12th (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Battalion, Manchester Regiment

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12th (Service) Battalion, Manchester Regiment
12th (DLOY) Battalion, Manchester Regiment
Active7 October 1914–20 May 1919
Country 
Second Battle of Cambrai
Battle of the Selle
Battle of the Sambre

The 12th (Service) Battalion, Manchester Regiment, was a unit of '

German Spring Offensive and the final Allied Hundred Days Offensive
.

12th (Service) Battalion

Recruitment

Alfred Leete's recruitment poster for Kitchener's Army.

On 6 August 1914, less than 48 hours after Britain's declaration of war, Parliament sanctioned an increase of 500,000 men for the Regular British Army, and the newly appointed Secretary of State for War, Earl Kitchener of Khartoum issued his famous call to arms: 'Your King and Country Need You', urging the first 100,000 volunteers to come forward. This group of six divisions with supporting arms became known as Kitchener's First New Army, or 'K1'.[1][2] A flood of volunteers poured into the recruiting offices across the country and were formed into 'Service' battalions of the county regiments. So many came forward that the 'K1' battalions were quickly filled and the recruitment of 'K2' units was authorised on 11 September. The Manchester Regiment's K2 battalion was raised in September and officially became the 12th (Service) Battalion at Ladysmith Barracks, Ashton-under-Lyne, on 7 October 1914.[3][4][5][6]

Training

The battalion was assigned to

Hursley Park. The division underwent final intensive battle training at Flowerdown.[4][5][6][7]

On 5 July the division was informed that it would be retained in England for some time on home defence. However, this was rescinded at midnight the same day and it was ordered to embark for the

Boulogne next day with a strength of 30 officers and 945 other ranks (ORs) under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel E.G. Harrison, and marched to join the division, which was concentrating south of Saint-Omer.[4][5][6][7][8]

Ypres

17th (Northern) Division moved up to the front on 19 July and joined

6th Division on 9 August. The new trenches in front and behind the line looked like jumping-off trenches and assembly trenches. These obvious preparations drew German artillery fire onto the division's own front and communication trenches. 6th Division's limited attack was notably well planned and executed, recapturing the big Hooge Crater and the stables of the chateau.[4][7][8][9]

The battalion settled down to the routine of spells in the front line alternating with reserve positions, providing working parties, and occasional trench raids, such as one carried out by 12th Manchesters n 'Gravel Farm' on 17 September. 17th (N) Division was not engaged in any major actions for the rest of the year. On 14 February 1916 the division was holding the line astride the Ypres–Comines Canal including 'The Bluff', a spoilheap left after the construction of the canal that provided the best observation post in the area. A German attack captured the Bluff, while 12th Manchesters south of the canal came under heavy bombardment, leading to the cancellation of a planned relief that night. Next day A Company moved into a redoubt in the British line, where they suffered heavy casualties from shellfire. The battalion was finally relieved on 20/21 February; it was still in the rest camp when the rest of the division took part in a set-piece attack that recovered the Bluff.[4][7][8][10]

In late March the division moved south to the Armentières sector, with 12th Mancehsters moving into the front line on 22 March. The German artillery was very active in this area. In mid-May 12 Manchesters introduced the 2nd Battalion Otago Regiment of the newly arrived New Zealand Division to the sector before handing over to them. On 15 May 12th Manchesters marched out to the Zudausques training area behind the lines, where it spent the next month.[8]

The ruins of Fricourt, July 1916.

Somme

The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was preparing for that summer's 'Big Push' (the Battle of the Somme), and 17th (N) Division was sent to join the newly formed XV Corps for this offensive. 12th Manchesters entrained at Saint-Omer for Amiens on 12 June and then marched to Poulainville where it resumed training. On 27 June the battalion left its billets and marched to Heilly, moving into the Bois des Tailles on the night of 30 June. When the assault was launched next day 17th (N) Division was in reserve and 52nd Bde was not involved in the disastrous First day on the Somme. Next day the battalion 'stood to' at 15 minutes' notice, while 17th (N) Division occupied Fricourt without fighting. On the night of 3/4 July the battalion took over captured German trenches beyond the village and next morning supported the brigades' successful attack on Quadrangle Trench. On 7 July the division was ordered to advance about 500 yards (460 m) over open ground to take Quadrangle Support Trench. The attack was launched in the dark, but the Germans were ready and the leading battalions of 52nd Bde were thrown back. At 07.25 the 12th Manchesters and 9th Bn Duke of Wellington's Regiment were ordered to make a second attempt at 08.00 when the neighbouring formations made their main attack. With so little warning the attack began late and the protective artillery barrage lifted before the troops reached the enemy line. Machine gun fire from Mametz Wood cut down most of the first (B and D Companies) and second wave (C Company). As the Official History relates, 'in broad daylight the two battalions had no chance of reaching Quadrangle Support over bare and open ground'. Lieutenant-Col Harrison was wounded while superintending the withdrawal of the survivors. The battalion lost 15 officers and 539 ORs killed, wounded and missing (many of the wounded being captured).[4][7][8][11][12]

An abandoned German trench in Delville Wood near Longueval, September 1916.

12th Manchesters were relieved and sent by rail to

Northumberland Fusiliers led. The field artillery laid down an intense 5-minute barrage before Zero hour, but the German artillery caught the attackers with high explosive and gas shells and their machine guns opened up. Communications were cut, and it was not until 04.35 that Divisional HQ learned of the failure of the attack and the heavy casualties incurred. (The battalion's casualties for August were five officers and 169 ORs.)[4][7][8][13]

Once again the battalion was withdrawn into reserve and went to Carnoy to reorganise. It provided some working parties and did some trench holding, but on 11 August was pulled out and sent to Souastre. By the end of the month it was trench-holding in a quiet sector. At the end of September it began intensive training and returned to the frontline trenches near Le Transloy on 30 October, where part of the division captured Zenith Trench on 2 November. In places the trenches were waist-deep in mud and suffered from sporadic German shelling. The offensive came to an end and 17th (N) Division was relieved in mid-November. 12th Manchesters went to Saisseval for rest and training.[8][14]

12th Manchesters returned to the front in December, first in reserve at Guillemont, then holding the frontline trenches on the Ancre Heights from 25 December. There were some operations along the Ancre in early 1917, and 8 February 52nd Bde captured a trench overlooking Sailly-Saillisel. 12th Manchesters provided carrying parties (A Company) and garrisons for captured strongpoints (B Company) as counter-attacks were beaten off. The battalion suffered 54 casualties.[8][15]

Arras

17th (N) Division spent the whole of March in reserve and training. It was transferred to

West Riding Regiment cooperating. The enemy machine gunners detected the advance and opened up, but by 03.45 the battalion had taken the trench except at the right, where two platoons were held up 10 yards (9.1 m) short by a German strongpoint. These two platoons held out in shellholes all day until they ran out of ammunition and had lost three-quarters of their number. They then withdrew at dusk and C Company in support dug a strongpoint to guard that flank. Although the artillery response to SOS calls kept off German counter-attacks, 9th West Ridings had failed and 12th Manchesters had both flanks 'in the air'. It was relieved that night having lost 6 officers and 120 ORs.[8][16]

The battalion went by train to Sus-Saint-Léger for rest and reorganisation. Major E.G.S Truell arrived to take command and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. On 3 May the division moved into XVII Corps reserve, with 52nd Bde as divisional reserve. 12th Manchesters provided digging parties, then moved into the front line on 9 May. It was in support when the rest of 52nd Bde made an unsuccessful attack on 12 May, then held the front line for a few days. It had just been relieved in 16 May when the Germans put in a major attack from the chemical works at Rœux and it was called forward again. However, the attack was beaten off, and the battalion was not needed.[4][7][8][17]

The Arras offensive was now effectively over. The battalion settled into the routine of trench-holding, patrolling, and providing working parties for the

Box barrage and in conjunction with 93rd Field Company, RE, the raiders destroyed dugouts, machine guns and trench mortars. Although the raid was only partially successful (one trench could not be entered), it secured some prisoners as well. On 22 September the battalion marched to XVII Corps' rest camp at Hauteville.[8]

12th (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Battalion

Main article: Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry

At Hauteville the battalion was reorganised. During the summer a number of Corps Cavalry Regiments had been disbanded and their men sent for infantry training. On 24 September a draft of 7 officers and 125 ORs from Regimental Headquarters, C and D Squadrons, 1/1st Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry (DLOY) joined 12th (Service) Bn, which was redesignated 12th (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) Battalion, Manchester Regiment. (Shortly after the outbreak of war the Manchester-based 1/1st DLOY of the Territorial Force had been broken up to form divisional cavalry squadrons. In 1916 those squadrons serving on the Western Front had rejoined in III Corps Cavalry Regiment).[4][7][5][6][8][18][19]

After absorbing this draft, the battalion moved to Brévillers and began training for its next operation. 17th (N) Division was sent to take part in the Third Ypres Offensive and on 4 October 12 (DLOY) Battalion entrained for the Salient, where it resumed training.[8]

Passchendaele

The Ypres offensive had already been in progress for two-and-a-half months when 17th (N) Division joined XIV Corps for the Second Battle of Passchendaele on 12 October. By now the mud was very bad, resulting in ragged artillery barrages fired from unsteady platforms, and painfully slow infantry advances. However, on this occasion 17th (N) Division was lucky: the supporting barrage was effective and the opposing Germans 'were in no mood' to face it. The division gained much of its objective despite the mud and casualties from snipers; 12th (DLOY) Bn spent most of the day in reserve. On 16/17 October it was relieved and went to Parroy Camp. The rear areas were raided nightly by German bombers, and the battalion suffered some casualties.[4][7][8][20]

A duckboard track at Passchendaele

On 9 November, during the

duckboard tracks which were the only routes across the mud. On 14 November the battalion was pulled out to Dragon Camp, where numerous case of Trench foot were reported as a consequence of the men having been standing for days in waterlogged trenches.[4][7][8]

The offensive had ended. 12th (DLOY) Battalion resumed training at the camps behind the line, providing working parties for the artillery, and the battalion did one short spell in the support line. However, the camps were still under intermittent shellfire and air attack: on 29 November a lance-corporal on anti-aircraft duty shot down a German aircraft. On 28 November Lt-Col Truell returned to command the battalion. On 3 December 17 (N) Division moved further back to Louches, but was still at 12 hours' notice to move it required. Then on 15 December it entrained for Third Army, going first into camp near Achiet-le-Petit, then at Rocquigny. On 21 December it relieved 59th (2nd North Midland) Division in V Corps' line in the Flesquières Salient, where the Battle of Cambrai had recently ended. 12th (DLOY) Battalion was in the captured Hindenburg Line support trenches, where it spent time reversing the firesteps, moving the barbed wire to the side facing the enemy and providing working parties for 256th Tunnelling Company, RE, which was re-opening deep German dugouts.[8]

Spring Offensive

It was recognised that the Flesquières Salient would be vulnerable when the Germans launched their anticipated

Spring Offensive, so most of the salient was in the lightly defended 'Forward Zone' while the main defences of the 'Battle Zone' were drawn across its base. 17th (N) Division continued working on its defences and protective patrols were placed in No man's land every night. In fact the Germans had no intention of attacking this sector head-on; rather they would 'pinch out' the salient by attacking its 'shoulders'. For several days German artillery had shelled the salient with Mustard gas, but when the offensive began on 21 March the attacks against 17th (N) Division were restricted to heavy artillery fire and large raids, which were driven off. However, the German attacks further north had been successful and during the night 12th (DLOY) Bn was ordered to abandon the outposts and fall back on the defended village of Havrincourt. Before leaving, the CO and adjutant burned their HQ dugout with a tin of rum, and the battalion fell back as ordered. On 22 March the Germans launched a series of four attacks against the village from 18.35 to 20.30. The first attempt employed many grenades, but all the attacks were halted, the last when a field artillery brigade assisted the shooting of the defenders by laying a barrage on the attackers as they rose from the ground. German losses in this sector were heavy and they feared a counter-attack. The battalion's casualties during the day were 1 officer and about 30 ORs.[4][7][8][21][22]

However, breakthroughs to the north and south made the situation at Flesquières precarious. That night 17th (N) Division fell back through its Battle Zone: 12th (DLOY) Bn was ordered back to 'Yorkshire Spoil Heap' in the old British front line north of Havrincourt Wood. Next day the division was withdrawn to the 'Red Line' as V Corps retired to avoid the German 'pincers'. 12th (DLOY) Battalion was ordered back to Rocquigny and together with the rest of 52nd Bde it got away cleanly, covered by B Company and the 10th Lancashire Fusiliers, but the rest of the division had some hard fighting. The battalion occupied an old German trench running across the

River Ancre. From 21 to 31 March 12th (DLOY) Bn had lost 17 ORs killed, 10 officers and 102 ORs wounded, and 108 ORs missing.[4][7][8][23][24]

The battalion spent the next few weeks mainly in divisional reserve and training, occasionally being subjected to gas shelling. In April it received a draft of reinforcements, mainly from the 1/5th and 2/6th Manchesters from 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division, which had been reduced to cadres. By June it was taking turns in the front line or supplying working parties to the front line battalions. Night raids were common along the line: on the night of 3/4 June B Company was shelled and a German raiding party approached but were driven off by artillery and machine gun fire responding to B Company's SOS flare.[5][8]

Hundred Days Offensive

When the Allied Hundred Days Offensive was launched at the Battle of Amiens on 8 August, 17th (N) Division stood by in reserve behind the attacking Australian Corps but was not required. On 20 August it was transferred back to V Corps and was back in action from 23 August during the Second Battle of the Somme. On 24 August 52nd Brigade found that the brigade it was supporting had gone astray, and discovered the enemy still in place, so its attack on Courcelette had to be cancelled. Next day the brigade captured Martinpuich after 12th (DLOY) Bn encircled it from the south and 10th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers from the north. On 26 August the brigade was held up in front of High Wood until 12th (DLOY) Bn initiated another outflanking move from the south. The battalion's casualties over the two days were 5 officers and 47 ORs killed, 7 officers and 194 ORs wounded, one OR missing. Another attempt by the battalion at an outflanking move, against Le Transloy on 1 September, however, came to nothing when it was stopped by machine gun fire from the sugar factory, which another division had failed to capture. The village was heavily shelled overnight and 12th (DLOY) Bn, attacking at 05.00, worked round the flank across the Sailly-Saillisel road by 07.00, after which the Germans evacuated Le Transloy. The brigade then advanced behind a barrage to its second objective against little opposition, and continued on to Rocquigny by 22.00. The casualties had been a further 5 officers and 70 ORs, leaving only one fit officer per company.[4][7][8][25]

The advance continued, with Third Army closing up to the Germans'

River Selle. On the night of 11/12 October the divisional engineers built footbridges over the river and next morning 52nd Bde attacked Neuvilly, with 12th (DLOY) Manchesters and 9th Duke of Wellington's Regiment passing either side of the village, leaving it to be mopped up by 10th Lancashire Fusiliers. 12th (DLOY) Battalion reached the railway beyond the village, but a counter-attack in the afternoon drove it back almost to the river. Nevertheless, the bridgehead was held.[4][7][8][27] After 'one of the most strenuous days in the history of the Bn', 12th (DLOY) had lost 11 officers and 269 ORs, leaving it with four officers (including the CO, adjutant and medical officer) and a little over 300 men.[8]

There was another pause until a full-dress attack (the

Armistice with Germany came into force, at which time 52nd Bde had reached the River Solre, south-east of Maubeuge.[4][7][8][28]

After the Armistice, 17th (N) Division withdrew and was employed in salvage work, In December it moved back to the Abbeville area where it went into winter quarters. Demobilisation began in January 1919 and was completed in May, when the remaining cadres of the battalions returned home.[4][7][8] 12th (DLOY) Battalion was disembodied on 20 May 1919.[18]

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists 772 war dead for 12th Bn Manchester Regiment.[29]

Notes

  1. ^ Army Council Instructions No 32 (6 August) and No 37 (7 August).
  2. ^ Becke, Pt 3a, pp. 2 & 8; Appendix I.
  3. ^ Frederick, p. 133.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Becke, Pt 3a, pp. 71–7.
  5. ^ a b c d e James, p. 97.
  6. ^ a b c d "Manchester Regiment".
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "17th (Northern) Division".
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y 12th Manchester War Diary July 1915–March 1919, The National Archives, Kew, file WO 95/2012/2.
  9. ^ Edmonds, 1915, Vol II, pp. 106–8.
  10. ^ Edmonds, 1916, Vol I, pp. 164–72.
  11. ^ Edmonds, 1916, Vol I, pp. 254, 363–8.
  12. ^ Miles, 1916, Vol II, pp. 5–6, 20, 29–31.
  13. ^ Miles, 1916, Vol II, pp. 185–6.
  14. ^ Miles, 1916, Vol II, pp. 469–70.
  15. ^ Falls, 1917, Vol I, pp. 85–6.
  16. ^ Falls, 1917, Vol I, pp. 64, 180, 196, 268–9, 280, 392–4.
  17. ^ Falls, 1917, Vol I, pp. 511–5.
  18. ^ a b Frederick, pp. 37–8.
  19. ^ James, p. 22.
  20. ^ Edmonds, 1917, Vol II, pp. 344–5.
  21. ^ Blaxland, pp. 58–9.
  22. ^ Edmonds, 1918, Vol I, pp. 42–3, 132, 218–9, 304–7, Sketches 4, 14, 15.
  23. ^ Blaxland, pp. 66–7, 73–4.
  24. ^ Edmonds, 1918, Vol I, pp. 371–2, 375–80, 429–30, 476–80, 518, Sketches 16–20.
  25. ^ Edmonds, 1918, Vol IV, pp. 61, 180, 232, 247–8, 269, 300, 379, 411–2, Sketches 14, 16, 18.
  26. ^ Edmonds, 1918, Vol IV, pp. 439, 449, 451, 456, 489–93, Sketch 24.
  27. ^ Edmonds & Maxwell-Hyslop, 1918, Vol V, pp. 219–20, 238–9, 249–51, Sketch 16.
  28. ^ Edmonds & Maxwell-Hyslop, 1918, Vol V, pp. 335–8, 479–80, 496–7, 509, 522, 529, Sketch 36.
  29. ^ "Search Results". CWGC.

References

External sources
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