mack
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 481
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Post by mack on Apr 1, 2012 8:28:37 GMT
on 21st march 1918 D.coy and the HQ staff were in positions on manchester hill under the command of Lt/colonel wilfrith elstob,the germans launched their march offensive and the men on the hill were expected to take the full force of the assault in that sector,colonel elstob told his men that the only form of resistance was to the last bullet,after some viceous fighting,the hill was finally surrounded,the germans called on the manchesters to surrender,but they replied NEVER,after further fighting,the hill was finally captured,out of all the officers and men on the hill,only two officers and 15 men survived,the rest were either dead or wounded.one of the 15 men was killed by a german who turned his machine gun on the tiny group as they were marched away by the germans,three salford lads were amongst this tiny band sgt 6384 james,heny heywood,569 liverpool st,seedley pte 18893 joseph,edward huddart,15 sunnyside st,salford cpl 6854 reginald crossley,3 caldy rd,pendleton
mack
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Post by shred on Apr 1, 2012 21:57:26 GMT
Great stuff Mack. James Henry Heywood (6384, 16th Manchester Regiment) attested on the 2nd September 1914 aged 19, in civilian life he had worked as a clerk. 18/06/1915 Promoted to Corporal 08/08/1916 Promoted to Lance Sergeant 21/03/1918 (Manchester Hill) Reported as missing and later a prisoner of war. 14/12/1918 Repatriated arrived in Ripon 18/05/1915 Demobilized Attachments:
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Post by shred on Apr 1, 2012 22:22:31 GMT
Reginald Crossley, 6854, 16th Manchesters, attested on the 3rd September 1914 aged 19. In civilian life he had worked as a clerk.
10/07/1916 Appointed Lance Corporal 22/09/1917 Promoted to Corporal 21/03/1918 (Manchester Hill) Reported missing and later prisoner of war Repatriated Ripon - date illegible (presume same date as James Henry Heywood) Demobilized 09/03/1919
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mack
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 481
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Post by mack on Apr 3, 2012 4:59:09 GMT
all three men were signallers on the hill,artillery fire had cut all the telephone lines from the hill,except the buried cable to divisional HQ,pte huddart and L/cpl seaton palmer were in charge of this telephone link,they handed over the phone to col elstob to send his last message to HQ,his last words were,"the end is near,goodbye"he then went back to the firing line,and fought and died with his men,he was awarded the victoria cross for his actions that day.
mack
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mack
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 481
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Post by mack on Apr 3, 2012 5:47:18 GMT
after the war,reg crossley became the chief surveyor for the london assurance company in manchester,he later moved to styal rd,gatley,pte heywood[known as harry]became an insurance agent for the royal liver friendly society in liverpool and moved to 13 duffield rd,irlam o heights,pte huddart never kept in touch with any of his friends from the signal section after the war,he may have left salford and moved to surrey
mack
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mack
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 481
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Post by mack on Apr 3, 2012 17:50:19 GMT
CSM 6962 thomas brown of 68 guide st,weaste and sgt 7396 samuel banks of pendleton were with col elstob when he was killed,they were both taken to giessen POW camp and later transferred to the camp at meschede,both wrote accounts of col elstobs final moments pte 7009 john,edward innes of 15 wythburn st,weaste was in col elstobs HQ section,he was also taken to giessen POW camp pte 11755 george,albert brady of 105 moss lane swinton was also a survivor at the hill
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