I researching the Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 I came across a cluster of 8th Manchester's belonging to the East Lancashire Centurion Lodge #2322.
HEYS William George Lieutenant-Colonel 8/Manchester Regiment 4/6/15
OLDFIELD Edward George William Captain 8/Manchester Regiment 5/6/15
ROSE Herbert John Captain 8/Manchester Regiment 4/6/15
STANDRING Dudley Hethorn Captain 8/Manchester Regiment 30/5/15
WOMERSLEY John William 2nd Lieutenant 8/Manchester Regiment 4/6/16
Can anybody add background to these men and the action on 4th June
Thanks
Mike
Hi Mike
Welcome to the forum.
First one.
Name: ROSE, HERBERT JOHN
Initials: H J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Manchester Regiment
Age: 50
Date of Death: 04/06/1915
Awards: Mentioned in Despatches
Additional information: Son of the late I. H. R. and E. Rose; husband of the late Mrs. C. E. Rose.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 158 to 170.
Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL
History of the Helles Memorial.
Historical Information:
The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. However, the difficult terrain and stiff Turkish resistance soon led to the stalemate of trench warfare. From the end of August, no further serious action was fought and the lines remained unchanged. The peninsula was successfully evacuated in December and early January 1916. The Helles Memorial serves the dual function of Commonwealth battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign and place of commemoration for many of those Commonwealth servicemen who died there and have no known grave. The United Kingdom and Indian forces named on the memorial died in operations throughout the peninsula, the Australians at Helles. There are also panels for those who died or were buried at sea in Gallipoli waters. The memorial bears more than 21,000 names. There are four other Memorials to the Missing at Gallipoli. The Lone Pine, Hill 60, and Chunuk Bair Memorials commemorate Australian and New Zealanders at Anzac. The Twelve Tree Copse Memorial commemorates the New Zealanders at Helles. Naval casualties of the United Kingdom lost or buried at sea are recorded on their respective Memorials at Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham, in the United Kingdom.
Cemetery: HELLES MEMORIAL
Country: Turkey
Timberman
No.Two
Name: HEYS
Initials: W G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Regiment/Service: Manchester Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 48
Date of Death: 04/06/1915
Additional information: Husband of Marion Heys, of 15, Crescent Rd., Hale, Altrincham.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 29.
Cemetery: LANCASHIRE LANDING CEMETERY
Cemetery: LANCASHIRE LANDING CEMETERY
Country: Turkey
Locality: unspecified
Location Information: Follow the road to Helles opposite the Kabatepe Museum. At 14.2kms take a right turn at the 'T' junction and at 14.3 kms. take the left fork. After a toatal of 21.6 kms. you will find the cemetery on your right.
Historical Information: The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. At Helles, the 29th Division landed troops at 'S,' 'V,' 'W,' 'X' and 'Y' Beaches, five small coves at or near the southern end of the peninsula. The landing at 'Y' Beach (Gurkha Bluffs) was carried out by the 1st King's Own Scottish Borderers and the Plymouth Battalion of the Royal Naval Division, but these troops were forced to re-embark on the following day. The 2nd Royal Fusiliers landed at 'X' Beach, followed by the rest of the 87th Brigade. Under very severe fire, the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers landed on 'W' Beach and cut their way through wire entanglements and trenches to the edge of the cliff. They and the other battalions of the 88th Brigade established themselves on the hills of Tekke Burnu and Helles Burnu. The beach became known as Lancashire Landing. The greater part of the cemetery (Rows A to J and part of Row L) was made between the landing in April 1915 and the evacuation of the peninsula in January 1916. Row I contains the graves of over 80 men of the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers who died in the first two days following the landing. The 97 graves in Row K and graves 31 to 83 in Row L were brought from islands of the Aegean after the Armistice. There are now 1,237 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 135 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate ten casualties who are known to be buried among them. The cemetery also contains 17 Greek war graves.
Timberman
No. Three
Name: OLDFIELD, EDMUND GEORGE WILLIAM
Initials: E G W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Manchester Regiment
Age: 33
Date of Death: 05/06/1915
Awards: Mentioned in Despatches
Additional information: Son of the late Rev. Edmund Oldfield (Rector of St. Elizabeth's, Reddish, and later Vicar of Spratton), and of Mrs. Emma Oldfield. Served in the South African War.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 158 to 170.
Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL
See above for info on the Helles Memorial
Timberman
No. Four
On the SDGW it says he died of wounds.
Name: STANDRING, DUDLEY HETHORN
Initials: D H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Manchester Regiment
Unit Text: 1st/8th Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 30/05/1915
Additional information: Brother of Mr. A. L. L. Standring, of 40, Alexandra Rd., South Hampstead, London.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sp. Mem. B. 148.
Cemetery: REDOUBT CEMETERY, HELLES
Cemetery: REDOUBT CEMETERY, HELLES
Country: Turkey
Locality: unspecified
Location Information: From Helles, continue on the road to Alciptepe and the cemetery will be found on your left. It is on the west side of the Krithia - Sedd el Bahr Road, approximately sout-west of "The Vineyards". It faces south to the entrance to the Daranelles and is surrounded by a belt of shrubs.
Historical Information: The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 28 April, following the landings at Helles, the first attack was mounted towards Achi Baba, the ridge which dominates the southern part of the peninsula. Fatigue, however, brought the assault to a halt some kilometres short of the objective, near the village of Krithia. Turkish counter attacks followed but were repulsed and during the period 6-8 May, the 29th and French Divisions, reinforced by the 2nd Australian and New Zealand Infantry Brigades, carried out a renewed attack on Krithia, making some gains but suffering heavy casualties. Between 1 May and the beginning of June, the 29th Indian Infantry Brigade and 42nd (East Lancashire) Division landed on the peninsula. With these reinforcements, the Allied force at Helles pushed forward once more on 4 June, but again to little effect. A further attack between 28 June and 5 July at Gully Ravine inflicted heavy casualties on the Turks, but despite local gains - at one point the line was pushed forward more than a kilometre - there was no breakthrough. By 13 July the advance at Helles was effectively over and the position remained unchanged until the evacuation in January 1916. Redoubt Cemetery takes its name from the chain of forts made by the Turks across the southern end of the peninsula in the fighting for Krithia and the Redoubt Line on which the advance halted in May. The cemetery was begun by the 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade in May 1915 and continued in use until the evacuation. It was greatly increased after the Armistice when the battlefields were cleared and graves were brought in from small cemeteries in the vicinity. There are now 2,027 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 1,393 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate 349 casualties known or believed to be buried among them.
No. of Identified Casualties: 634
Timberman
Last One ;D
Name: WOMERSLEY, JOHN WILLIAM
Initials: J W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Manchester Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 04/06/1915
Additional information: Son of the late Frederick and Emily Womersley.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XI. A. 13.
Cemetery: REDOUBT CEMETERY, HELLES
See above for info on the REDOUBT CEMETERY, HELLES
Hope this helps for starters there will be more to come, I'm sure.
Timberman
Mike
4 June 1915 was the disastrous third Battle of Krithia. A little more here:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/upload/package/2/gallipoli/helles3Krithia.htm
Cheers,
Dave
Also if you go to this link
http://www.themanchesters.org/8th%20batt.htm
It will take you to the 8th Battalion history on the main site. It does mention your Captain Rose.
Timberman
Thanks Timberman,
I am hoping that I can 'colour in' the background to these men.
On the excellent Manchesters website I came across a reference to Captain Rose in Pvt McLean's diary where Rose is described as being "64 years of age". His CWG listing says he was 50 - an under age declaration or (like me) did he just look older than he was? McLean mentions that Rose was killed the following day (4/6/1915) in "a bayonet charge". The same acion that took HEYS and WOMERSLEY.
I have some background on Womersley being a partner in an accounting practice, educated at Mill Hill School, plaque in St Chrysostom's church, Victoria Park.
Any similar info on these 5 chaps and detail on the events of 4/5 June 1915 much appreciated, (Thanks for the two new links Timberman and Dave)
Thanks
Mike
And a general description of the Battle for Krithia here on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Battle_of_Krithia
Hope it helps!
Dave
Your Welcome Mike.
Any other info that you can share about them will be great, just add it to this thread.
I'll see what else I can find, tomorrow.
Timberman
Womersley, John William
Born 3 February 1884, the eldest son of Frederick and Emily Womersley of The Olives, Victoria Park, Manchester. Educated Mill Hill School. He became a partner in the Manchester accountancy firm of Womersley and Tweedale. A pre-war officer of the battalion. Promoted Lieutenant 25 May 1914. Killed in action 4 June 1915. Commemorated Redoubt Cemetery, Gallipoli and on a plaque in St Chrysostom's Church, Victoria Park, Manchester.
Oldfield, Edmund George William.
28 May 1882 –5 June 1915. Son of Reverend Edmund Oldfield, Vicar of St Elizabeth's Church, Reddish, Stockport. Educated at Stockport Grammar School and Oxford House School, St Anne's on Sea. Pre-war member of the 5th VB Manchester Regiment. Served in the Boer War as a trooper in the Imperial Yeomanry. Promoted Captain 8 June 1906. A prominent member of the Fine Cotton Spinners and Doublers Association and a supporter of the Church Lads Brigade. His home was in Heaton Chapel, Stockport. Mentioned in Despatches. No known grave. Commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.
Heys, William George
Commissioned into the Ardwick Battalion 23 August 1890 As Captain, commanded the 2nd Volunteer Service Company in the Boer War, serving with 1st Manchester. By profession a consulting engineer. He lived in Chorlton-cum-Hardy and later at 15 Crescent Road, Hale, Altrincham. On the outbreak of war he took the Ardwicks to Egypt and was in command when they took part in the annexing of Cyprus. After returning to Egypt he took the battalion to Gallipoli where on 4 June 1915, due to the wounds received by Brigadier Noel Lee, he was placed in command of the Brigade. Whilst inspecting a captured Turkish trench he was killed, age 48. Buried Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli. Plot A29.
Rose, Herbert John
18 May 1866 - 4 June 1915. Son of I H R & E Rose. Mentioned in Despatches. Killed in action. No known grave. Commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli and on a bronze plaque in St Mary's Parish Church, Cheadle, Stockport. Pre-war was employed by the Manchester calico printers Etchells, Congdon & Muir Ltd. He had originally been a Colour Sergeant in the old 2nd Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment, later the 6th Territorial Battalion but was commissioned in the Ardwicks. Promoted Captain in June 1906.
Standring, Dudley Hethorn.
1885 – 1915. Educated at Conway. A pre-war officer of the Ardwicks, promoted Captain on 5 February 1913. A director of John Strandring & Co, smallware manufacturers of Livesey Street Mills, Manchester. His home was Southdown Cottage, Bowdon, Altrincham. Mentioned in Despatches on several occasions. Died 30 May 1915 of wounds sustained on 28 May. Commemorated in Redoubt Cemetery, Gallipoli and on a brass plaque in St Mary's Church, Bowdon.
Robert
William George Heys. He is also mentioned on page 27 of the Book With the Manchester's in the East.
Also I've found mention of him with 1/6th Battalion ???
Timberman
from the 42nd divisional history
chris
(click for bigger)
Thanks everybody, this helps build the background on these men.
I have some more Manchesters in other Battalions and will put them up for comment when I have compiled the data .
Mike