MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNFORGOTTEN CASUALTIES In order to introduce the Unforgotten Casualties, we have followed the extensive establishment of the Manchester Regiment and the service of each man. The most relevant service is addressed, rather than the final Battalion (Bn) that is generally adopted by CWGC. Individuals are introduced in chronological order of their date of disembarking overseas or posting for training for men who solely served at home. Regular Army Service
records him as being assumed to have been killed in action. With no known grave, the three new commemorations will be inscribed on the Addenda Panels of the Le Touret Memorial to the missing. James Nolan was aged 27 and appears to have had family in London. William Perry was the son of Margaret Ann Perry of 17 Tebbutt Street, Rochdale Road and aged 26. James Williams was aged 24/25 and the son of Joseph and Ellen Nolan of Clifford Street, Openshaw.
At the outbreak of hostilities, the British Army was relatively small and stationed across the globe as an integral part of the Empire’s infrastructure. In August 1914, the army was called back for war service and quickly embarked for Belgium and France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF); ultimately defending Paris and preventing the German Army cutting off the supply route to the Channel. Le Touret Memorial © CWGC st
The 1 Bn Manchester Regiment had been stationed in India and arrived at Marseille on 26th September 1914. They moved to Ypres and served alongside the 2nd Bn at Festubert in late October 1914. 1st Bn later served in the Middle East. Three Privates of 1st Bn have been identified as casualties in the British assault on German positions at Givenchy on 20-21 December 1914. They were pre-war Regular soldiers who had embarked from India on 27 August 1914. Privates 856 James Nolan an 823 William Perry had been recorded in the Casualty List of 20 February 1915. Private James Williams had been recorded as wounded and missing and the Casualty List of 4 October 1915
Corporal 476 Joseph Wolstencroft had been serving in 5th VB when he enlisted in May 1915. Having recently returned from duty with 1st Bn in India, Joseph joined the BEF with 2nd Bn on 15 August 1914. Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps ‘34873’ in July 1916, he was evacuated home and discharged sick on 28 February 1917. Joseph died from TB on 18 December 1920. We have not yet found his burial. The son of Joseph (Deceased) and Sarah Wolstencroft of 62 Crab Lane, Higher Blackley. The Regular Bns were also reinforced by fully trained members of the Special Reserve – see below. This included Private 906 Michael Flanagan, who embarked for France on 9 November 1914 with 1st Bn. Michael was posted as wounded at Neuve Chapelle on 11 3
