The following things are a miscellaneous collection of interesting topics that are referenced elsewhere on the site:
Thresh Disinfector
Sanitation was a huge issue in World War One. Soldiers in the trenches, both on the Western Front and in Gallipoli, living for months (and years) in difficult circumstances contracted various infestations and diseases related to the unsanitary conditions.
Pte. Arthur Slater was twice hospitalized for scabies and men were also hospitalized for lice infestations. In such cases, apart from medically treating the patient, it was also necessary to thoroughly disinfect their clothes and personal effects. The Thresh Disinfector was designed and used for this purpose.
Scabies in WW1
For men in combat zones, living under canvas or in dugouts created extremely unsanitary living conditions, including lack of adequate washing facilities, wearing the same clothes for days or weeks at a time and living in very close proximity to each other.
These conditions were the perfect breeding ground for Sarcoptes Scabei, a parasitic mite found in all parts of the world that burrows into the skin and causes scabies. Pte. Arthur Slater was hospitalised for Scabies twice during his service in World War One. He was not at all unusual in having this unpleasant experience.
Serbian Silver War Medal
At least two men of the 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment were awarded the Serbian Silver War Medal during the war and Regimental Sergeant Major John Alexander Christie was awarded the Serbian Cross of Karageorge, 1st Class (with Swords) for his service in Gallipoli.
Pte. William Sheekey of the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment was awarded the Serbian Silver War Medal for gallant conduct in Gallipoli. Cpl. 350244 Charles Ernest Wood, was awarded the same medal for his actions in France later in the war.
Unkai Maru No. 7
The Unkai Maru No. 7 was a 2,143 gross tonnage steamer owned by the shipping company Nakamura & Co., of Osaka Japan.
History has recorded that the Unkai Maru No. 7 struck a mine on 16 June, 1917 at 18° 33′ N, 72° 10′ E, while bound for Bombay carrying rice, and sank but we have photographic evidence that it somehow managed to sail into Bombay harbour. There, members of the Hospital Ship VITA were able to go onboard and take photographs.
SMS Wolf
SMS Wolf was a highly successful Armed German Merchant Raider of WW1 created from a converted merchant ship and fitted with seven hidden 150mm guns, four torpedo tubes, 465 mines, and a reconnaissance seaplane (“Wölfchen”).
Throughout 1917 and early 1918, SMS Wolf laid hundreds of mines, sinking 13 ships (including the Unkai Maru No. 7), and captured a further 14 vessels, sinking 12 of them. She posed a significant and real threat to allied shipping including the Hospital Ship VITA.
Royal Visit to Ashton, May 1938
Edwin Slater had the honour of being presented to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth when they visited Ashton under Lyne on May 20, 1938 at the very end of their 4-day tour of Lancashire.
He also had the honour of being selected to accompany the King and Queen and introduce each of the men when they briefly met with some of the disabled ex-servicemen of Ashton.
P.S.A. Movement
Several of the letters published in the Ashton Reporter from the men of the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment have editorial references to the man being a member of the “P.S.A.” What exactly was the PSA?
Additionally, the Ashton Reporter published short articles regarding the meetings and activities of the local P.S.A. brotherhood in Ashton and district and at one point published a P.S.A. “Roll of Honour”.
Gilbert the Filbert
Several of the letters written by officers and men of the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment from Egypt and Gallipoli reference the term “Knut”.
Basil Hallam created and played the character of a privileged young “Knut”, Gilbert the Filbert, for The Passing Show which opened at the Palace Theatre, London, on April 20, 1914. Hallam became an overnight sensation and the whole country was singing the song and young men of a certain station started to refer to themselves as “Knuts”.
Belle Vue Pyrodramas
Several of the letters published in the Ashton Reporter from the men of the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment make reference to “Belle Vue”, which was a famous local amusement park in West Gorton, Manchester.
The references to Belle Vue were specifically comparing the real-world experience of battle they were now witnessing first-hand to those re-enacted in “Pyrodramas” at Belle Vue that they and their friends and family had seen together in happier times.
Army Council Instruction 75 of 1921
Army Council Instruction 75 of 1921 was a decision by the Army Council to restore medals based on the powers granted by Article 1240 of the Pay Warrant.
This Army Council Instruction allowed a soldier to apply for reinstatement of his forfeited medals. You will sometimes see this referenced on a man’s medal index card or medal roll.
Indian Army Orders of 1917
William Thomas Forshaw, V.C. was one of a number of British Territorial officers who joined the Indian Army in 1917-18. Army Order 206 of 1917 invited officers already commissioned into the Special Reserve, Territorial Force and New Armies to apply for transfer to the Indian Army as they were short of commissioned officers.
Although Forshaw was a decorated Captain in the Territorial Army, in order to transfer to the Indian Army in late 1917 he was subject to the terms and conditions of Indian Army Order 511 of 1917, which came into effect on May 14th of that year.
Distinguished Conduct Medal
In total, eight men of the 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment won the Distinguished Conduct Medal in Gallipoli in 1915.
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was instituted by Royal Warrant on 4 December 1854, during the Crimean War, as an award to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the British Army for “distinguished, gallant and good conduct in the field.”
Ismailia February 3, 1915
On January 30, 1915 the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment moved from their barracks at Abbassia and went under canvas at Heliopolis in preparation for possible deployment to the Suez Canal.
Although the 9th Manchesters were not directly involved, provided here is a transcription of a newspaper article describing the Turkish attack on the Allied Forces defending the Suez Canal on the night of February 2/3, 1915.
Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, 1907
Between 1906 and 1912 a series of sweeping changes were made to the British Army and named after the then Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane. These “Haldane Reforms” were the first major reforms since the “Childers Reforms” of the early 1880s and were based on shortcomings uncovered during the Second Boer War.
Along with changes to the Regular Army, the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 completely restructured the reserve forces to ensure a properly trained set of units and recruits for the Regular Forces in times of war and to provide a more efficient force for home defence.
Territorial Force Efficiency Medal
With the advent of the Territorial Force the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal (TFEM) replaced the Volunteer Long Service Medal under modified qualifying terms and conditions, the most notable of which was a reduction to 12 consecutive years of approved service. And in 1922, the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal was itself replaced by the Territorial Efficiency Medal (TEM).
Provided here are the Army Orders that introduced and then modified the terms and conditions surrounding the eligibility for award as it changed over time. Understanding these changes, and the times they were introduced, helps calculate and verify enlistment dates for men whose service records no longer exist.
Volunteer Long Service Medal
Prior to the formation of the Territorial Force on April 1, 1908, (as specified by the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, 1907), the NCOs and enlisted men of the Volunteers were entitled to the Volunteer Long Service Medal (VLSM) after 20 consecutive years of approved service.
.jpg){kind=link}
Provided here are the Army Orders that introduced and then modified the terms and conditions surrounding the eligibility for award as it changed over time.
Recruiting in WW1
Throughout the war, newspapers provided extensive coverage and support for recruiting of soldiers. Letters from serving soldiers scolding those at home who had not yet signed-up, articles covering recruiting events, adverts for recruiting events, reports and publishing of names of those attesting that week, and much more.
Provided here is a transcription from the General Annual Reports on The British Army (including the Territorial Force from the date of Embodiment) for the Period from 1st October 1913, to 30th September, 1919, that provides a high-level summary the entire recruiting effort in WW1.
Army Council Instructions of 1916
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 which replaced and cancelled the previous two sets of instructions.
Army Orders of 1916
In order to free younger men for service overseas the Army introduced Class W, Army Reserve, and Class W (T.) Territorial Force Reserve via Army Order 203 of 1916. This Class was also used for Boy Soldiers too young to continue serving in overseas combat zones.
Separately, Army Order 209 of 1916 introduced a bounty to be paid to those men who became time expired while on active service but who were compelled (or volunteered) to continue to serve for the duration of the war. Many men of the 9th Manchesters who originally attested (or re-engaged) between 1911-13 were eligible for this bonus and such payment, typically of £15, is noted in any surviving service or pension records.
.303″ Maxim Machine Gun
The 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment’s Machine Gun Section in 1914 consisted of two .303″ Maxim Machine Guns with a crew of sixteen men designated to maintain, transport and operate it. The Maxim was the most sophisticated piece of military equipment that the battalion possessed and required specialized training, skill and experience to keep it in good working order at all times.
Provided here is an excerpt from the Handbook for the 0.303″ Maxim Machine Gun (Magazine Rifle Chamber), 1901 describing in detail its operation and firing mechanism.