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16th (1st City) Battalion, Manchester Regiment
The 16th (1st City) Battalion, Manchester Regiment was raised in Manchester on the 28th of August 1914 by the Lord Mayor and City. Initially they trained at Heaton Park but moved in April 1915 to Belton Park, where they joined 90th Brigade, 30th Division. They to Larkhill in September 1915 for final training and proceeded to France on the 6th of November 1915. concentrating near Amiens. In 1916 they were in action during the Battle of the Somme, in which the Division captured Montauban. In 1917 they took part in the pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Arras Offensive and The Battle of Pilkem Ridge. In 1918 They were in action on The Somme and in the Battles of the Lys. On the 13th of May 1918 the 16th Manchesters were reduced to cadre strength. They transferred to 42nd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division on the 18th of June 1918 they returned to England via Boulogne and were reconstituted at Cowshott, absorbing the 29th Manchesters. They returned to France on the 4th of July 1918 and joined Second Army, seeing action at Ypres 1918 and in the final advance in Flanders.
Sep 1914 Manchester City Battalion Recruiting Signing up for the 1st City Battalion, Manchester Regiment took place at the Artillery HQ on Hyde Road and later at Manchester Town Hall
21st Apr 1915 Manchester City Battalions Brigade Sports day A crowd of 20,000 people gathered at Heaton Park to watch Manchester City Battalion's Brigade sport's day. 4th City Battalion won the Brigade steeplechase earning them the nickname Scarlet Runners.
24th Apr 1915 Manchester City Battalions move camp The four Manchester City Battalions left Heaton Park Camp for Belton Park near Grantham, Lincolnshire. 18th Battalion left Heaton park in the early morning, marching through Manchester to London Road station to entrain for Grantham. On arrival they marched 3 miles to Belton park.
8th Dec 1915 16th Manchesters under Training
1st of January 1916 Move 
1st of January 1916 Night-time Shelling
2nd of January 1916 Direct Hits
13th of January 1916 5th Division in Reserve
1st Jul 1916 Manchester Pals in action
1st Jul 1916 Thrilling Advance
1st Jul 1916 Montauban Captured
1st Jul 1916 Ammunition
10th Jul 1916 In Action
13th Jul 1916 Address
31st Jul 1917 Attack Made
27th Sep 1917 In the Line
15th Dec 1917 Holding the Line
17th Dec 1917 Holding the Line
19th Apr 1918 Reliefs Complete
20th Apr 1918 Quiet
21st Apr 1918 Quieter
22nd Apr 1918 Gas
23rd Apr 1918 Gas Shells
4th Jul 1918 On the Move
5th Jul 1918 On the March
11th Jul 1918 On the March
12th Jul 1918 On the March
13th Jul 1918 On the March
14th Jul 1918 Training
15th Jul 1918 Training
16th Jul 1918 Training
17th Jul 1918 Inspection
31st Jul 1918 Training
1st Aug 1918 Training
1st Aug 1918 Training
5th Aug 1918 Horse Show
16th Aug 1918 Training
17th Aug 1918 Sports
18th Aug 1918 Training
23rd Aug 1918 On the Move
24th Aug 1918 Training
29th Aug 1918 On the Move
30th Aug 1918 In Reserve
31st Aug 1918 In Reserve
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with16th (1st City) Battalion, Manchester Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Ashton Rowland Otto. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Aspley Charles Joseph. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918)
- Boyd Herbert. Pte.
- Cope Charles William. Pte. (d.30th July 1916)
- Davies James Frederick. Pte. (d.16th July 1916)
- Dawson MID. Leonard. Pte.
- Eaton Samuel J. (d.18th April 1918)
- Elstob VC, DSO, MC Wilfrith. Lt Col. (d.21st March 1918)
- Jones Ellis. (d.18th Aug 1917)
- Kerry MID. Arnold John St Legier. Lt. (d.14th Feb 1918)
- Morris Sidney. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Ringham H.. 2/Lt.
- Roberts Thomas Herbert. Cpl. (d.6th Jul 1916)
- Ross Harold. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- South Harold. Pte. (d.1st July 1916)
- Stearns Walter Ryder. Pte. (d.9th July 1916)
- Stearns Walter Ryder. Pte. (d.9th Jul 1916)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 16th (1st City) Battalion, Manchester Regiment from other sources.
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Lt Col. Wilfrith Elstob VC, DSO, MC 16th Btn. Manchester Regiment (d.21st March 1918)  Wilfrith Elstob died on 21st March 1918, ages 29 and is commemorated on on the Pozieres Memorial in the Pozieres British cemetery in France.
He was the son of the Rev. Canon J. G. Elstob and Frances Alice Elstob, of Fanshawe, Chelford, Cheshire.
An extract from the London Gazette, dated 6th June, 1919, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice during operations at Manchester Redoubt, near St. Quentin, on the 21st March, 1918. During the preliminary bombardment he encouraged his men in the posts in the Redoubt by frequent visits, and when repeated attacks developed controlled the defence at the points threatened, giving personal support with revolver, rifle and bombs. Single-handed he repulsed one bombing assault driving back the enemy and inflicting severe casualties. Later, when ammunition was required, he made several journeys under severe fire in order to replenish the supply. Throughout the day Lieutenant-Colonel Elstob, although twice wounded, showed the most fearless disregard of his own safety, and by his encouragement and noble example inspired his command to the fullest degree. The Manchester Redoubt was surrounded in the first wave of the enemy attack, but by means of the buried cable Lieutenant-Colonel Elstob was able to assure his Brigade Commander that "The Manchester Regiment will defend Manchester Hill to the last." Sometime after this post was overcome by vastly superior forces, and this very gallant officer was killed in the final assault, having maintained to the end the duty which he had impressed on his men - namely, 'Here we fight, and here we die.' He set throughout the highest example of valour, determination, endurance and fine soldierly bearing."
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Pte. Leonard Dawson MID. E Coy, 16th Btn. Manchester Regiment My paternal Grandad, Len Dawson became a POW at Guillemont on 8th of August 1916.
He was sent to Schneidemuhl in Poland where he was when the war ended.
He befriended another POW Robert Cochrane of the Kings Rifles who died in the camp of T.B.early December 1918 prior to their repatriation to England.
Grandad consequently married his widow (Alice-my grandma)in Lancashire in 1919.
Due to ill health (gassing) Len and Alice moved to a drier climate (Perth, Australia) in 1927 with their 4 children one of whom was my Dad, also named Len who was born in East Manchester in 1921.
They never returned to England.
I have inherited Grandad's 3 WW1 Medals plus the 2 WW2 Medals he was awarded as a staff sergeant in the Australian Army.
Prior to his death in 1955, Grandad took part in ANZAC Day commemorations and marched with the Old Contemptibles (named after the K's description of the BEF as "Britain's contemptible little army").
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Pte. Harold "Lofty" South 16th (1st City) Battalion Manchester Regiment (d.1st July 1916) I have found out that Harold South was a colleague and pal of Rowland Otto Ashton and friend of Frank Watson.
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Cpl. Thomas Herbert Roberts 6th Btn. Manchester Regiment (d.6th Jul 1916) Thomas Roberts served with the 1st City Pals and 6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment.
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Ellis Jones 16th (1st City) Btn Manchester Regiment (d.18th Aug 1917) Ellis Jones was my great grandfather but his parents and siblings never knew he had a daughter.
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Pte. Charles William Cope 18th Btn. Manchester Regiment (d.30th July 1916) I only recently learnt of my great uncle Charles Cope's service in WWI, but I'm very proud. His body was found in a shell hole by Private J. Collier 1/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Guillemont during the Battle of the Somme.
Remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial.
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Pte. Rowland Otto Ashton 16th (1st City Pals) Btn. Manchester Regiment (d.1st July 1916) Signallers Rolly Ashton and his pal Harold Ross were both killed in action near Montauban on 1st July 1916.
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Pte. Harold Ross 16th (1st City Pals) Btn. Manchester Regiment (d.1st July 1916) Signallers Harold Ross and his pal Rolly Ashton were both killed in action near Montauban on July 1st 1916.
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2/Lt. H. Ringham 16th Btn. Manchester Rgt. Lt. Ringham was a prisoner in Mainz POW Camp.
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Pte. James Frederick "Fred" Davies 16th Btn. Manchester Regiment (d.16th July 1916) Fred Davies was the son of Mr. J. A. Davies of 12 Deramore St., Rusholme, Manchester
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Pte. Charles Joseph Aspley 16th Btn.
Manchester Regiment (d.21st Mar 1918) Charles Joseph Aspley born 12 February 1898 the only son of James Henry Aspley and his wife, Agnes Jane Powell, Old Radnor, Herefordshire.
Charles was killed in action near St Quentin, France on 21st of March 1918 his name can be found on the Pozieres Memorial and also on the War Memorial adjacent to St Stephens Church, Old Radnor, Herefordshire.
Unfortunately I have no further information or a photograph.
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Pte. Herbert Boyd 16th Battalion Manchester Regiment On 26th March 1915, Herbert Boyd attested and was posted to the 16th Battalion, he served through out the Great War as follows:
30 August 1915, posted to the 25th Reserve Battalion
23 December 1915 Disembarked in France
6 July 1916 Admitted to the Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington.
29 July 1916 granted convalescent leave to 7 August 1916. Spent this leave at 24 Queens Street, Broughton.
1 September 1916 posted to 69th Training Battalion.
19 September 1917 returned to France
24 September 1917 posted to 21st Battalion
19 January 1919 Sent to Italy (21st Battalion) Home address: 24 Ellor Street, Salford.
28 February 1919 Posted to the Depot.
4 June 1919 Posted to the 2nd Battalion
23 June 1919 Appointed Lance Corporal paid.
January 1920 Appointed Acting Corporal
21 January 1920 posted to 1st Battalion as Acting Corporal
11 February 1920 Discharged as no longer fit for further service.
23 April 1920 Awarded a King's Certificate (No.63/3438)
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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The Manchester Pals Martin Steadman
Manchester proved able to raise eight Pals battalions. Initially, these battalions were composed of middle-class men who experience before the war years was within the commercial, financial and manufacturing interests which formed the foundations of Edwardian Manchester's life and prosperity. Manchester was undeniably proud of its pals battalions; that the area was capable of raising. Seven months after their arrival in France the battle of the Somme was launched, on the fateful 1st July, 1916. On the right of the British Army's extraordinary efforts that day, the Manchester Pals were part of one of the few successful actions, taking the villages of Montauban and Mametz and making a deep incursion into the German defences north of the River Somme.
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