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Up the Line
Chairman’s notes
Good evening and welcome to the June meeting. We reach halfway through this momentous year. I am hoping that many of you will attend the event in Heaton Park on 1 July.
I shall be in France on the main day, but have not yet decided whereabouts I shall be at 07:30. Meanwhile, I am still pursuing speakers for 2017 and I am pleased to confirm that Professor John Derry will be speaking to us on Third Ypres next year.
In the last days of May and early June two significant events at sea affected the nation. The Battle of Jutland will be have been covered in great detail and I will reserve judgment on the various media events that will have occurred before this meeting.
Although strictly a member of the government, the highest ranking officer of the war died at sea early in June 1916. Horatio Kitchener was therefore unable to see how his New Army would perform on the Somme. By 1916, Kitchener was losing his creditability within the political and military circles. He was unable to allow proper delegation of work and had developed a reputation for interfering in relatively minor matters. Nevertheless, he was still held in high regard by the general public for his earlier adventures in the Empire. His loss at sea was, of course, a great propaganda boost for the enemy.
Tonight, I am pleased to welcome back Professor John Bourne to our Branch. John has had a long and distinguished career and is currently at the University of Wolverhampton First World War Studies Department. Many WFA members have taken the opportunity to take the MA Course on the history of the Great War. John gave his talk on the hiring and firing of officers in the Great War here, which was recorded by the national WFA. His last talk on various local war memorials was most interesting.
Tonight, John is talking about four separate days during the conflict that had a fundamental effect on the outcome of the war. By the end of his presentation you will know if you had guessed correctly which ones they were!
Terry Jackson, Chairman.
Last month’s talk
Jon Bell, a former RAMC officer, gave the Branch an illuminating and fascinating presentation on the role of the RAMC. By comparing the Corp’s experiences in the Great War and its present capabilities within the technological era, the unit’s importance in the earlier conflict was shown to be just as innovative for their day. The Corps can of course, be proud that the only man to be awarded the VC twice in the Great War, Noel Chavasse, was an RAMC man.
Battle medicine relates to the human body, so the main principles apply at all times. Casualty evacuation; wound management; blood; surgery; diagnostic training and facilities are equally relevant both then and now. Only antibiotics, which were not discovered until 1928, were unavailable to the earlier medics.
In the Great War, the procedure of casualty treatment began at the point of wound. Stretcher bearers would bring soldiers to the Regimental Aid Post. Although these men had little training, their efforts on the battlefield often cost them their lives. If successful, the wounded would report to the single Battalion Medical Officer. Depending on their wounds, men would move to the Casualty Clearing Station, a Base port, then a ship to Blighty. Casualties were then sent to hospitals in all parts of the country. Many buildings were requisitioned for this purpose. (For an interesting website on local hospitals, search GM 1914 Stockport Schools and Military Hospitals. The building nearby on Greek Street is shown. Ed.).
In the modern era all soldiers have medical training. After Korea, casualties could be evacuated by helicopter and if necessary home by jet. Both aircraft are capable of continuing treatment in flight and the specialised aeroplanes are fitted out as a working surgery.
The first modern industrial war caused casualties who survived, but were left with horrific injuries. Facial disfigurement was common and obviously a terrible burden for a soldier to contemplate. Fortunately the medical profession had inspired men who set the grounding for the modern plastic surgery, which we now all accept for granted. But this had to be done without antibiotics
Harold Gillies, a New Zealander set the standards with ground-breaking work. A pedicle tube, grafted from the soldier’s skin allowed the blood flow to the injury. Some of the photographs showing the initial wound and the ultimate ‘finished product’ are absolutely amazing. A saline treatment would help with the treatment and this developed into the modern era of plastic surgery as we know it. Sir Archibald McIndoe was a cousin of Gillies and treated the members of the RAF ‘guinea pigs’ in the last war. Many airmen suffered horrific burns and often had to ditch in the sea. An analysis of their treatment showed that they recovered better from burns than those who came down inland. The obvious inference that a saline solution aided recovery was thereby confirmed.
The development of prosthetics has been well documented. Thousands of men lost limbs in the Great War. Whilst the early models have no comparison to modern day technology, they did give some respite to soldiers. Modern technology can now give back to a soldier a substantially enhanced quality of life. Orthopaedic surgery or musculoskeletal surgery was pioneered by Robert Jones.
Blood is the life flow of all creatures and the development of blood transfusion has progressed. In the Great War transfusions were made, but the modern advances in science now mean that blood can be provided in a form most suited to the individual and the wound to be treated.
The development of X-rays stemmed from a discovery by the German scientist Rontgen in 1895. Some were applied during the Boer War, but the exposure times were long. Madam Curie was associated with X-ray development in the Great War and she even drove an ambulance. Her long term exposure to radiation was the cause of her death and safety procedures are naturally extremely strict nowadays.
During the Great War, soldiers would have to endure severe pain for long periods, whereas nowadays nerve blocks reduce this effect on the casualty. During the Great War British forces fought in several theatres of action. The only way to get badly injured men home often involved a lengthy sea voyage on a hospital ship. We have already seen how, nowadays, casualties can be brought home much quicker by air, whilst getting ongoing treatment in the specially adopted jet aircraft.
This was an excellent and well documented presentation. The most moving photograph was that of a young modern soldier who had lost three limbs, being able to cradle his newly born daughter with his replacement limbs. Soldiers from the earlier conflict would have been unlikely to survive the shock of multiple amputations. How many fathers and their children were denied this opportunity between 1914-18? Ed.
100 Years ago
On 14 May 1916, Lord Stamfordham, Secretary to the King, received via the War Office, a telegram. This had been sent by the Tsar concerning a proposed visit to Russia by Lord Kitchener and was unknown to the King. Kitchener had to explain this was proposed to facilitate Russian purchase of munitions, whilst trying to encourage their efforts in the war.
Kitchener had asked Chief of Naval Staff Sir Henry Oliver to arrange his visit. Oliver was unaware that U75 had already left for the Orkneys to lay mines. (See map of the Orkneys below right.) These were aimed to sink the British warships at Scapa Flow, the Germans being unaware of Kitchener’s proposed trip. HMS Hampshire, a cruiser (photo left), was chosen for the trip. Meanwhile U75 laid twenty two mines, mistakenly near Marwick Head rather than the area used by capital ships. (See photo of a mine at the foot of the page.)
Kitchener headed north from King’s Cross in a special carriage. His entourage included Sir Frederick Donaldson, chief adviser on munitions; Wilfred Ellershaw, Staff Officer WO, and Hugh O’Beirne, a diplomat based in Petrograd. Kitchener’s personal assistant Oswald Fitzgerald also travelled. In later years Fitzgerald’s and Kitchener’s relationship has been much scrutinised.(See photo at foot of the page left of Kitchener on the Iron Duke, taken before he embarked on the Hampshire.)
Whilst in the Orkneys, Kitchener met Jellicoe before proceeding to HMS Hampshire. (10,850 tons, four funnelled cruiser, with 730 crew*). Captain Savill made his cabin available to Kitchener. Due to the weather, the eastern part of the mainland could not be swept for mines. It was thought that German mine laying submarines could not reach the western shores, so the Hampshire was to be routed past Marwick Head. At 04.45 on 5 June she sailed out of Scapa Flow and met her escorting destroyers HMS Unity and HMS Victor. A strong gale hampered progress and as the vessels turned north into wind, both destroyers struggled to keep up with the larger warship. As submarines were unlikely to risk such heavy seas, the escorts were given leave to return to base.
Hampshire continued alone about one and a half miles off the western coast of the mainland. Whilst the heavy seas negated the threat of submarines, they caused the ship to pitch steeply. In calm seas, she may have passed over the mine safely. At 07.50 a young boy and his father on Marwick Head saw the cruiser. Suddenly a small cloud of black smoke near the bow was observed. The man saw the ship turn to starboard and believed it was going to be beached.
On board, after the explosion, the lights failed and power was lost. Captain Savill realised the vessel was doomed and gave the order to abandon ship. After about ten minutes the stern suddenly lifted, almost somersaulted and sank into forty fathoms. None of the survivors were aware of what happened to Kitchener.
As it was now daylight, the alarm was quickly raised. Locals made their way by motor car and carts towards the scene. They were prevented by the military from getting close to the coastline and the civil lifeboat was not called out. Many naval vessels were ordered to the scene, but by then most on board had gone down with the ship or perished in the cold water. The bodies that were recovered (approximately 100) are interred in a communal grave in Lyness Cemetery, Hoy. (Lt. MacPherson, a translator of Russian, has a separate grave). Oswald Fitzgerald is buried in Eastbourne. There were twelve survivors.
Kitchener’s death shook the general public and the troops serving at the Front. However, especially amongst the politicians, there were considerable efforts to set some unpleasant information to bed. Churchill and Sir Ian Hamilton saw it as an opportunity to divert the attention away from their mishandling of Gallipoli and Asquith believed Kitchener’s death would hide the soldier’s faults. However, when he lost power, Asquith spoke highly of Kitchener to Haig’s staff.
Ed *Recent research suggests there may have been up to 730 crew, rather than the 650 initially thought. See also Hampshire memorial and Hampshire centenary for details of the wreck and current commemorations. The newspapers are also currently suggesting there may have been gold bullion on board the ship.
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Up the Line
May 2016
Chairman's notes
Good evening and welcome to the May meeting. A week ago I attended the WFA AGM at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton. Due to the time factor, these notes have been submitted to Ralph for UTL before the event and I hope to be able to advise you of any major developments tonight. This will include any details which we have been given of the Heaton Park event on 1 July.
The build up to First Day will be gathering momentum. Hopefully, some of the more reputable historians will have been approached by the media for a balanced assessment, but I am sure the sensationalists will have to have their say. Fortunately, we are able to hear from one of the most eminent authorities on the subject in June when John Bourne looks at 1916.
Tonight I am very pleased to introduce Jonathan Bell as our speaker. Both he and Captain Lesley Oldham have recently provided us with excellent new facilities and equipment. Strictly speaking they are our hosts, but I know we will accord them our normal warm welcome. Jonathan will educate us on the work of the RAMC and how it has adapted since its early days. A quick look at the CWGC website indicates that over 7,000 RAMC personnel were killed in the Great War and nearly 3,000 in the Second World War. The RAMC also contained the only man be awarded the VC twice during the first conflict. Like me, I am sure you are looking forward to this talk.
Terry Jackson. Chairman.
Last month’s talk
During the first few days of the Great War in August 1914, the Germans’ plan to wheel the Allies into a corner seemed to be working. However by the beginning of September they retreated at the Marne. Although they were able to hold the Allies on the Aisne, for most serious historians, this was the moment at which Germany would not be able to win the war.
The decision involved a relatively junior officer of Von Moltke’s staff. Ross Beadle gave an in depth analysis of how the British and French were able to retrieve what had looked like an inescapable defeat.
By early September the Germans had believed they had effectively won. Their Schlieffen Plan had put them in pursuit mode in the west. France’s Plan XVII was basically to enable assembly and concentration of forces against the heart of the enemy and had failed. However, von Falkenhayn, who would eventually become Army Commander, made the pertinent comment that if the Allies were being routed, then where were all the prisoners?
Germany’s First Army (von Kluk) was the most westerly of the seven involved. It also had to cover the furthest distance. (Kluk’s Chief of Staff, von Khul was the effective organiser). Along with the Second (von Bulow) and Third Armies (von Hausen) it had been pursuing the BEF and the French southwards from Belgium via Mons and Le Cateau. Their original success was emphasised by using reserves in the attack. French intelligence had discounted enemy reserve units of being involved. The French had also been drawn into fatal attacks against the four other easterly Armies in the Battle of the Frontiers.
The French belief that attack and ‘elan’ would prevail, even against hastily prepared defences cost them dearly. Their Artillery merely opened fire on the day of assault, leaving the attacking infantry to face the withering fire of machine guns and artillery.
General Joffre gradually understood the position. He held the positions on the right and built up units on the left. He travelled around the French positions and sacked 162 generals that he held responsible. He required Lanrezac’s Fifth Army to fight a holding action at Guise (d’Espèrey eventually led the attack when Lanrezac was sacked) and the BEF to hold its position. Sir John French initially told Joffre that he intended to retreat and refit. This caused Kitchener, now Secretary of State for War to visit French and tell him he had to comply with Joffre’s request. This incident caused antagonism between the two British soldiers. Kitchener was now a government official and his appearing in uniform was badform. A subsequent impassioned appeal by Joffre to French persuaded the British commander to support him.
Fortunately, this resolved the situation and Joffre was able to plan his actions. A new French Army (Sixth) was created under the control of retired General Gallieni. By now France had better access to supplies, guns and communications. Germans had to walk 440 kilometres, whereas the French rail network brought troops to the Front. By now the Allies also had superiority in battalions and guns.
The next phase of the fighting was to prove crucial. von Moltke stayed well behind the front and never had grip on the situation. Thus, despite being instructed to mark time and wait for Second Army,First Army chased the French, opening a gap between the two German forces. On 6th September, the new French Sixth Army marched, aided by troops being brought up by taxis and buses from Paris. von Kluk recalled his troops to deal with this threat, which would enable the BEF to exploit the gap caused by the turning motion of von Kluk’s units.
As von Moltke refused to travel, he relied on junior staff officers to feed him with reports and they were empowered to give advice to much senior commanders. This brought Staff Officer Lieutenant-Colonel (German equivalent) Richard Hentsch into the picture. He had been touring all the seven armies and reporting the progress to von Moltke. Hensch assessed the situation and advised a general retreat. Although the situation was difficult, it was not as dire as the pessimistic Hentsch believed. (The BEF was slow to exploit its opportunity). Also, the communications between the German Army leaders had been virtually non-existent and they complied. Thus the Germans fell back to the Aisne, dug in and trench warfare began. The failure of 1914 cost von Moltke his command and he was replaced by von Falkenhayn.
After the war only von Khul was able to cement his actions favourably. Von Moltke died in 1916, Hensch aged only 49 in 1918, following an operation, von Bulow in 1921, von Hausen in 1922 and von Kluk in 1934. Von Khul lived to be 102 and up to his death in 1952, he ensured his story held sway.
An excellent presentation given by Ross on probably the most crucial action in the War. 1914 is a fascinating year and usually ignored by popular historians and the media for the intermediary years of Trench Warfare.
Ed
100 Years ago
The loss of the kink, 11th May 1916
The British line, just south of Hohenzollern Redoubt at Loos, was a blunted salient 400 yards wide. It went across a slight depression towards Fosse 8 which had seen intense fighting in 1915. There were two projecting shoulders ‘Hussar Horn’ to the left and ‘The Kink’ to the right. Fosse 8, behind the enemy lines overlooked the salient. The Kink was subject to continual shelling. There was tunnelling activity and mines which had left several craters in No Man’s Land. These had been occupied by both sides, although British underground activity had secured all except one of the craters north of the Kink. There had been a short period of inactivity but on 11th May th enemy shelled the area extensively concentrating on the Kink although to cause confusion, Hohenzollern Redoubt was also shelled. At 5.45pm a massive bombardment was launched on the Kink, including gas. A shell landed on the HQ of 13th Royal Scots in the prime position. All the battalion staff were killed or wounded and the chain of command was effectively destroyed. The enemy were able to penetrate the position and also Anchor Trench. The Scots retreated to Sackville Street and the Germans were able to capture 39 miners from below the surface.
Unfortunately, British artillery continued to fire on the Germans’ original positions, so the invaders were able consolidate their newly gained ground. At 6.30pm the 13th Royal Scots attempted to bomb the enemy out of their positions, but were hit by machine gun fire and failed. By the early hours of 12th May the British had replaced the now destroyed Sackville Street with another trench. After a few futile attempts to improve the position in the following days up to the 15th, the British consolidated in their new positions.
The assault had been carried out by 18th Bavarian Regiment in order to improve their position, as originally they had been effectively overlooked by the British. Their preparations had been carefully made over several weeks, including the provision of deep dugouts for shelter before the attack.
The Royal Scots casualties over the several days were- Officers 10 KIA, 5 wounded and 1 missing. Other ranks, 14 KIA, 60 Wounded and 152 Missing. Many of the missing had been buried by the initial bombardment. German losses were 2 officers and 12 other ranks KIA, 57 wounded.
From Official History 1916 Vol.1. Ed
Memories of our won WWI veterans has been put into the "Articles" section - here
Next issue - word docs, cuttings, jpegs etc to Terry by 6th June. His email is on the "Venue" page - you will need to click on the link there.
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CHAIRMAN’S NOTES
It gives me great pleasure to welcome back Dr Bill Mitchinson to the Branch. Most of you will be aware that Bill was a past Chairman of the Branch and I hope I am maintaining his high standards. Given our venue, it is fitting that Bill will be talking about the Territorial Force (as it was then known), before the Battle of the Somme. I am sure we will be fully entertained. Sadly, I had to attend the funeral of Life Member Mike Platt last week. I am grateful for the support of several Branch members who were also present. It was a very moving experience. Mike was obviously well liked by the numbers that packed the chapel. He certainly brought pleasure and happiness to many people as, although the liturgy told us much of his home life, it was clear he was fun to be with. I am very pleased to say that our own website is now up and running. www. landcwfa.org.uk Although it is in its early days, please have a browse. I am very grateful to Trevor Adams for all the hard work he has put in. It will give us a much better profile. We will be able to display information, documents and your input on a rolling basis. I am aware that not everyone has access to the web, so there will still be Up the Line at the meetings. I am also therefore continually grateful to Ralph Lomas for finding time at his company to produce the monthly digest. Terry Jackson. Chairman.
NEXT ISSUE Copy, Word docs, pictures, jpegs, cuttings etc. by 1st April please to the Editor, Terry Jackson, 4 Scaliot Close, New Mills, SK22 3BX Tel: 01663 740987 Email:
Chairman: Terry Jackson MA BA (Hons) MRICS Secretary: Volunteer needed
REMEMBERING TWO OF THE GALLANT SAILORS FROM SHACKLETON’S EPIC BOAT JOURNEY
A century on Shackleton’s Endurance expedition is remembered on a set of commemorative postage stamps and by Henry Worsley who attempted to recreate that epic 1914-16 journey.
Henry, who may be related to Frank Worsley, Shackleton’s Skipper, died thirty miles short of his goal in January, whilst attempting the solo trek. A magnificent effort which too date has raised £100K for charity.
The Endurance set sail south for the Antarctic in another Polar adventure led by Sir Ernest Shackleton on the same day that WW1 was declared by Great Britain. In December 1914 she got trapped in the pack ice and after its twenty-eight men abandoned her they floated on the ice until April 1916, when three boats were launched onto the open sea. Commander Frank A Worsley, DSO, OBE, RD, RNR vividly described “Shackleton’s Boat Journey” in the book of that title. Amazingly all twenty-eight men came back home to this country safely. However, two of them succumbed to the effects of the Great War.
Tim McCarthy, a native of Kinsale, County Cork, who enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve as a Leading Seaman and served on S.S. “Narragansett” was killed in the Channel in March 1917 and is remembered on Plymouth’s Naval Memorial
Alf Cheetham, a veteran of several Polar expeditions, lost his life when serving on a mine-sweeper that was torpedoed ten weeks before the Armistice.
Michael Smith in his 2000 biography of Tom Crean “Unsung Hero – Tom Crean – Antarctic Survivor” says that: Another five members of the expedition were wounded, some severely.
Neil Shuttleworth
100 years ago
Fighting had raged on the east bank of the Meuse at Verdun since 21st February. von Falkenhayn had been criticised for only attacking on one side of the river. On 6th March, German forces attacked on the other bank. Russian forces subsequently attacked Vilnison 18th March to try to draw
German forces from Verdun. Ultimately, they suffered huge losses and had made little progress.
Meanwhile, on 16th March, Von Tirpitz (left photo) had offered his resignation to the Kaiser. The Admiral’s pressure to begin unrestricted submarine warfare in February unsettled the Emperor, who was wary of antagonising America.
Subsequently on 16th March Tirpitz offered his resignation and to his surprise it was accepted. He was subsequently succeeded by Admiral von Cappelle (right photo). Ed.
March 1915, Kitchener reviews the Manchester Pals at the Town Hall
On 21st March 1915 Lord Kitchener came to Manchester to review the Pals outside the Town Hall. The First Brigade from Heaton Park, the Second brought by rail from Morecambe and the Salford Pals all formed up for a march past which took well over an hour to pass Kitchener. Nearly 12,000 men took part.
The following day the Manchester Guardian, which had originally strongly opposed the war, published this piece about the parade. It sums up how communities across the country felt about their New Armies of volunteers:
“Only now and then in these months of war has it been forced fully home to us that we are living history, but the dullest could not see the march of the twelve thousand yesterday without knowing that of this his children’s children would be told. Nor could he see it without a deep and quickening sense of his personal relation to the facts behind it. For Manchester’s army is Manchester, and the New Army is Britain, in a way no soldiers ever have been before or, it is hoped, will ever need be again. The people who cheered and the people who marched were not spectators and a spectacle.They were kin in the truest sense, and every eligible man who watched the City Battalions swing by must have felt it an incongruous thing that he was not on the other side of the barrier.” Manchester Guardian, 22nd March 1915
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Lancashire & Cheshire WFA
AGM 8 April 2016
AGENDA
Apologies for absence
Chairman’s Report- See below
Accounts
Election of Officers
AOB
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Another year has come and gone very quickly. We have had a good variety of speakers and fortunately I was able to obtain a replacement for one speaker who had to withdraw. 2015 was a relatively quiet year for the 100th anniversary. Naturally, Gallipoli has figured prominently in commemorations, along with the gas attack at Ypres and the Battle of Loos.
This year will be dominated by the events of 1st July. It is up to the WFA to ensure the full effect of thís battle is understood by the public and not left to the doom and disaster merchants. The battle was awful and there were heavy casualties on day one. However, it was to mark the final high mark of the Germany Army. The British learnt the hard way and due to France’s involvement with Verdun, we were destined to become THE army on the Western Front.
I would like to thank all those who have helped me over the year. John Richardson has taken on the accounts and Phil Hamer has always been ready to help. Chris and Joan are stalwarts with the raffle and Ralph Lomas produces “Up the Line”. It goes without saying that Ann has, as always, been supportive.
Sadly we lost Life Member Mike Platt. I was grateful to those members who attended his funeral. It was obvious by the numbers present that he was well liked.
Our speakers provided us with great insight and I am already chasing people to talk to us in 2017. Attendances have been steady, but I would like to see them improve. Please mention us to anyone who shows an interest. We have excellent facilities and Captain Lesley Oldham has provided us with even more equipment. We now have our own website excellently managed by Trevor Adams. Please use www.landcwfa.org.uk I shall be putting more things onto it. I am asking those of you with web access to read it for information. I have been emailing all our local members with information, but I intend to use it more for official announcements. For example, I shall try to submit my annual report to the web allowing sufficient time for you to download and print it individually. This will reduce the cost.
On a local and contemporary note, there will be commemorations on 1st July at Heaton Park and the main WFA will be present. I shall be on the Somme and I am looking for members to get involved with this event. Thank you for your support. I look forward to seeing you throughout the year.
Terry Jackson, Chairman
Chairman’s Notes
Good evening and welcome to the April meeting. The annual AGM will precede the speaker. We are close approaching the day that most people regard as the main date of the Great War.
It was tumultuous, but with our keen interest in the conflict, we must ensure the whole war is understood by the public. I am pleased to welcome Ross Beadle to the Branch. He will be talking about the first real turning point of the war. How did the Germans manage to let certain victory slip way? Sounds like the history of the football team based just across the road! Remember to visit our website www.landcwfa.org.uk and promote it to those you meet.
Terry Jackson.
Chairman.
Tickets Released for UK National Somme Commemoration in Manchester
The public are invited to participate in a National Commemoration of the Centenary of the battle of the Somme in Manchester on Friday 1 July, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale announced today. He also announced the release of tickets for a free public commemorative concert at Heaton Park to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. Manchester will host a parade of military and home front organisations, a Somme Remembrance service at Manchester Cathedral, and a heritage experience and evening concert at Heaton Park.
Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: “The Battle of the Somme resulted in one million casualties on the Western Front and touched the lives of millions of families at home. It is important that we provide as many ways as we can for the public to commemorate the bravery and sacrifices of our ancestors 100 years ago. We must never forget what happened at the Somme. I hope that people across the country take part in the range of events in Manchester to honour the memories of those who gave so much.”
The public are invited to participate and attend the followìng in Manchester:
- A Somme 100 parade of military and home front organisations will march through the centre of the city after lunch.
- A Somme Remembrance service will be held at Manchester Cathedral at 3pm and will be shown live on big screens in the public areas nearby.
- A free concert at Heaton Park at 7.30pm featuring a national children’s choir, film, dance and Manchester’s acclaimed Hallé Orchestra. Heaton Park is one of the largest municipal parks in Europe and in 1916 was a military training ground for many recruits before they went to the Somme. The evening event will also feature a range of letters, poems and diary entries depicting the lives of those affected by the Somme - including a specially commissioned poem read by author and broadcaster Lemm Sissay.
The public ¡s invited to sign up for free tickets to the evening concert, which is suitable for all age groups. Tickets can be booked at www.quaytickets.com/som meheatonpark
There will also be an Experience Field at Heaton Park for those interested in learning more about life in 1916. Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, announced today more than 30 original bell tents will house First World War experts, activities and artefacts bringing to life hundreds of stories of nurses, soldiers and factory workers from the Home and Western Fronts.
Councillor Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader Manchester City Council, said:
“Manchester is honoured to be hosting this important commemoration event on behalf of the nation. Like the rest of the country we fully acknowledge the debt we owe to those who fought for us at the Somme and are humbled still by their actions. Northern England was the heartland of the Pals’ battalions throughout the First World War and was also at the centre of the huge industrial effort for the Somme. It’s therefore fitting that the focal point of remembrance and opportunities for people to learn about and reflect further on the enormity of the events at the Somme should be in our city. We’re ready to welcome people from around the country to Manchester and want to give as many people as possible - young and old - the opportunity to observe, think, reflect, and participate in the commemorative events planned to mark this hugely important centenary.”
Note: The Experience Field at Heaton Park will be open from 4pm to 7pm on July 1st and again on Saturday 2nd July from 11am to 4pm.
£4 million in National Lottery funding is available for communities to explore, conserve and share the local heritage of the First World War, including the stories of the Battle of the Somme, through the Heritage Lottery Fund’s First World War: then and now programme. The UK and French governments will also be hosting a Battle of the Somme centenary commemorative event in Thiepval, in France on 1 July 2016. The event will include representatives from the Battle’s combatant nations, organisations such as the Royal British Legion, and members of the public. Plans are being made to broadcast the ceremony live to large screens in towns across the Somme region and the UK so that as many people as possible can be involved. Events will also take place in France to mark the 141 days of the battle.
Public Enquiries: 020 721 1 6000
Any material for the next newsletter should be sent to Terry by 6th May, please.
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February newsletter
Good evening and welcome to the February meeting. I am pleased to welcome Terry Dean to the Branch again. Terry is actively involved with our neighbouring Branch, Lancashire North. It is interesting to see how many of the senior military figures of World War Two gained their experience at the sharp end of the previous conflict. Patton, MacArthur, Brooke, Rommel and a diminutive Austrian corporal were a few of those who served on the Western Front. Tonight, Terry will look at how the early career of a man who became Britain’s most well-known commander was influenced by a senior officer of the day. I am pleased to confirm that Jonathan Bell has kindly agreed to talk to us at the May meeting. Details of his talk on the RAMC can now be seen on the WFA website. Terry Jackson, Chairman. Brigadier Sandilands & Captain Montgomery in 1917
Next talk: MARCH 11th The TA before the Battle of the Somme by Dr Bill Mitchinson Within weeks of the outbreak of war, units of the TF were deployed to France, Egypt and later Gallipoli. They were dispatched abroad as individual battalions, field companies and field ambulances as well as complete brigades and divisions. Their presence proved vital as guardians of the Empire and as essential support to the Regular Army. They fought in every major British battle on the Western Front from 1st Ypres onwards and in 1916 were ready to play a significant role in the forthcoming Battle of the Somme. This talk will analyse the importance of the TF’s operational contribution to the BEF before the Somme opened and examine its role within the wider Allied war effort.
Last month’s talk
This excellent presentation was accompanied by numerous photographs and covered the complete spectrum of the ‘beautiful game’. The dedicated Footballers’ Monument can be seen at Longueval. Ed
In a well-illustrated presentation, Steve Williams looked at the many footballers who fought for the British in World War One. As in other professions that provided men some survived, whilst others were killed or wounded. One of the earliest football connections of course, was the purported ‘International Match’ during the 1914 Christmas Truce when the Germans beat the BEF. The war also embraced men from the highest level of professional players, to the pure amateurs playing for local clubs. However, initially, many professionals did not enrol on the outbreak of war. This has sometimes has drawn comparisons with other sportsmen such as those from rugby and cricket who joined up early on. However, it has to be born in mind that many top level players of these two sports were often amateurs, sufficiently remunerated from their profession to be able to play for no wages. On the other hand, many professional footballers would have just signed new contracts in August 1918. It was not certain how long the war would last and they would be wary of breaking their agreements with their employers. The local league amateur players covered the whole of the country and Steve discussed some of those he had come across in his research. There were several men who became well known. Perhaps the most famous of a team enlisting was Hearts of Midlothian. Thirteen of the team, which was heading for the Scottish Championship, signed up into 16th Battalion Royal Scots. Five of the original team died in the war, including three on 1st July 1916. Perhaps two of the most famous casualties were Donald Bell and Walter Tull. Donald Bell played for Bradford Park Avenue and was awarded the VC for attacking a German post on 5th July 1916. He repeated this attack five days later, but unfortunately was killed. The action took place near Contalmaison and those of you, who went to the dedication of the 12th Manchester’s memorial with the Branch, will be aware of the monument to him there. He is buried in Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovilliers-La Boiselle. Walter Tull was the first black man to receive a commission in the British Army. He had played for Spurs and Northampton. He had been Mentioned in Despatches. He was killed on 25th March 1918 during the Spring Offensive. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Donald Bell Walter Tull Footballers memorial at Longueval
100 Years Ago - Action at the Bluff
Second Army (Plumer)
172nd Tunneling Company, Royal Engineers
V Corps (Fanshawe)
3rd Division
17th (Northern) Division
The Ypres-Comines canal, ran south east from the town, cutting through the front lines about 3 miles from the Cloth Hall. This was the position at the end of the First Battle of Ypres and it was similar in 1916, the Second Battle having not altered things. Facing the British was the village of
Hollebeke; on the left was the hotly-contested ground of Hill 60 and Zwarteleen and on the right the hotspot at St Eloi. On the northern embankment of the canal, a spoil-heap, created when the canal was excavated, gave the British front an unusual observation advantage over the enemy. If the enemy held it, the view across the rear areas of the Salient to Hill 60, towards Ypres and down to Voormezele would have made the Salient difficult to hold. The position had to be held. The German front line fire trench was 200 yards ahead of this feature, which the British called the Bluff, and the Germans the Grosse, or Kanal, Bastion. British trenches ran around the forward base of the Bluff. These were around the front of the lips of a number of mine craters blown in October and November 1915 and in January 1916. Communication trenches ran back over the Bluff itself. The canal cutting was steepsided, and over 100 yards wide. The trenches continued on the other side, with only a single plank bridge connecting the two banks. 17th (Northern) Division had relieved 3rd Division in the canal sector between 5 and 8 February 1916, and placed 51st Brigade on a 1300 yard front at the Bluff position. It was also responsible for the south bank with 52nd Brigade there. Enemy shellfire began to fall on both brigade fronts in the morning of 14 February, intensifying on the Bluff from midafternoon. (The enemy was also shelling 24th Division at Hooge at this time). British artillery began to retaliate and the infantry at the Bluff stood by to meet an anticipated attack. All telephone wires were cut by the shelling, which severely affected the ability of units in the front line to call for support. German tunnellers blew three small mines at 5.45pm, one under the Bluff (which buried a platoon of the 10/Lancashire Fusiliers sheltering in an old tunnel) and two slightly further north, under the 10/Sherwood Foresters. German infantry then attacked between the canal bank and the Ravine. They entered and captured the front line trenches but were driven out of the support lines behind the front. Small local counter attacks over the next two days failed. The all-important Bluff position had been lost, and it would take more than localised efforts to regain it. The operations in the area of the Bluff from the start of the enemy attack to noon on 17 February cost the British 1,294 casualties.
Acknowledgements to - The Long, long trail