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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

1st Btn Manchester


Broznitsky

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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?

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 :blink: )

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