Broznitsky Posted 11 July , 2003 Share Posted 11 July , 2003 Ronnie "Sgt York" kindly provided me some details about my grandfather's battalion. Can any other Pal provide any data/information/accounts/photos about 1st Manchesters during December -- in particular 21st December 1914 and the (it seems) fierce fighting around Pont Fixe, La Bassee Canal, and Givenchy -- and the enemy units they faced? Peter P.S. Was late December 14 cold/icy/snowy in France? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 11 July , 2003 Share Posted 11 July , 2003 Peter, Don't know if you have this? "Attacked again 6-30am 21st but soon came under heavy machine gun and rifle fire. Enemy counter-attacked at 11-00am and forced the batt'n to fall back through Givenchy where more close quarter fighting took place, to Pont Fixe" Casualties 2 officers and 64 other ranks killed. 3 officers, 123 other ranks wounded. 46 missing. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broznitsky Posted 11 July , 2003 Author Share Posted 11 July , 2003 Thanks Bob, had part of this from Ronnie. Just to clarify, all casualties you list are for the 21st? Must have been heavy going if 200 went down in one day . . . Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 12 July , 2003 Share Posted 12 July , 2003 Peter, Info comes from British Battalions 1914. Had a look on soldiers died cd for that date and interestingly it gives 79 fatalities for the 1st Manchesters on that day. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 12 July , 2003 Share Posted 12 July , 2003 Had a look on soldiers died cd for that date and interestingly it gives 79 fatalities for the 1st Manchesters on that day. 76 of whom are listed as KIA. (3 DOW). No officers are listed as dying that day. Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broznitsky Posted 15 July , 2003 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2003 Bob, Dave, Ronnie: Thanks for this. Could someone with SDGW look up casualties for Dec. 20 and 22? As I interpret it, it looks like 1st Mancs occupied Givenchy on the 21st, held it thru the night, and then were forced out on the 22nd, retreating back to Pont Fixe, probably suffering heavy casualties that day. (But I might have the dates wrong, it could be the 20th and 21st for the heavy fighting ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt York Posted 15 July , 2003 Share Posted 15 July , 2003 Peter, 1st Bn Mancs 20/12/14 26 KIA 1 DOW Nothing coming up for 22/12/14 Ronnie. NAC still down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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