	7-Sep	DoW
Pte.	2965	ISAAC		THOMPSON	7-Sep	KIA
Cpl.	921	HARRY		BOLTER	10-Sep	DoW
Pte.	2642	WILLIAM		BRAMALL	13-Sep	Died
Cpl.	2049	CHARLES	W	GIBSON	15-Sep	DoW
Pte.	2710	FREDERICK	J	BACON	28-Sep	Died
2/Lt.		PERCY	A	WOODHOUSE	11-Sep	Fever

September Casualties:

Rank	No.	Forename	Middle	Surname
Pte.	3055	JOSEPH		BARLOW
Pte.	2174	HARRY		PRATT
Pte.	1624	ELLIS		HARTLEY
Pte.	1374	JOE		DUTTON
Pte.	2451	ARTHUR		HAYNES
Pte.	2479	TOM		KILSHAW
Pte.	3135	WALTER		ROGERS
Pte.	2672	ARTHUR		SLATER
Pte.	1287	WILLIAM		THORNTON

October Operations:

October saw the number of men reporting sick spike to 143 even as the number of killed and wounded dropped to the lowest levels of the campaign.

The 1/9th were relieved from the trenches on October 1st and moved to Divisional Reserve at GEOGHEGAN’S BLUFF. Here they were mostly engaged in fatigues supporting the extensive mining and digging work going on in the trenches. They later moved to Bivouac at GULLY BEACH.

On October 6th a small draft of 25 other ranks arrived. The following day a draft of 5 Officers from other regiments (Essex and South Lancs) arrived and were assigned temporarily to the 1/9th.

Rank	Forename	Middle	Surname
2/Lt.	GEORGE	ROBERT	BERNARD
2/Lt.	GEORGE	FREDERICK	BARKER
2/Lt.	ARTHUR	JAMES	SOUTHCOTT
2/Lt.	LAIRD		KIRWAN
2/Lt.	GEORGE		GREENE KELLY

2/Lt. JOHN BROADBENT of the transport section also reported sick this day followed by Capt. DOUGLAS BUCHANAN STEPHENSON on October 10th.

On October 14th the Battalion moved back to the line; half the Battalion with the 1/10th Manchesters and half with the 1/5th East Lancs. The split made for tactical reasons to maximize the use of senior Officers and NCOs across the Brigade. A & C companies attached to the 1/5th East Lancs under Capt. FRANK WOODHOUSE and B & D companies to the 1/10th Manchesters under Capt. FREDERICK WILLIAM KERSHAW. The Battalion remained in the trenches until October 29th.

On October 16, Capt. ERIC RICHARDSON was appointed Staff Captain of the 126th Brigade and left the Battalion.

On October 19th Major WILLIAM JAMES V. ANDERSON was killed by a bomb while visiting the trenches. He was temporarily replaced by Lt. Col. GODFREY WALKER ROBINSON of the 1/10th Manchesters.

On October 22 a draft of 3 Officers and 139 men, of the 2/9th Battalion, arrived from England. The Officers arriving that day were:

2/Lt. THOMAS AINSWORTH
2/Lt. BELTRAN FORD ROBINSON
2/Lt. WILLIAM HENRY DEMEL

The list of other ranks who landed that day is provided here.

And on October 26th a further 11 Officers arrived from England, (and 110 other ranks returning from hospital in Egypt). The Officers arriving this day were as shown below:

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

October Fatalities:

October brought only three fatalities at Gallipoli, Pte. Armitage dying at home from sickness contracted overseas.

Rank	No.	1st Name	MI	Surname	When	How
Pte.	1998	SAMUEL		ARMITAGE	3-Oct	Died
L/Sgt.	2139	GILBERT		HIGHAM	7-Oct	DoW
Pte.	2630	HARVEY		THOMPSON	17-Oct	KIA
Pte.	1343	TOM		HALL	20-Oct	KIA

October Casualties:

The only man listed in the following month’s London Times casualty lists was 1179 Pte. SAMUEL E. BOSNALL.

November Operations:

Disease, sickness and heavy rain that turned to snow blizzards and frost in November of 1915 created new hardships and claimed yet more casualties. The 9th Battalions numbers were dwindling fast despite three significant drafts of reinforcements from England arriving in July, August and October.

In November 117 men reported sick, a slight reduction from the previous month. Nevertheless, 3 Officers (Capt. FREDERICK WILLIAM KERSHAW, Lt. L. G. NASH, RAMC (attached) and 2/Lt. WILLIAM NEVILLE BROADBENT BURY) all reported sick on the same day, November 9th.

The Battalion moved into the line again on November 12th and remained there until November 26th. On the 15th a very heavy rainfall occurred filling some parts of the trenches to a depth of 3 feet.  Despite the terrible conditions the Turks were relatively quiet until the 23rd when heavy shelling and a large number (40-50) stick grenades were fired at the trenches. 2/Lt. IRVINE DEARNALEY was killed this day.

On the 26th November the Battalion was relieved and went into Bivouac in GULLY RAVINE. A period of heavy fatigues followed for the remainder of the month. On November 29, 2/Lt. SYDNEY NAYLOR, recently arrived the previous month, was wounded.

Context from Despatches:

During the month of November, beyond the execution of very clever and successful minor enterprises carried out by Corps Commanders with a view to maintaining an offensive spirit in their commands, there remains little to record-except that an increased activity of the the Turkish artillery against our front became a noticeable factor.

On the 21st November the Peninsula was visited by a storm said to be nearly unprecedented for the time of the year. The storm was accompanied by torrential rain, which lasted for 24 hours. This was followed by hard frost and a heavy blizzard.

November Fatalities:

Rank	No.	1st Name	MI	Surname	When	How
Pte.	1641	EDWARD		GREEN	13-Nov	DoW
Pte.	3321	JOHN		BALLAGHER	15-Nov	KIA
Pte.	2297	SAM		MATHER	22-Nov	Died
Pte.	3090	JESSE		LAWTON	22-Nov	DoW
Pte.	3291	AARON		JONES	23-Nov	KIA
Pte.	2282	JOHN		FINUCANE	27-Nov	Died
Pte.	2757	WILFRED		LILLEY	27-Nov	DoW
2/Lt.		IRVINE		DEARNALEY	23-Nov	KiA

November Casualties:

Rank	No.	Forename	Middle	Surname
Pte.	2855	ROBERT		ANDREW
Pte.	1293	THOMAS		BELL
Pte.	3203	A		BOOTH
Pte.	2505	TOM	KENDRICK	LLOYD
Pte.	3427	HARRY		MARSLAND
Pte.	3211	ROBERT		OGDEN
Pte.	1134	FRANK	ERNEST	ORTON
L/Cpl.	2148	STANLEY		PEARSON
L/Cpl.	3334	THOMAS		RIDLEY
Pte.	3398	WILLIAM		RUSSELL
Cpl.	2190	JOHN		THOMPSON

December Operations:

In December 54 men reported sick.  2/Lt. ARTHUR JAMES SOUTHCOTT reported sick on December 5th, returning to the Battalion (from 17th Stationary Hospital) on the 10th. The next day he reported sick again.  In the meantime, 2/Lt. GEORGE FREDERICK BARKER, (who arrived with 2/Lt. SOUTHCOTT in November), also reported sick on December 8th.

2/Lt. LAIRD KIRWAN and 2/Lt. GEORGE GREENE-KELLY were transferred to the 1/10th Manchesters on the 8th December.

The Battalion went into the Line on December 10th and remained there until December 24th, moving to Divisional Reserve at GEOGHEGAN’S BLUFF. On December 17th Brigade Operational Order 28 was issued outlining a plan to explode a mine in front of the Turkish trenches with the objective of creating a crater. Men of the Brigade would go out the the crater and secure it by building barricades. The purpose of these small offensive operations carried out by the 52nd and 42nd Divisions was to act as a distraction during the evacuation of troops elsewhere on the peninsula.

Unfortunately, the mine that was exploded (600lbs at a depth of 40 ft) failed to produce a crater, the force of the explosion creating a ridge of earth only about 1 foot high. 16 bombers, a working party under 2/Lt. ALFRED GRAY and 26 men of B company dutifully went over the top and occupied the depression. With the Turkish trenches untouched, they were mercilessly shot at from the front and the right.  Finding the position untenable the troops eventually were forced to retire. The casualties reported for the 1/9th on the day were 3 killed, 1 missing and 11 wounded. 2/Lt. GRAY, Sgt. GREENHALGH and Cpl. BARKER were mentioned in the Brigade war diary for showing “great courage and ability remaining out and covering the retirement of the parties although fired at from 12yds range.” Sgt. GREENHALGH and Cpl. DAVIS subsequently received DCMs for their acts of bravery that day.

A letter from Sgt. GREENHALGH was subsequently published in the Ashton Reporter on Saturday July 15, 1916 providing a version of the events in his own words:

“No doubt it came as a surprise at home when they heard that I had got the D.C.M. I can tell you it was a surprise to me also. The first I heard about it was in a letter I had from home, but the day following our commanding officer told me about it. As you are all wanting to know what I did to get it, I will try to tell you.

It was on the 19^th December, 1915, I was ordered to take a party of men over the top, and we got to within ten yards of the Turkish trench. At the same time there was a mine blown up. It should have made a big hole in the front of the Turkish trench. The intention was for us to have got in this hole, but when we got to the place no hole had been made, and we had to lie in the open, and the Turks potting at us from ten yards away. It was a good job the Turks were nervous, or else there would have been none of us left to tell the tale.

The object was for us to get in the crater and build it up with sandbags, and then our bombers could have bombed the Turks out of their trench, but it didn’t come off as we expected. Anyway, we all got back to our trench except one poor lad who was killed.

Lance-Corporal Davies, D.C.M. was with the same party of men.”

On the 26th December, orders were received to leave the Peninsula, and on the 27th a Turkish shell made a direct hit on the Battalion bivouac killing a number of men in a cruel last minute reminder of the constant dangers they were leaving behind. Pte. Arthur Slater was buried alive and only survived because he was dug out by his comrades. The next day the 9th Battalion embarked on H.M.T. Redbreast bound for Mudros West.

Context from Despatches:

The following is taken from Sir Charles Monro’s Gallipoli Despatch, who was sent to replace the sacked Sir Ian Hamilton as Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

On the 8th December, consequent on your Lordship’s orders, I directed the General Officer Commanding Dardanelles Army to proceed with the evacuation of Suvla and Anzac at once.

Lieutenant-General Birdwood proceeded on receipt of his orders with the skill and promptitude which is characteristic of all that he undertakes, and after consultation with Rear-Admiral Wemyss, it was decided, provided the weather was propitious, to complete the evacuation on the night of the 19th-20th December.

On the 24th December, General Sir W. Birdwood was directed to make all preliminary preparations for immediate evacuation, in the event of orders to this effect being received.

December Fatalities:

Rank	No.	1st Name	MI	Surname	When	How
Pte.	3281	JAMES	R	FERNLEY	4-Dec	DoW
Pte.	3340	CLARENCE		BOOTH	8-Dec	Died
L/Cpl.	1391	GEORGE	G	HAUGHTON	11-Dec	KIA
Pte.	1534	ALFRED	E	SNAPE	12-Dec	KIA
Pte.	1829	JOHN	W	JUBB	16-Dec	KIA
Cpl.	724	JOSEPH	E	APPLEBY	18-Dec	KIA
Cpl.	2092	JOHN		CUPPELLO	19-Dec	KIA
Pte.	2446	ALEXANDER		GREEN	19-Dec	KIA
Pte.	2968	JOE		DOWNS	19-Dec	KIA
Pte.	3241	ALFRED		METCALF	19-Dec	KIA
Pte.	3218	EDGAR		NEWTON	21-Dec	KIA
Pte.	3391	HORACE		BENNETT	22-Dec	DoW
Pte.	1805	JOHN	F	JENKINSON	27-Dec	KIA
Pte.	2310	HEZEKIAH		HARRISON	27-Dec	KIA
Pte.	2365	GEORGE	H	WALKER	27-Dec	KIA
L/Cpl.	2601	GEORGE		HEROD	27-Dec	KIA
Pte.	3312	HAROLD		GREEN	27-Dec	KIA
Pte.	3418	RALPH		SCHOFIELD	27-Dec	KIA
Pte.	3396	HARRY		GREGORY	31-Dec	DoW

December Casualties:

Rank	No.	Forename	Middle	Surname
Pte.	1801	WILLIAM		BARFIELD
Pte.	2949	HERBERT		BENNETT
Pte.	3422	JOHN	JAMES	BOOTH
Pte.	2847	HAROLD		COOKSON
Pte.	3113	HERBERT		HOLT
Pte.	3311	ERNEST		JONES
Pte.	2954	GEORGE		NOLAN
Pte.	3190	RALPH		PLATT
Pte.	787	GEORGE	W	STRINGER
Pte.	2985	ROBERT		THEWLIS
Pte.	1946	MOSES		BIRCHENOUGH
Pte.	3031	SIDNEY		GARSIDE
Pte.	3399	FRANK		HAMER
Pte.	2293	WALTER		HARDY
Pte.	1439	TOM		HILL
Sgt.	1358	GEORGE	JAMES	SILVESTER
Pte.	1331	WILLIAM	HEGGENBOTTOM	WOOD
Pte.	3341	EDWIN		BEECH
Pte.	2339	HERBERT		DAWSON
Pte.	1580	NORMAN		HARGREAVES
Pte.	2810	THOMAS		STEVENSON
Pte.	1677	RUPERT		RYLANCE
Pte.	3201	JOHN		BROCK
Pte.	2563	EDWARD		HINDLEY
Pte.	3169	JAMES		HULME

The Divisional Order of Battle and Field State report for May 1-5t, 1915 indicates that  958 enlisted men of the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment embarked for Gallipoli. During the campaign a series of small drafts brought and additional 524 men to replace those who had been killed or had left due to sickness or wounds. The Embarkation Return for the evacuation of the peninsula on December 27, 1915 listed just 469 remaining men. Acknowledging a handful of men who were repatriated towards the end of the campaign as time expired still leaves a staggering 68% casualty rate excluding those who were temporarily medically evacuated and returned after treatment and convalescence.

At least 192 men of the 1/9th Battalion died from the fighting, sickness or disease they were exposed to at Gallipoli. Many more men were wounded or otherwise hospitalised and approximately 100 men were awarded the Silver War Badge and discharged from service due to sickness or wounds they were unable to fully recover from.

Pte. 3765 Fred Dickinson serves as an example. He was discharged as permanently unfit for any kind of military service and awarded the Silver War Badge on March 23, 1916 suffering from Nephritis. His Service Record shows that his medical issues “originated on December 18, 1915 in Gallipoli. Sent into hospital in Cairo on account of general dropsy and discovered to be suffering from Nephritis. No history of previous illness of a similar nature. States that while on active service in the trenches he had to stand waist deep in water for a considerable time during a severe storm. Heart sounds fine but there is an accentuated sound heard at the apex. Urine contained albumen and blood is still present. Result of active service, exposure to cold and wet. Permanent [Disability].”

Pte. Dickinson only arrived in the Dardanelles on October 22, 1915 and was admitted to the Red Cross Hospital in Giza, just over two months later, on December 26 suffering from oedema to the legs (a swelling  due to the accumulation of excessive fluid in the tissues). He was subsequently invalided to the UK leaving Alexandria on January 17, 1916 sailing on the Hospital Ship GLENGORN CASTLE. He was subsequently treated in the UK for 38 days at the 4th Scottish General Hospital, RAMC (Territorial Force) at Stobhill, Glasgow. He received a small, and decreasing, military pension over the next nine months following his discharge.

December Honors:

The Battalion War Diary on December 18 reports that three Congratulatory Cards from the Major-General Commanding the Division were received for:
No 5 QMS G BOOCOCK
400 Sgt. Mjr. Cook JOHN CHAPMAN
1659 Pte. P. WOODRUFF

And, in a rather belated recognition of their efforts, the Battalion War Diary for March 1916 reported that Cards of Congratulation were received from the Major-General Commanding the 42nd Division, for good work done in Gallipoli for the following men:
341 Sgt. JOHN LEE
2146 Cpl. PLATT A.
728 L/Cpl. GREEN A.
2826 Pte. SMITH A.
2231 Pte. WILLIAM SHEEKEY
2067 Pte. JOSEPH S. SWINDELLS

2231 Pte. WILLIAM SHEEKEY was additionally awarded the Serbian Silver Medal of Valour and was Gazetted Feb 15, 1917.

EGYPT 1916-17

FRANCE 1917-18

Commanding Officers
A list of the Battalion’s Commanding Officers in World War One can be found here.