The Manchester Regiment (63rd/96th)
The Manchester Regiment was formed on 1 July 1881 from the amalgamation of the 63rd (West Suffolk) Regiment with the 96th Regiment of Foot. The 63rd became the 1st Battalion of the Manchester Regiment; the 96th became the Second Battalion.
The 63rd was raised in 1756 as the 2nd/8th Foot (The King's). Two years later, it was constituted as a separate regiment. From 1782 to 1881, the 63rd was the West Suffolk Regiment. The Fleur de Lys was associated with the 63rd Foot during the first half of the 19th century. In 1923, the Fleur de Lys replaced the Arms of the City of Manchester as the regimental badge of the Manchester Regiment.
In July 1881, the the 63rd Foot linked with the 96th Regiment of Foot to form The Manchester Regiment.
[Images portraying the Manchester Regiment in Malta are to be found in the Manchester Regiment Image Archive.]
The 1st/Manchester Regiment
1897 1st/Manchester
A detachment of the 1st/Manchester Regiment arrived from India on 1 Dec 1897.
It had an average strength of 21 men with 36 admissions (1714.3/1000 mean strength) into hospital.
Its average constantly sick was 1.14 (54.29/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 19.81 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 11.56 days.
The Detachment 1st/Manchester Regiment was quartered at Fort Manoel for 1 month.
1898 1st/Manchester
The detachment of the 1st/Manchester Regiment had an average strength of 24 men with 31 admissions (1291.7/1000 mean strength) into hospital.
Its average constantly sick was 1.95 (81.25/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 29.66 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 22.96 days.
The 2nd/Manchester Regiment
1881 96th Regiment
20 Mar 1881 The 96th Foot embarked at Portsmouth from Aldershot on 11 Mar 1881, arriving in Malta on 20 March.
The battalion had an average strength of 520 men. It had 601 admissions (1155.8/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 12 deaths (23.07/1000 mean strength). 15 invalids were returned to England. Its average daily sick was 37.44 (72/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 26.28 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 22.74 days.
The 96th Regiment gave the highest rate of mortality during the year (23.07/1000 mean strength). Three soldiers drowned while serving in the command. One soldier blew out his brains at Fort Ricasoli.
1 July The 96th Regiment became the 2nd Battalion The Manchester Regiment.
1882 2nd/Manchester
The 2nd/Manchester Regiment had an average strength of 540 men. It had 435 admissions (805.5/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 4 deaths (7.40 deaths/1000 mean strength). 36 invalids returned to England.
Its average constantly sick was 29.26 (54.18/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 19.77 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 24.55 days.
14 Aug 1882 The 2nd/Manchester Regiment embarked for Egypt on the troopship HMS Euphrates, having served 1 year and 5 months in Malta. It moved to Bombay from Egypt on 15 Oct 1882.
The 5th/Manchester Regiment
1945 5th Manchester
18 Nov 1945 Arrived at Malta.
31 Dec Strength: 0 officers, 702 other ranks. Infantry Machine Gun Coy.
1946 5th Manchester
27 Dec 1946 Placed in a state of suspended animation on the authority of War Office cable 67653SD2(B) dated 16 Sept 1946.
The 6th/Manchester Regiment
1915 – 6th Manchester
Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1915:
- 15 June Pte Booth William Henry 1st/6th Manchester aged 20 yrs.
The 7th/Manchester Regiment
1915 – 7th Manchester
Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1915:
- 15 June Pte Carpenter Charles Alfred 1st/7th Manchester aged 37 yrs.
- 18 June Pte Parsonage J F 1st/7th Manchester aged 20 yrs.
- 28 June Pte McHugh Edward Henry aged 20 yrs C Coy 1st/7th Manchester Regiment.
- 30 June Pte Brown James W aged 22 yrs, 1st/7th Manchester Regiment.
The 8th/Manchester Regiment TA
1915 – 8th/Manchester
Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1915:
- 11 June Pte Robinson C E 1st/8th Manchester Regiment.
- 9 July Sgt Whittaker C 1st/8th Manchester Regiment aged 47 years.
1940 8th Manchester
20 May 1940 8th/Manchester arrived from Gibraltar and moved to huts in Ghajn Tuffieha Camp.
Bn HQ, HQ Coy and a Rifle Coy were at Ghajn Tuffieha Camp, a Rifle Coy was at RAF Station Hal Far (GR 4716) under command of 2nd/Devon, a Rifle Coy was at Luqa Airport (GR 448218) under command of 2/RWK, a third Rifle Coy was at Ta Qali (GR 388255) under command of 2/RWK, and a platoon was at San Anton Palace (GR 415259) to protect the palace from sabotage.
Detachments were at Targa Gap (GR 3828) and at Naxxar Gap (GR 4029) to prevent enemy movement southwards across Victoria Lines. Sections were at locations R3 (GR 337308), R4 (GR 348308), and R5 (GR 352312) to prevent enemy moving south over the Wardija Ridge.
It was expected for 8th Manchester to take over Fawra Coy and St Paul's Bay Coy from 2nd/Royal Irish Fusiliers. A third Coy was along Wardija Ridge; a fourth Coy at Ta' Qali landing ground. HQ Coy was at Tas Saliba Cross roads with Reserve Coy at Iz Zebbieh.
29 May 1940 8th/Manchester took over Wardija Defence Sector.
10 June One Coy 8th/Manch defended the landing ground at Luqa runway. It was supported by a carrier Plt of 1/Dorset Regiment.
30 June Strength: 27 officers, 778 men. The medical officer was 70801 Captain P O' Donnell RAMC (TA).
26 Oct Lt Smith RAMC reported for duty at ADS Mgarr but left for duty at St Andrews on 13 November. During October there were no battle casualties but an epidemic of Catarrhal Jaundice broke out at Tas Saliba (area north of Zebbieh) and Ghajn Tuffieha among men of the HQ Coy 8 Manchester. There were two cases from L3 position of D Coy situated near Ghajn Tuffieha. 7 officers and 14 other ranks were admitted to hospital with jaundice. All contacts were kept under observation. Sporadic cases of jaundice were reported in November.
30 Dec 1940 A new cook house was completed at ADS Mgarr located at the village school, which was sandbagged to protect the Advanced Dressing Station against blast.
1941 8th Manchester
Feb 1941 8th/Manchester were responsible for the Ghajn Tuffieha area north of the Victoria Lines and the aerofrome defence of Ta Qali. The Victoria Lines from Falka Gap inclusive to the western end of the Victoria Lines was also their responsibility.
30 June Strength: 34 officers, 873 men.
30 Sep Strength: 34 officers, 871 men.
Aug 1941 Moved to Gozo for 6 weeks training.
1942 8th Manchester
The regiment was tasked to build protective pens for fighter aircraft, fill bomb craters on the runway, and refuel and rearming fighter aircraft.
1943 8th Manchester
Aug 1943 Left Malta for the Middle East.
The 9th/Manchester Regiment (TF)
1915 – 9th Manchester
Burials at Pietà Military Cemetery in 1915:
- 7 June Pte Penny Thomas aged 21 years.
- 18 June Pte Summersgill A E aged 21 years was buried by the Rev M Tobias.
The 10th Manchester Regiment (TF)
1915 – 1st/10th Manchester
The 10th Battalion Manchester Regiment (TF) arrived in Egypt on 25 September 1914. In May 1915, it formed part of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division and landed at Cape Helles, Gallipoli.
Burials at Pietà Military Cemetery in 1915:
- 10 June Pte Carter Walter.
- 10 June Sgt Fallows Samuel aged 23 yrs.
- 11 June Pte Byrne John aged 23 yrs.
- 12 June Pte Black T aged 37 yrs.
- 14 June Pte Hadfield J W.
- 15 June Pte Currie W aged 23 yrs.
- 24 June Pte Johnson John James aged 18 yrs.
- 1 July Pte Maxwell John aged 19 yrs.
- 5 Sep Pte Cocker Harold aged 35 yrs.
- 3 Oct Pte Hoyle F aged 25 yrs.
The 11th/Manchester Regiment
The 11th Battalion Manchester Regiment formed part of 34th Brigade 11th (Northern) Division in Gallipoli.
1915 – 11th Manchester
Burials at Pietà Military Cemetery in 1915:
- 18 Aug Pte Brooks J aged 24 yrs.
- 26 Aug Pte Hindley E W aged 25 yrs.
- 13 Sep Pte Elwell J T aged 42 yrs.
Manchester Infantry Brigade
Brigadier General Noel Lee VD was born in Altrincham on 23 December 1868. He was commissioned Lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment Territorial Force in 1886 and promoted Colonel in 1907. In 1906 he was awarded the Volunteer Officer's Decoration (VD).
Brig N Lee commanded the 127th (Manchester TF) Brigade 42nd Division in Gallipoli. He was wounded in the throat on 4 June during the 3rd Battle of Krithia. Krithia was regarded as the key to the principal British objective in the south of the peninsula, the dominating heights of Achi Baba, and the village gave its name to three separate battles.
Brig N Lee was casevaced to the Blue Sisters Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Burials at Pietà Military Cemetery in 1915:
- 23 June Brig Gen Lee Noel VD aged 48 yrs, 127th (Manchester TF) Bde 42nd Division.
Bibliography
- Farmer J. S., 1984. The regimental records of the British Army Reprint Edition, Trowbridge, Wiltshire: Crecy Books.
- Edwards T. J., 1980. Regimental Badges First Edition, Tonbridge, Kent: Ernest Benn Ltd.
- Badges of HM Services. WM. Briggs & Co Manchester.
- TNA:WO 265/1. Quarterly Historical Reports, Headquarters Malta Command, 30 September – 31 December 1946.
- TNA:WO 379/11. Stations of Regiments 1859–1900.