Chris_Baker Posted 28 October , 2002 Share Posted 28 October , 2002 Do any experts on the Borders or Manchesters know of any specific reason why a man would be transferred from the 2nd Border to the 24th Manchesters, some time after December 1916? Was there any large-scale transfer between these units? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 4 November , 2002 Share Posted 4 November , 2002 Chris - I'm sure I've read somewhere that the Manchester Service Battalions were "over-subscribed" when they were formed and several hundred men were advised to travel to Scotland to enlist. Could be a case of the transfers "returning home". I don't know if such a thing happened, but certainly I havn't seen anything in any of the more general info in the regimental archives. I don't have the 24th's War Diary, though. Sorry can't be more help John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chrisocc Posted 10 August , 2004 Share Posted 10 August , 2004 Interesting to see this question as my grandfather was in the 2nd Borders , having been called from the reserve in August 1914 ( I have his paybook which lists his movements until mid 1915). However his MM which was awarded in 1916 is inscribed 12th Manchesters. I have been to Kew and found various records dated in 1917 and 1918, mainly medical and discharge and they all refer to the Border Regiment. Would the MM inscription refer to the unit he was with at the time the action for which it was awarded occured or the unit he was with when it was presented. Chris Nicholls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DNH Posted 10 August , 2004 Share Posted 10 August , 2004 Hi Chris, Can't imagine there would be any large scale transfers involving 24/Manch as they were by then Pioneers, and didn't lose casualties at the same rate as the infantry battalions. Bill Mitchinson's book on 24/Manch, Cotton Town Comrades, doesn't mention anything particular, but does note the paucity of information about drafts in the Battalion War Diary. Is it possible that it was an early form of 'unfit for frontline duties but could labour'? So transferred to the Divisional pioneers, before the Labour Corps? Just a thought. Did he have any particular skill or trade that may have put him in line for the Pioneers? Sorry can't be of any more help! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harribobs Posted 10 August , 2004 Share Posted 10 August , 2004 Chrisocc i have just had a quick look in the 12th battalion manchesters 1914-1918, no sign of any Nichols winning the MM with them or was it your maternal grandfather? If not nichols let me know and i will have another look. i don't remember there being any connection between the borders but it has been some time since i read it cheers (another) chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DNH Posted 11 August , 2004 Share Posted 11 August , 2004 Chrisocc There is an entry in an index of Manchester Regiment Honours and Awards for 43443 Lce Cpl H Nicholls 12th Bn (late Border) with gazette date of 14/12/16. 'Fraid that is the sum total of the entry, and no clue as to why the Border Regiment is mentioned (only attachments seem to be mentioned elsewhere in the index). Hope this helps! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chrisocc Posted 11 August , 2004 Share Posted 11 August , 2004 DNH Thanks very much, thats him. At least I now know I should be looking in the 12th Manchester War Diary to try to work out where he was when he won the medal. Doesn't solve the mystery of how he ended up in the Manchesters but thats not really too important Thanks Chris also thanks Harribobs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DNH Posted 11 August , 2004 Share Posted 11 August , 2004 Have you downloaded his MIC from the National Archives yet Chris? This is the information you get on the index: Medal card of Nicholls, Henry Corps Regiment No Rank Border Regiment 8601 Private Manchester Regiment 43443 Private Royal Defence Corps 67266 Private Border Regiment 50962 Private Try this link to see if you can get to the download page. Index Card The actual medal rolls might reveal something quite interesting. Cheers DNH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DNH Posted 11 August , 2004 Share Posted 11 August , 2004 Oops, Chris (Baker), have somewhat skewed the original thread - apologies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chrisocc Posted 11 August , 2004 Share Posted 11 August , 2004 Yes, I did thanks. It doesn't seem to show anything that interesting. However I was surprised that he had 4 regimental numbers and 2 within the Border Regiment. I know from finding his medical records at Kew that he was badly wounded and spent much of 1917 in hospital in Orpington. I assume that he went in to the RDC to recover before being sent back to the Border reg. Do you think iwould find out more if I searched at Kew under his other numbers rather than the original 8601? If you would like a copy of the MIC I'll email it to you as I can seem to work out how to edit it and paste it here. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harribobs Posted 12 August , 2004 Share Posted 12 August , 2004 Chrisocc sorry if i gave you some duff info, i was working off robert bonners edition of th 12th 14-19, and he's not mentioned in that (why not i don't know) ref the same book the battalion was training and recieving drafts at Saisseval until 12 dec 1916 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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