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23rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment
The 23rd (8th City) Battalion, Manchester Regiment was raised in Manchester on the 21st of November 1914 by the Lord Mayor and City as a Bantam Battalion, comprised of troops who were under the normal regulation minimum height of 5 feet 3 inches. After initial training close to home, they moved to Morecambe in December 1914. In June 1915 they joined 104th Brigade in 35th Division at Masham, North Yorkshire. The Division moved to Salisbury Plain for final training in August. They were ordered to Egypt in late 1915, but the order was soon cancelled and they proceeded to France in the last week of January 1916, landing at Bologne and the division concentrated east of St Omer. They were in action during the Battles of the Somme at Bazentin Ridge, Arrow Head Copse, Maltz Horn Farm and Falfemont Farm. The division received new drafts of men to replace losses suffered on the Somme, but the CO. soon discovered that these new recruits were not of the same physical standard as the original Bantams, being men of small stature from the towns, rather than the miners and farm workers who had joined up in 1915. A medical inspection was carried out and 1439 men were transferred to the Labour Corps. Their places being taken by men transferred from the disbanded yeomanry regiments, who underwent a quick training course in infantry methods at a Divisional depot set up specifically for that purpose. In 1917 they were in action during The pursuit to the Hindenburg Line, at Houthulst Forest and The Second Battle of Passchendaele. In early 1918 the army was reorganised and the 23rd Manchesters were
disbanded in France on the 16th of February 1918 with the troops transferring to other units.
21st Nov 1914 Manchester Bantam Battalion raised The 23rd (8th City) Battalion, Manchester Regiment was raised in Manchester on the 21st of November 1914 by the Lord Mayor and City as a Bantam Battalion made up of men under the regulation height.
Dec 1914 23rd Manchesters move to Morcombe 23rd Manchesters leave the city to continue their training in Morcambe.
Jun 1915 23rd Manchesters move to Masham 23rd Manchesters leave Morcambe to join 104th Brigade in 35th Division at Masham, North Yorkshire for further training.
Aug 1915 23rd Manchesters move to Salisbury Plain 23rd Manchesters move to Salisbury Plain in August 1915 from Masham to prepare for active service.
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
28th Jan 1916 Manchester Bantams proceed to France 23rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment, land at Boulogne
9th February 1916 Call Ups
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with23rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Ashton Thomas. Pte.
- Bulger Harry. Pte. (d.3rd Aug 1916)
- Burke James. Pte. (d.27th Sep 1918)
- Cassell Andrew. Pte. (d.20th July 1916)
- Donoghue John. Pte. (d.22nd Oct 1917)
- Gorin Walter Charles. Cpm Sgt. Major (d.20th. July 1916)
- Graham Francis.
- Grahame-Betts Walter William. Pte. (d.10th Oct 1916)
- Hamer R. B.. Lt.
- Kruger Dirk Jacobus. Temp. 2nd Lt. (d.1st Apr 1918)
- Nolan Joseph. (d.22nd Oct 1917)
- Owen Enoch. Pte. (d.27th Jul 1916)
- Rodgers Robert. Pte. (d.25th Aug 1916)
- Smith Albert Edward. Pte. (d.22nd Oct 1917)
- Smith William. Pte (d.8th November 1918)
- Thorpe Charles. Pte. (d.22nd October 1917)
- Wilkinson Philip. Pte. (d.20th July 1916)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 23rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment from other sources.
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Pte. Thomas Ashton 23rd (Bantam) Battalion Manchester Regiment My Grandad Thomas Ashton joined the Bantams I believe in 1914.
I do know he served in France and also know that he was gassed and invalided out of the army. As to the date I do not know. I have tried to research his records but have had no luck.
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Pte William Smith 23rd Battalion Manchester Regiment (d.8th November 1918) William Smith was born in Ashton Under Lyne. Son of John and Elizabeth Smith. His brother, George Smith, who also fought in the war and I think he too was killed. He had another brother called Robert and a sister called Margaret.
He died on the 8th November 1918 of his wounds.
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Pte. Walter William Grahame-Betts 23rd Battalion Manchester Regiment (d.10th Oct 1916) Walter Grahame-Betts was my late wife's father's great great uncle. I have his medals along with the death medallion in my custody.
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Pte. Philip Wilkinson 23rd Battalion Manchester Regiment (d.20th July 1916) He is the only Philip Wilkinson on the Thiepval Memorial, I am named after my deceased great uncle.
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Pte. Enoch Owen 23rd Btn. Manchester Regiment (d.27th Jul 1916) Enoch Owen was born into a family of 9 children, only 4 boys survived to adulthood and all 4 entered the Army to serve in WW1. Enoch was my Great Uncle, he was also the eldest and being under 5 foot 3 inches tall he entered the 23rd Manchester Bantam Regiment. He served in France and on the 27th July 1916 he died from wounds received in the Battle of the Somme and is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery, France, he was 32 years old. I have a copy of his 'Informal Will' written just 3 months before his death while 'In actual military service'. His Mother, Sarah Owen had inscribed on his gravestone 'He had one life and that he gave all in exchange for a Soldier's grave'. His 3 brother's (including my Grandfather) all survived.
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Francis Graham 23rd Battalion Manchester Regiment Francis Graham served with the 23rd Battalion Manchester Regiment. I'm researching gallant Grahams from my own family as an artist and as a private person. I'm creating a family tree and have an interest in the development and importance of democracy.
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Pte. Albert Edward Smith 23rd Battalion Manchester Regiment (d.22nd Oct 1917) Albert Smith served with 23rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment
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Lt. R. B. Hamer 23rd Btn. Manchester Regiment Lieutenant R B Hamer is amongst British officers taken prisoner in 1918. He was with the "Western Theatre of Operations" and was repatriated 18/12/1918. He is featured on a photo of 3rd Platoon, 23rd (Reserved) Battalion Manchester Regiment, written on back of a photo is "went to France Jan 28th 1915".
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Pte. James Burke 23rd(Service)Battalion Manchester Regiment (d.27th Sep 1918) Private James Burke, my grandfater, died on 27t Sept 1918. He enlisted into the Manchester Regiment (later Lancashire Fusiliers) on Jan 1915 aged 39. Drafted to France towards the end of 1915, he took part in heavy fighting at Loos, St. Eloi, Albert and Vimy Ridge. He was wounded on the Somme in July 1916. He was invalided home, but on recovery returned to France and took part in further fighting at Amiens, Bapaume and Havrincourt before he was killed in action at Cambrai.
By Feb 1918, the 18th, 19th and 23rd Manchesters were disbanded and later he was transferred to 23rd Lancashire Fusiliers.
His grave was never found and so his name is commemorated on Panel 4 of the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium.
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Cpm Sgt. Major Walter Charles Gorin 23 Battalion ( Bantam) Manchester Regiment (d.20th. July 1916) Mr. Walter Gorin served with the Grenedier Guards but was then seconded to train the Manchesters before going to the Somme.Sadly we believe he was killed by a sniper leaving a wife and four children his body was not recovered from the trenches.
He served from 1899 to 1902 with the Guards,he served with the 3rd Batt. Grenedier Guards through the South Africian Wars.In 1902 he was discharded to the Army reserve. Was rewarded medals possibly Queens and Kings South African medals.
In 1914 he was recalled to the colours serving as a Sgt. Instructor with the Guards at Chelsea Barracks and also served at various other places till Christmas 1914. Records for Walter did not survive the WW2 Blitz.A letter to his wife in July 1916 remarked how of Fifteen sergents transferred for training to various places only two remained. The Battalion disembarked at Bolougne on the 30th January 1916 my Grandad was killed on the 20th July that year.His name is on the Memorial at Thiepval Pier and face 13 A and 14 C he was aged 37.
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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The Manchester Pals Martin Steadman
Manchester proved able to raise eight Pals battalions. Initially, these battalions were composed of middle-class men who experience before the war years was within the commercial, financial and manufacturing interests which formed the foundations of Edwardian Manchester's life and prosperity. Manchester was undeniably proud of its pals battalions; that the area was capable of raising. Seven months after their arrival in France the battle of the Somme was launched, on the fateful 1st July, 1916. On the right of the British Army's extraordinary efforts that day, the Manchester Pals were part of one of the few successful actions, taking the villages of Montauban and Mametz and making a deep incursion into the German defences north of the River Somme.
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