The oldest other ranks member of the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment to serve in Gallipoli was 57 years old Quartermaster Sergeant (Q.M.S.) George Boocock, a 32-year veteran and Old Volunteer. At the other end of the spectrum, a number of very young men enlisted and found themselves deployed to Egypt in September 1914 and then to Gallipoli in May 1915. Two of them were Alfred and James Boocock, the only surviving sons of Q.M.S. Boocock, who were treated as the battalion’s “mascots” and proudly and regularly promoted in local newspapers as possibly the youngest territorials in the North of England. In fact, four members of the battalion were younger than James Boocock and Fred Finucane was younger than Alfred, making Fred the youngest member of the battalion by just over a week.

At least 12 members of the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment were under the age of 18 when they arrived in Egypt on September 25, 1914 and 10 of them would still be under 18 when the battalion landed at Gallipoli on May 9, 1915.

No	First	Surname	DoB	Egypt Age
1845	FREDERICK	FINUCANE	Oct-22-1899	15
2069	ALFRED	BOOCOCK	Oct-14-1899	15
1682	ERNEST	PEPPER	Mar-20-1899	16
1966	NORMAN	JACKSON	Sep-15-1898	16
2070	JAMES	BOOCOCK	Aug-19-1898	16
2063	THOMAS	PORTINGTON	Jul-21-1898	16
1835	WILLIAM	HANDLEY	Feb-09-1898	17
1669	JOSEPH	WILDE	Jul-17-1897	17
1634	JAMES	HOKE	Jun-19-1897	17
1481	CLIFFORD	HOLDEN	May-12-1897	17

10 Youngest 9th Manchesters and their Ages on September 27, 1914

In 1914, it was considered perfectly legitimate to attest such boy soldiers and many were sent overseas at the outbreak of hostilities. The prevailing standard was that such boys under the age of 19 should not serve in combat but were nevertheless eligible to serve in ancillary roles in a combat zone. The Reverend J. K. Best held Enlisted Boys Classes at Heliopolis Camp in early 1915 with at least 31 attendees from just those battalions of the East Lancs Division who were then present. However, there were only 3 named attendees from the 9^th Manchesters; the Boocock boys and James Hoke.

In order to officially address the issue of underage boys serving overseas, War Office letter 9/Gen. No./5388D. (A.G. 2B) of 6th September, 1915 was issued followed by Army Council Instruction 1186 of 1916 which collectively laid out the appropriate rules and regulations to be followed. This was followed on October 6, 1916 by Army Council Instruction 1905 of 1916 which replaced and cancelled the previous two instructions.

The Army Council Instructions of 1916 stipulated that boys under the age of 17 currently serving with an overseas expeditionary force must be sent home and instead would serve with a reserve unit in the UK until such time as they attained 19 years of age. Boys between the ages of 17 and 18 1/2 were asked if they were willing to be sent home and if so, were treated as above, but if not, were allowed to remain and serve behind the firing line, (at the discretion of the General Officer Commander in Chief). Boys between the ages of 18 1/2 and 19 were simply posted to a unit behind the firing line but remained overseas.

These rules and regulations were all well and good to prevent young men who were still in the UK from being prematurely sent overseas but for those who had already deployed overseas it’s not clear that the military authorities did anything but turn a blind eye to it. This attitude prompted questions to be asked in Parliament by parents of underage boys and, in the case of Pte. Norman Jackson, letters written to the Prime Minister. By the end of the war, every young man eligible for military service was attested shortly after their 18^th birthday and then underwent basic training in the UK before being deployed overseas, potentially into combat, shortly after their 19^th birthday.

How were these particular young men able to attest at such a tender age and how did the Army discharge their duty of care towards them?

How Did They Attest?

In 1914, the stated minimum age in recruitment campaigns for the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment was 17 years. On February 14, 1914 the 9^th Manchesters held a very successful recruiting night at Ashton Town Hall which resulted in over 150 men attesting.

Two of our young men attested that night, misrepresenting their ages, and three others attested shortly before, or shortly after, that night. The next surge of recruits occurred upon the outbreak of war and an additional three youngsters, (including the Boocock brothers), attested on or around August 4, 1914.

No.	First	Surname	Attestation	Stated Age	Actual Age
1845	FREDERICK	FINUCANE	19-Feb-14	–	14y 4mo
2069	ALFRED	BOOCOCK	04-Aug-14	14y 10mo	14y 10mo
1682	ERNEST	PEPPER	14-Feb-14	17y	14y 11mo
1966	NORMAN	JACKSON	27-May-14	17y 8mo	15y 8mo
2070	JAMES	BOOCOCK	04-Aug-14	16y	15y 11mo
2063	THOMAS	PORTINGTON	06-Aug-14	16y 6mo	16y 0mo
1835	WILLIAM	HANDLEY	18-Feb-14	17y	16y 0mo
1669	JOSEPH	WILDE	14-Feb-14	17y	16y 6mo
1634	JAMES	HOKE	10-Feb-14	16y 7mo	16y 7mo
1481	CLIFFORD	HOLDEN	11-Jun-13	17y 1mo	16y 1mo

Attestation Date & Stated versus Actual Ages

We know from contemporaneous newspaper reports that Fred Finucane attested with his father’s permission, coming as he did from a family with a very strong military background. And of course, Alfred and James Boocock also attested with their father’s full permission and encouragement. In fact, the Boocock boys had attended the Territorials’ recent summer camps and had been associated with the battalion for several years prior to formally attesting.

Ernest Pepper attested on Saturday February 14, 1914 and provided an age that was 2 years in advance of his actual age. We don’t know if his family approved and supported his actions but we do know that his older brother Philip Pepper attested 3 months later and also was somewhat parsimonious with the truth regarding his real age, since he too was not yet 17 years old at the time.

It appears that Norman Jackson attested without his father’s permission and over-stated his age by 2 years in order to be accepted. His father spent the next two years lobbying the military and civil authorities to get his son out of the firing line and only succeeded with the issuing of Army Council Instruction 1186, of 1916 which he invoked to good effect.

It is presumed that William Handley attested with the permission of his parents since William’s father, Cpl. Robert Handley, himself attested on September 1, 1914 and subsequently deployed to Egypt and Gallipoli with his son.

James Hoke joined the battalion on Tuesday February 10, 1914 a few days prior to the recruiting night the following Saturday. He gave his correct age and was assigned the rank of “Boy”. His attestation papers show that he was employed as a joiner for Hadfield Brothers, Ashton the same firm of builders that Q.M.S. George Boocock worked as a joiner foreman for. Both the Boocock boys also worked for Hadfield Bros as apprentices and the three boys would have likely been good friends which perhaps influenced James’ actions and facilitated his early acceptance into the battalion.

Clifford Holden was one of four brothers, three of whom served with the Manchester Regiment in WW1. His older brother Alfred, (confusingly also referred to as Harry in some military records), was a longtime member of the 9^th Manchesters and went on to win the Military Medal and Bar later in the war. So, although Clifford shaved a year off his age when he attested, we can reasonably assume that he likely did so with his family’s support.

What Happened to Them?

It’s fair to say that these young men did not fare very well as a group with 50% losing their lives or suffering permanent disability from life-changing wounds.

No.	First	Surname	Event	Date
1845	FREDERICK	FINUCANE	Died	27-Nov-14
2069	ALFRED	BOOCOCK	Demobed	21-Mar-19
1682	ERNEST	PEPPER	Discharged	22-Nov-16
1966	NORMAN	JACKSON	Commissioned	10-Sep-18
2070	JAMES	BOOCOCK	Demobed	08-May-19
2063	THOMAS	PORTINGTON	KiA	03-Sep-15
1835	WILLIAM	HANDLEY	KiA	07-May-17
1669	JOSEPH	WILDE	KiA	03-Jun-17
1634	JAMES	HOKE	Discharged	18-Jan-19
1481	CLIFFORD	HOLDEN	Demobed	25-Jan-19

Military Outcomes of the 10 Youngest Members of the Battalion

Pte. 1845 Frederick Thorley Finucane

Frederick Thorley Finucane died of dysentery in Cairo on November 27, 1914 just two months after landing in Egypt. He died in the Citadel Hospital, Cairo having been admitted just the day before. He was given a full military funeral and is buried at the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.  In a rather stunning coincidence, his older brother John (“Jack”) Finucane died on the same day one year later of complications from an operation for dysentery and enteric fever at Netley Military Hospital.

From the Saturday December 5, 1914 Ashton Reporter:

PRIVATE FINUCANE

News has been received in Ashton of the death through, dysentery, in Egypt, of Private Fred Finucane, one of the Ashton Territorials. He was probably the youngest in the battalion, being only 15 years of age, but standing 5ft 8in. Born of a military family, be enlisted with his father’s written authority in March, and after going into camp at Bury sailed with his battalion to Egypt. His heart and soul were in his work, and in all his letters home he was always cheerful and happy. Only last week he mentioned having visited the Pyramids and other sights, and also that he had been on night manoeuvres. Several parcels are now on their way to him from home, he having been very popular among his various friends, as much for his pluck as a youngster as his quiet, unassuming ways. It came as a terrible shock to all who knew him when his parents, who live at The Brow, Bardsley, received a telegram on Monday announcing his death. The blow has been a heavy one, both to them and his brother, also a Territorial, to whom he was devotedly attached. They are now anxiously awaiting further news, and in the meantime try to console themselves with the thought that he never flinched from duty, and when the call came be stepped forward and offered to take his share in battling for his King and country.

He has answered the ” last roll call.” During the week many friends have called to offer their sympathy to the deeply grieved parents, and they were much touched by such expressions of feeling in their great trouble.

It was always a source of pride to him to know his grandfather, who is living in Manchester, was in the Army 15 months before Lord Roberts, and his father has an autograph letter from Bobs thanking him for birthday congratulations on his 80th birthday, they having first met in India in 1851.

The Bardsley Defence Corps will attend the morning service at Bardsley Church on Sunday, and the village band is also expected to be present, in honour of the late Private Finucane.

Notes:

1. The Bardsley Defence Corps was co-founded and organized by Fred’s father Mr. Theodore Finucane.
2. At the request of the family, the interment of John Finucane at Gorton Cemetery was not of a military character.

Boy 2069 Alfred and Boy 2070 James Boocock

Both of the Boocock boys survived the war and were demobilised in 1919. During their time in Gallipoli, they were employed with their father, the Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, and were responsible for bringing supplies up from the ships up to the regimental base. They were not issued with rifles and stayed in the reserve but were still subject to the incessant shelling. Alfred contracted dysentery in July 1915 and was medically evacuated to the UK, via Malta. On July 13, 1915 R.Q.M.S. Boocock was wounded in the foot by a stray bullet and medically evacuated to England. At this point, James Boocock would likely have been taken under the wing of Major Connery the battalion Quartermaster, a long-time colleague of R.Q.M.S. Boocock.

Alfred Boocock turned 19 years old in October 1918 and so he should have spent the remainder of the war on home service. After the war he remained single living with two of his sisters, Emma and Nellie, in Ashton under Lyne as a plumber. He died in 1975 having outlived all of his siblings. He was 75 years old.

James Boocock survived Gallipoli and deployed with the battalion to Egypt in 1916. He turned 19 in August 1917 and at some point, after March 1917, he was transferred to the 2^nd Battalion Manchester Regiment and remained with them for the duration of the war. He died in Ashton in 1933 and was buried at St. Michaels and All Angels Church where his father joined him a year later.

Pte. 1682 Ernest Pepper

Ernest Pepper was seriously wounded on August 2, 1915 with a gunshot, (probably shrapnel), wound to the spine. He was medically evacuated from Gallipoli and just over a month later, on September 7, boarded a hospital ship for England. 14 months later, he was discharged being no longer fit for military service due to his wounds. The 1939 National Roll indicates that 24 years after being wounded in Gallipoli he was unmarried and living with his father, permanently incapacitated. Ernest’s older brother Philip fared slightly better; he was medically evacuated from Egypt in early May 1915 having likely never deployed to Gallipoli.

Pte. 1966 Norman Jackson

Norman Jackson’s surviving service record provides a detailed account of the lengths his father, Eli Jackson, took to ensure that he was kept out of the firing line. Shortly after his son was mobilised, Eli contacted the battalion while they were still in England and informed them that Norman Jackson was underage. He was informed that they were only going to be assigned Garrison (i.e., non-combat) duty and that any age discrepancy would be uncovered during that period. Norman deployed to Egypt and then to Gallipoli. However, in Gallipoli he was employed as a telephone operator and was not given a combat role. After going through the Gallipoli campaign unscathed he deployed to Egypt with the battalion in January 1916. Back in Ashton, despite contacting the military authorities in September and October 1915 Eli had made no progress in his quest to protect his son. In an apparent act of desperation, in July 1916, after the issuing of Army Council Instruction 1186 of 1916, he wrote to the Prime Minster, David Lloyd George, asking for his help. Remarkably, this seemed to do the trick and in August 1916 Norman Jackson was removed to the 42^nd Division Base Depot prior to being transferred to the UK to serve with a reserve unit until his 19^th birthday. He left Egypt on September 3, 1916 onboard the H.T. Royal George, 12 days before his 18^th birthday.

He was commissioned as 2^nd Lieutenant in the East Lancashire Regiment on September 11, 1918 and promoted to Lieutenant on March 11, 19120. He resigned his commission on September 23, 1921 retaining the rank of Lieutenant. After the war he traveled extensively to South Africa, Mauritius, Australia and New Zealand eventually settling in Gracemere, Queensland where he married. In May 1940 he joined the Australian Army Medical Corps, ironically incorrectly reporting his age to appear 2 years younger than he actually was. He served as a Sergeant in World War 2 from 1940-42 when he was discharged on compassionate grounds at his own request. He died in 1976 in Brisbane, Queensland; he was 77 years old.

Pte 2063 Thomas William Preston Portington

Thomas William Preston Portington deployed to Egypt and then Gallipoli. On the evening of September 2, he was one of 14 other ranks assigned to a digging party under the command of 2^nd Lieut. Arthur Claude Vyvyan-Robinson of the 10^th South Lancs Regiment and attached to the 9^th Manchesters. Their orders were to extend a sap joining the current Firing Line with the Northern Barricade. Unfortunately, as they made their way in the dark, they lost their bearings, going too far East, and were discovered by the Turks and probably caught in the cross-fire between the Turks and the Royal Naval Division, who were not aware of their presence. 2/Lt. Vyvyan-Robinson and three men were wounded and 17-year-old Pte. Portington was reported missing. Thomas’ body was never found and he was not officially declared Killed in Action until January 1916.

From the Saturday 29 January 1916 Ashton Reporter:

17th BIRTHDAY IN TRENCHES,

Ashton Territorial Who Was Killed in Gallipoli.

An official intimation has now been received by Mr. and Mrs. Portington, of 46, Dale-street, Ashton, that their son, Private Tom Portington of the Ashton Territorials, has been killed in action. He had previously been reported “missing” on September 3rd, 1915. Naturally, Mr. and Mrs. Portington had clung to the shred of hope that their son had not been killed, but had been taken prisoner, and were buoyed up in their belief by letters from his comrades, who also believed he had been captured.

From various accounts it seems that Private Portington went out with some of the others to dig themselves in nearer the Turkish lines, but the Turks became suspicious, and threw a searchlight on them. When they saw what was happening they opened fire, and our men beat a hasty retreat.

Private Portington, who was the oldest of seven children, worked at the New Moss Pit. He was a fine lad for his age, and easily passed as over 18, but he was only 16 years old when he joined. He celebrated his 17th birthday in the trenches.

Many of his comrades have written expressing their sympathy with Mr. and Mrs. Portington and testifying to the pluck and popularity of Private Portington He was liked by both officers and men

Pte 1835 William Handley

William Handley deployed to Egypt and then Gallipoli as a private in A Company. His father, Cpl. Robert Handley, had himself joined the battalion in September 1915 while the battalion were in Camp at Bury and accompanied his son overseas. On June 7, 1915 C Company were involved in a bayonet charge against the Turkish trenches resulting in many casualties; Cpl. Robert Handley was killed in action that day. William remained in Gallipoli and in early August was involved in the Battle of Krithia Vineyard where Lt. William Thomas Forshaw won the Victoria Cross.

Shortly after, he was medically evacuated to England suffering from shellshock. He rejoined the battalion while they were in Egypt in December 1916 and deployed to France with them in March 1917. Pte. William Handley was killed in action, struck by a bullet on the night of May 6/7 during an advance. He was 19 years old having turned 19 one month before the battalion left Egypt.

From the Saturday May 26, 1917 Ashton Reporter:

FATHER AND SON.

Fought Side by Side and Both Killed.

“STILL TOGETHER.”

Major Howorth’s Touching Letter to Widowed Mother

Mrs. Handley, of 126, Cotton-street, Ashton, whose husband, Corporal Robert Handley, was killed during the glorious charge of the Ashton Territorials in Gallipoli on June 7th, 1915, which was led by Captain F. Hamer and Lieutenant A. E. Stringer, has received news of the death in France of her son, Private William Handley, who was also in the 1/9th Battalion, and went out to Egypt with his father, when he was but 15 years of age. Shortly after his father’s death, Pte. Handley was invalided home through shock, but not before he had fought nobly and well with Lieutenant W. T. Forshaw, when the latter won the V.C. in the vineyard. It was a fight against “the desperate” foe and fierce odds, and every man who came out counted himself lucky. Private Handley went back to Egypt for the second time last Christmas, and accompanied the battalion to France.

Major T.  Egbert Howorth, O.C. A Company, writes:-

It is with deep sorrow I have to tell you of heavy loss you have to bear. I know that already you have been called upon to give your husband, and now I have to tell you that your son also has been called upon to make the supreme sacrifice. May strength be given you to bear this double sorrow. “The boy came out with me in September, 1914, and then rejoined us in Egypt. I knew him pretty well, and in the old days in Egypt it was nice to see father and son together (as they are now, although we cannot see them). Your son was with his company in an advance on the night of May 6-7th. During that advance he was struck by a bullet and instantly killed. I saw him afterwards. There was no disfigurement on his. face. His body was laid to rest alongside that of one of his friends, Lance-Corporal S. Green, (of Ryecroft House), in a British soldiers’ cemetery near here,”

Private William Handley was 19 years of age. He worked as a piecer at the Old Mill, Tame Valley, and received his education at the Parish Church Schools.

Cpl. 1669 Joseph Wilde

Joseph Wilde deployed to Egypt and then Gallipoli. In Gallipoli he twice assisted in bringing back wounded men under fire but received no official recognition for his acts of bravery. He survived Gallipoli intact, only picking up a slight wound to his face. He deployed to Egypt with the battalion in 1916 and then to France in March 1917.

On the evening on May 30, 1917 2/Lt. Philip Sydney Marsden and 3 other ranks were fired on during a reconnaissance, Lt. Marsden and Pte. 1876 (350454) Tom Fielding were both badly wounded. Cpl. Wilde volunteered to go out and carried Pte. Fielding on his back, 300 yards to safety. However, both 2/Lt. Marsden and Pte. Fielding died of their wounds within hours of their rescue. Four days later, Cpl. Joseph Wilde was killed in action on June 3, 1917 and was subsequently buried next to Pte. Fielding and 2/Lt. Marsden at the Neuville-Bourjonval British Cemetery. He was 19 years old; a few weeks shy of his 20^th birthday.

From the Saturday July 7, 1917 Ashton Reporter:

“BRAVE WATERLOO YOUTH.”

Glowing Tribute to Fallen Soldier.

EXCELLENT WORK

The story which attaches to the death of Corpl. Joseph Wilde, 1/9th Manchester Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wilde, of No. 10, Langham- street, Waterloo, constitutes an illuminating episode of bravery and devotion to duty, even unto death. This young soldier, who would have been 20 years of age on the 17th of this month, was killed on the 2nd of June, according to the official news received at the latter end of last week, and yet, though so young, he was spoken about by his officers as one bravest and best of non-commissioned officers

In Gallipoli and France he brought in wounded men under fire. In France a few days before he himself was killed he brought in a wounded soldier, Private Fielding, from 300 yards in advance of his own position. This private died, and Corporal Wilde was buried beside him. Corporal Wilde’s own brother helped to dig his grave, and he was buried next to a lance-corporal who went to fetch him in Such is the story of his death, told more fully and with a high appreciation of his worth, in letters which his parents have received from Capt. F. W. Kershaw and Second-Lieutenant Alfred Gray Captain Kershaw wrote:-

“I cannot too highly praise your son. He was a fine lad, and a splendid example of Lancashire pluck and grit. He was much thought of and respected in the company of his battalion. He did excellent work whilst in the Gallipoli Peninsula, and also whilst in France. Only a few days ago Lieutenant Marsden and Private Fielding were hit out in front of our lines, and your son volunteered to go out and assist in bringing them in. He carried Private Fielding back to our trenches, a distance of 300 yards, on his back. On two occasions in Gallipoli he also assisted in bringing in wounded under fire. He was a keen, capable, and very courageous non-commissioned officer, and is greatly missed by officers and men of his company, on whose behalf I beg to extend you our deepest sympathy in your terrible loss.

“Your son was brought in from the advanced trenches by some of his comrades, under difficult and dangerous circumstances. He was buried with fitting ceremony in a British soldiers’ cemetery, near to Lieutenant Marsden, Private Fielding, and Private Ashcroft, who were killed about the same time. A special wooden cross bas been erected on his grave.”

Corporal Wilde was the eldest of a family of nine children, and had been serving with the Ashton Territorials from the time they left England, being just over 16 years of age when he went to Egypt with them at first. At Gallipoli he was slightly wounded in the face, and when the peninsula was evacuated he went back to Egypt, and from there was sent to France last October. He was previously employed as a piecer at the Rock Mill, Waterloo, and was associated with the Waterloo Wesleyan Sunday School and Church, where a service in memory of him is to be held to-morrow (Sunday) night. He was also a playing member of the Wesleyan Football Club, and was very much esteemed by his comrades.

Sgt. 1634 James Hoke

James Hoke does not have a surviving service record and does not appear to have been mentioned in any local newspaper articles of the time. At some point after March 1917, he was transferred to the 2^nd Battalion Manchester Regiment but ended the war as a Sergeant at the Manchester Regiment Depot. He was discharged, being no longer physically for military service, on January 18, 1919 and awarded the Silver War Badge. In 1939 he was still working as a Joiner and Woodcutter, and serving as a local Air Raid Warden, in Ashton. He died in 1978, in North Wales, at 81 years of age.

Pte. 1481 Clifford Holden

Clifford Holden survived Gallipoli and deployed with the battalion to Egypt in 1916. In March 1917 he deployed to France with the battalion. At some point after April 1917, he was transferred to the Tank Corps and in August 1918 was wounded, receiving a gunshot wound to the neck. After a short stay in hospital, he was assigned to the Royal Artillery and Tank Corps Command Depot at Catterick from where he was demobilised on January 25, 1919. His claim for a disability pension was denied. After the war he married and had two children, living on Park Road, Dukinfield. He died in November 1966; he was 69 years old.