Others – Page 4

2/Lt. Bernard Harold Brister

Bernard Harold Brister was born in Dublin on September 14, 1887. His father, Joseph Charles Brister, was a stockbroker. Bernard was the youngest of 3 sons and also had 3 younger sisters. The family and a domestic servant were living in Chorlton-cum-Hardy by 1901. He was educated at William Hulme’s Grammar School, Manchester from April 1899 to December 1903. In 1910 he traveled to Brazil and resided there for 4 years before returning to the UK in May 1914. While in Brazil he had been employed as a bookkeeper.

He enlisted in the Duke of Lancasters Own Yeomanry, in Manchester, on September 1, 1914 and was discharged after 100 days when he was given permission to transfer to the King Edward’s Horse, a cavalry regiment. He joined the 1^st Battalion King Edward’s Horse on December 9, 1914, in Watford, as an enlisted man and was subsequently discharged to a commission on June 9, 1915. He was commissioned into the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment (Territorial Force) on June 10, 1915.

On October 13, 1915 he embarked on His Majesty’s Transport Ship Scotian at Devonport for Gallipoli with 10 other Officers, arriving at Mudros on October 24^th and joined the Battalion on Cape Helles on October 26, 1915.

He sailed with the Battalion to Egypt, arriving on January 18, 1916 and temporarily became acting Transport Officer when Lt. Shatwell reported sick. He came down with Malaria on March 5, 1916 and went to the Government Hospital at Suez for treatment. He became dangerously ill with suspected typhoid in April and, although recovered, the medical board found him to be unfit for general service. While waiting to return to the UK he contracted “Malta Fever” (Brucellosis) and was admitted to the Nasreih Schools Hospital in Cairo on May 18th. Sufficiently recovered to sail, he embarked HS Letitia on May 29, 1916 in Alexandria bound for the UK. Once in the UK he was granted leave to convalesce at home until August 19, 1916.

In August he was medically assessed and sent to the 9^th Reserve Battalion Manchester Regiment for home service. Bernard Harold Brister was fluent in Portuguese, having spent 4 years residing abroad prior to the war, and so was assigned as a translator to the British Mission attached to the Portuguese Expeditionary Force in France. During his time in France, he was promoted to Lieutenant, effective July 1, 1917 and mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatch of November 7, 1917.

Unfortunately, on October 8, 1917 he was injured in France when he fell from his horse. He was evacuated to the UK on October 21^st and admitted to 1^st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge on October 29, 1918 suffering from a contusion to the right hip. He was granted leave from October 21, 1917 to January 1, 1918 to recover at home. He was medically assessed again on January 21^st and found to be fit enough to return to France. He rejoined the British Mission on February 13, 1918.

On October 23, 1918 he was taken sick to hospital and evacuated to the UK. Assessed on November 6, 1918 he was once again given leave to recover at home. He was re-assessed on March 18, 1919 and found to be permanently unfit for further military service. He relinquished his commission, retaining the rank of Lieutenant, due to ill health contracted on active service, on May 24, 1919.

After the war he worked as a commercial traveler and traveled internationally. Lt. Bernard Harold Brister died in Manchester on July 25, 1977. He was 89 years old.

2/Lt. Irvine Dearnaley

Irvine Dearnaley was born in Ashton under Lyne on April 2, 1884. His father, Irvine Dearnaley, was a professor of music and organist at Ashton Parish Church but he died in 1894 when young Irvine was only 10 years old. The family lived on Fraser St in Ashton and Irvine, the youngest of 5 children, was educated at the parochial school. He started work as a clerk in a cotton mill and became Secretary and Salesman at the Texas Mill, and later the Minerva Mills. By 1914 he was a Yarn Agent and Director of the Harper Twist Company which, among other things, owned the Harper Mill in Ashton. During this time, he became House Secretary of the Ashton Golf Club and was one of several Officers who were members of the club.

2/Lt. Irvine Dearnaley

He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment (Territorial Force) on November 14, 1914 and within two weeks was appointed temporary Captain. He joined the 2/9^th Battalion in training at Southport and moved with them to Pease Pottage in June 1915. On October 13, 1915 he embarked on His Majesty’s Transport Ship Scotian at Devonport for Gallipoli with 10 other Officers, arriving at Mudros on October 24^th and joined the Battalion on Cape Helles on October 26, 1915.

On November 12, 1915 the Battalion moved into the trenches and on November 23, 1915 Captain Irvine Dearnaley was killed in action near Boyes Point. He is buried in Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery and commemorated on the Ashton under Lyne Civic Memorial.

In Ashton, the following short article appeared in the Saturday December 4, 1915 edition:

The news of the death of Captain Irvine Dearnaley in action has called forth universal expressions of sorrow. His early death is more than usually pathetic. Irvine Dearnaley was one of the strenuous young men who seemed destined to play an important part in the life of Ashton. He had already done much good work on its social, political, and religious side. He was also well known in the cotton circles of Ashton and Manchester. When the war broke out, he was one of the first to take up a commission in the 1^st Reserve Battalion of the Ashton Territorials for foreign service. In doing so he gave up a most promising business, which he had only recently ventured in as a yarn agent in Manchester. Life for him held out rosy prospects, and he might have gone on advancing his position in life and looking forward to doing some great public service for his town. His engagement to Miss May Mills, of Stalybridge, had only recently been announced. It seems but a few weeks since he was in Ashton on his last leave before leaving for the front. He looked especially smart in his uniform and seemed the picture of young and robust health. He will be greatly missed.

2/Lt. Sydney Naylor

Sydney Naylor was born on May 4, 1891 in Urmston, Manchester and was the oldest child of George and Edith Naylor (née Cowin). George Naylor owned a Stockbroker’s business and Sydney grew up in Urmston with his parents, two younger sisters, Edith Elizabeth and Annie Josephine, and a domestic servant. Sydney was educated at Manchester Grammar School and, like his father, became a stockbroker working at the Manchester Stock Exchange from 1909 to 1914.

Gallipoli

At the outbreak of war, Sydney joined the Manchester University O.T.C. and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment, Territorial Force on November 7, 1914 where he was quickly appointed Temporary Lieutenant two weeks later. He joined the 2/9^th Battalion in training at Southport but in early 1915 attended a general officer’s course in Formby followed by a physical training and bayonet fighting course at Aldershot. He moved with the 2/9^th Battalion to Pease Pottage in June 1915 and on October 13, 1915 he embarked for Gallipoli with 10 other Officers, arriving at Mudros on October 24^th, joining the Battalion on Cape Helles on October 26, 1915. Upon arrival it was found that two Officers already serving at Gallipoli were of a junior rank and so he was forced to relinquish his temporary appointment. On November 26, 1915 he embarked on the Hospital Ship Assaye suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, losing his right eye. He was medically evacuated to hospital at Mudros on November 29 and then back to the UK.

Egypt

He ultimately received a £250 gratuity and an annual pension of £100 for his permanent sight disability but, after he medically recovered, he joined the 3/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment at Codford in January 1916. He rejoined the 1/9th Battalion in Egypt on October 25, 1916 but within 3 days reported sick to hospital. On November 12, 1916 he was promoted to Lieutenant and was attached to the 1^st Garrison Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment, in Cairo, and struck of the strength of the Battalion.

Palestine

In May 1917 he became an Orderly Officer to the GOC Palestine Line of Communications (LoC) and in November was appointed Staff Lieutenant, 1^st Class Palestine LoC in Rafa. He evidently had done good work because he was awarded the Military Cross in the King’s Birthday Honours List on May 31, 1918. And on June 24, 1918 he was awarded a commission as a Lieutenant in the regular forces with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding). In September 1918 relinquished his staff appointment at his own request and was posted to the 1^st Battalion, Manchester Regiment in Palestine. Four months later he returned to the Palestine LoC as Staff Lieutenant, 1^st Class in Jerusalem where he remained until November 1919 when he was appointed Staff Captain to the 8^th Infantry Brigade.

Inter-War Years Home Service

He returned to England in November 1921 and, after some leave, in February 1922 was posted to the 2^nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding), joining them at Aldershot the following month. He attended a training course at the School of Hygiene, Puckeridge Hill Aldershot followed by a Machine Gun Course at Seaford. He was then appointed Adjutant at the Depot in Halifax, attending an Adjutants’ Physical Training Course at Aldershot in 1925.

Prior to that, in January 1923, he married Doris Jean Robertson Brand and their daughter Gillian was born two years later on April 5, 1925.

He remained at Halifax until 1926 when he was temporarily posted to the 1^st Battalion for special duty for six months in Scotland, during which time he attended a Combined Rifle & Light Automatic Wings training course. Upon his return he was stationed at Skipton and appointed Adjutant and temporary Captain of the 6^th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding) on January 31, 1927, and promoted to Captain the following year. He completed his tour of duty as Adjutant in 1931 and was again temporarily attached to the 1^st Battalion, at Aldershot, before moving to Southampton where he was appointed Assistant Embarkation Staff Officer in April 1932.

In 1934 he was promoted to Brevet Major and on May 26, 1936 he relinquished his appointment as Assistant Embarkation Officer and retired from the Army, on retired Captain’s pay, and was placed on the Regular Army Reserve of Officers (R.A.R.O.) List.

He and his family moved to High Halden, Old Hill, Staffordshire.

World War II

He was mobilized on August 26, 1939 and reported for Embarkation Duties at Newport, Monmouthshire. There he was appointed Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master General (D.A.Q.M.G.) and Embarkation Commandant, Movement Control, and promoted to Major and Local Lieutenant-Colonel. [Local rank meaning that he was paid at the rate of his substantive rank and not that of the local rank]. On October 29, 1939 he proceeded to France on temporary duty returning a week later. Upon his return he was granted the acting rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, (with commensurate pay), and appointed Assistant Quarter-Master General (A.Q.M.G.), South Wales Ports, three months later being made temporary Lt.-Col. In October 1941 he was granted the Local rank of Colonel.

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 America entered the war and by the middle of 1942 hundreds of thousands of tons of US cargo was being unloaded at UK ports each month. By the end of the war the Bristol Channel ports alone unloaded more than 5.5M tons of US cargo. Col. Naylor, in his capacity as A.Q.M.G. (M) South Wales Ports, worked closely with the US Port commanders to facilitate an efficient port operation and smooth transition of control over to the US military in preparation for the D-Day landings in France.

In May 1943 he relinquished his appointment as A.Q.M.G. (M) South Wales Ports and was appointed Colonel Q (M), Bristol Channel Ports, with paid acting rank of Colonel but substantive rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He retained this position, still based in Newport, until January 1, 1946 when he relinquished his appointment and was struck off the strength. After 2 months accrued leave, he was demobilized and ceased to belong to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, having exceeded the age limit but retained the honorary rank of Colonel.

A year earlier, on January 1, 1945, he was awarded the O.B.E., Military Division, for his wartime services. And in January 1947 he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Degree of Officer by the President of the United States of America in recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies.

Colonel Sydney Naylor, M.C., O.B.E. died in Staffordshire on April 4, 1952 a month before his 61^st birthday.

2/Lt. William Neville Broadbent Bury

William Neville Broadbent Bury was born in Salford on June 11, 1890. His father, Joshua Bury, was a Land Agent and Surveyor and owned his own business. William was the youngest of three children and by 1901 he was living in Salford with his father, his mother Lucy Annie Bury (née Taylor), his sisters Dorothy and Nora and two domestic servants. He was educated at Lawrence House School for Young Gentlemen, St Annes on Sea and then at Blundell’s School, Tiverton (1904-07), where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps (OTC). His father’s business flourished and by 1911 he was working with his father as a Land Surveyor and living with his parents, his aunt, two domestic servants and a chauffeur. In August 1913 he married Muriel Lonsdale at Manchester Cathedral.

In 1914 he joined the OCT at Manchester University and was duly commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment (Territorial Force) on November 7, 1914 where he was quickly appointed Temporary Lieutenant two weeks later. He joined the 2/9^th Battalion in training at Southport and moved with them to Pease Pottage in June 1915. On October 13, 1915 he embarked for Gallipoli with 10 other Officers, arriving at Mudros on October 24^th and joined the Battalion on Cape Helles on October 26, 1915. Upon arrival it was found that two Officers already serving at Gallipoli were of a junior rank and so he relinquished his temporary appointment. Two weeks later he was sent to hospital sick and remained there for 9 days.

He sailed with the Battalion to Egypt, arriving on January 21, 1916. On March 21, 1916 he again was sent to hospital sick and remained there for six days. On May 19, 1916 he was awarded 51 days home leave in the UK and was promoted to Lieutenant on June 1^st while he was on leave. After he returned to Egypt he attended a 3 week course of Instruction at Zeitoun, in September, where he qualified as a 1st Class Lewis Gun Instructor. Shortly after he rejoined the Battalion he again reported sick to hospital where he remained for 3 months.

He sailed with the Battalion to France, arriving on March 11, 1917. On May 6 he left for a course of instruction at Foucaucourt where he remained for 39 days and around 10 days after rejoining the Battalion reported sick to hospital where he remained for 8 days. He was awarded 11 days home leave in the UK from July 17-28^th and a month after his return was attached to the 42^nd Divisional Depot Battalion. On November 28, 1917 he was seconded to the Tank Corps. He was appointed acting Captain while commanding a tank section on December 11, 1917 and was made temporary Captain on October 19, 1918. Transferring to the unemployed list on January 24, 1919 he resigned his commission sometime later, retaining the rank of Captain.

After the war he briefly attended Cambridge in 1919 and then went into business with his father and brother-in-law, Robert Edgar Stephenson, and they formed the partnership Joshua Bury, Son and Stephenson, Land Surveyors. In 1921 he applied for transfer to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers.

During the interwar years he became a Fellow of the Chartered Surveyor Institution but eventually retired from the business on April 1, 1935 and moved to Bournemouth. His father died suddenly four months later. While in Bournemouth, he married Mary E. Brooker and they were living there when war broke out in 1939. As a Captain in the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers he submitted an ‘Application for Registration in the Army Officers’ Emergency Reserve for Re-Employment in, or Appointment to, an Emergency Commission in His Majesty’s Land Forces’. His application was accepted and he was duly mobilised as a Captain in the Manchester Regiment. He only served for a short period and, having reached the age limit, retired and retained his rank on November 2, 1940.

Captain William Neville Broadbent Bury died in October 1971. He was 81 years old.

2/Lt. William Henry Demel

William Henry Demel was born in Stretford, Lancashire, on 4 April 1893. His father, Carl Frederick William Demel, was a German national and was living and working in Stretford as a correspondent. 10 years later he was a manager in a shipping office and by 1911 Carl Demel was managing director of a metal merchant and had become a naturalized citizen. By this time, the family which included his wife, Helen Foster Demel, two sons, George Carl Demel and William Henry Demel, and daughter Frieda Eva Demel were living on Sandy lane, Stretford with a domestic servant. William was 17 years old and working as a clerk.

William Henry Demel was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment on 25 February 1915, from the Manchester University Contingent, Senior Division, Officers Training Corps. joined the 2/9^th at training in Southport and moved with them to Pease Pottage in June 1915.

On October 8, 1915 he boarded His Majesty’s Transport Ship Demosthenes along with two other Officers and 134 other ranks bound for Gallipoli. They arrived at Mudros on October 20^th and joined the Battalion at Cape Helles on October 22, 1915. He served with the Battalion in Gallipoli for the remainder of the campaign and then sailed with them to Egypt where they arrived on January 16, 1916.

On December 14, 1916 he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps, and after a period at the R.F.C. School of Instruction he was transferred to No. 39 Reserve Squadron at Montrose, Scotland, to begin training as a pilot. He was made Flying Officer on May 23, 1917, and whilst still on secondment to the RFC was promoted to Lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment on July 1, 1917. He was subsequently attached to No. 77 (Home Defence) Squadron of the 6th Brigade, based in Edinburgh, specifically to train in night bombing.

After training, he was posted to No. 149 (Night Bomber) Squadron as a Flight Commander on May 22, 1918. The Squadron was sent to France on June 2, 1918 where they remained for the duration of the war, based at various locations. He took part in 50 flights dropping a total of 389 bombs and on September 16, 1918 successfully made a forced landing on bad ground West of Neuve Eglise when his plane was brought down due to enemy fire whilst on a bombing raid. Both he and his observer were able to walk away uninjured.

For his services he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and was presented with this D.F.C. by H.M. King George V at Buckingham Palace on May 12, 1920.

D.F.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919:

This Officer has done continuously good work as a Flight Commander in a Night Bombing Squadron. He has crossed the lines on 44 night raids, successfully reaching his objectives frequently under very difficult weather conditions.

Demel was posted to the Home Establishment on November 15, 1918, but remained in France until being invalided to England from Wimereux on March 8, 1919 with Influenza. Transferring to the unemployed list on March 20, 1919, he relinquished his Royal Air Force commission on March 4, 1921, and was appointed Captain in the 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment (Territorial Force) when he relinquished his Territorial commission due to ill-health on 21 June 1924.

He married Phyllis Brundrit Higham on July 19, 1922 and together they had two children. John Glassford Demel was born on July 10, 1923 and Janet Ruth Demel was born on December 23, 1932. The family lived in Birmingham and William worked as a sales manager in the metals industry.

On 25 March 1939, Demel was granted a commission as Flight Lieutenant in No. 915 (County of Warwick) Squadron, a Barrage Balloon Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force. Since William was to be away for an extended period, his wife and children moved to Anglesey and in August 1939, shortly before the outbreak of world war two, his 16 year old son sailed to Brazil to finish his studies.

William transferred to the Balloon Branch on March 27, 1940, and was promoted to Temporary Squadron Leader on September 1st of that year, transitioning from flying duties to administrative duties. He transferred to the Administrative and Special Duties Branch on July 17, 1941, and then to the Headquarters of the newly-formed No. 44 (Ferry Service) Group on August 15, 1941. He became head of both Administration and Organisation and was granted the non-substantive rank of acting Wing Commander. Demel was granted to the non-substantive rank of temporary Wing Commander on January 1, 1944, before resigning his commission on October 1, 1944, retaining the rank of Wing Commander. Tragedy struck on October 9, 1944 when his son, Flight Officer John Glassford Demel was killed in a flying accident while serving as a flying instructor in the South African Air Force, at 25 Air School in Standerton South Africa. He was just 21 years old.

For his services during the Second World War Wing Commander William Henry Demel was twice recommended for the O.B.E. (which he did not receive) but he was awarded the Air Efficiency Award in 1949.

After the War he returned to working within the metal industry, and between 1958 and 1960 was Chairman of the Midlands Area Council of the Royal Metal Trades Pension and Benevolent Society. Shortly thereafter, he retired and moved with his wife to Anglesey.

Wing Commander William Henry Demel, D.F.C. died in Anglesey on December 24, 1979 his wife predeceasing him. He was 86 years old.

2/Lt. Beltran Ford Robinson

Beltran Ford Robinson was born in Ashton under Lyne on June 19, 1886. His father, John Robinson, was a solicitor. The family lived on Taunton Rd in Ashton and Beltran lived there with his father, mother Alice (née Garside), his sister Vera Ford Robinson and a domestic servant. By 1911 Beltran was working as a Solicitor at Bromley, Hyde and Robinson in Ashton.

On October 8, 1915 he boarded His Majesty’s Transport Ship Demosthenes along with two other Officers and 134 other ranks bound for Gallipoli. They arrived at Mudros on October 20^th and joined the Battalion at Cape Helles on October 22, 1915. He served with the Battalion in Gallipoli for the remainder of the campaign and then sailed with them to Egypt where they arrived on January 16, 1916.

In Egypt he was promoted to Lieutenant on June 1, 1916. He left the Battalion for a three week course of instruction at Zeitoun on November 23, 1916 and on February 20, 1917 left them again for 38 days home leave in the UK. He rejoined the Battalion in France on March 30, 1917. Immediately upon his arrival he was detached to the dive school as an instructor and remained there for 12 days. Two weeks after he returned he was seconded to the 3^rd Corps School of Instruction as an instructor where he remained for the duration of the war. On November 18, 1918 he was appointed temporary Captain. He left France for demobilization on February 19, 1919.

After the war, orders to reform the regiment were received in October 1920 and Lt-Col D. H. Wade was appointed Commanding Officer. A few weeks later the War Office confirmed the re-appointments of some old officers including Lt. Beltran Ford Robinson. He was promoted to Captain on June 21, 1921 and Major on January 31, 1929. On January 28, 1932 he took over command of the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment, (from Lt.-Col. George William Handforth), and was simultaneously promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. He remained in command for 6 years, during which time he was awarded the Territorial Decoration, vacating command on January 28, 1938. He was appointed Brevet Colonel when he relinquished command and transferred to Territorial Army Reserve of Officers (TARO).

In his personal life outside the Regiment he continued his work as a solicitor and in April 1922 he married Elsie Blakely Holderness and they lived on Mellor Road in Ashton (across the road from Stamford Park and just a few doors down from his more senior brother Officer George William Handforth). He was awarded the O.B.E. in the 1938 King’s Birthday Honours List and made a Deputy Lieutenant of the County Palatine of Lancaster on January 15, 1946. On Mar 12, 1949, having exceeded the age limit, he relinquished his commission in the T.A.R.O. retaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet Colonel.

Brevet Colonel Beltran Ford Robinson, O.B.E., T.D., died in hospital on March 12, 1976 (he wife predeceasing him). He was 89 years old.

Acknowledgements

The Manchester Regiment Image Archive photo above is reproduced here with kind permission of the Tameside Local Studies and Archive Centre and the Trustees of the Manchester Regiment Archive and remains under their copyright.

2/Lt. Thomas Ainsworth

Thomas Ainsworth was born on 26 December, 1894 in Great Hardwood, (5 miles North East of Blackburn), to Thomas Ainsworth Snr the manager of a cotton mill. Thomas was the youngest of six children and he was educated at Denstone College, in Staffordshire, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps for 3 years between 1910 and 1912.

Thomas Ainsworth was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment, Territorial Force on April 12, 1915. From June to July 1915 he attended an Officers training course at Balliol College, Oxford, residing at the college for a month. On October 8, 1915 he boarded His Majesty’s Transport Ship Demosthenes along with two other Officers and 134 other ranks bound for Gallipoli. They arrived at Mudros on October 20^th and joined the Battalion at Cape Helles on October 22, 1915.

He survived Gallipoli unscathed and sailed with the Battalion to Egypt, arriving January 16, 1916. In Egypt he attended a 10-day school of instruction from May 28 to June 7, 1916 and he was later attached to the 126^th Brigade Stokes Trench Mortar Battery on June 27, 1916.

He sailed with the Battalion to France arriving March 11, 1917. Shortly after arriving he took home leave in the UK for two weeks, from March 25 to April 8, 1917. Shortly after returning he attended a Trench Mortar School from April 13-24, 1917. On June 7^th he was taken sick to hospital and remained there for 34 days. During this time, he was promoted to Lieutenant on July 1, 1917. Shortly after his return to the Battalion he was permanently attached to the 126^th Brigade Trench Mortar Battery where he remained for the duration of the war. While serving with them, on October 15, 1917, he proceeded to the UK for 10 days leave.

He was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatch of November 8, 1918 and was awarded the Military Cross in the 1919 New Year’s Honors List. On April 1, 1919 he was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross the citation reads:

Awarded a Bar to the Military Cross:
Lt. Thomas Ainsworth, M.C., 1/9th Bn.
Manch. R., T.F., att’d. 126th L.T.M. By.

For marked gallantry and good leadership. At Braistre on 20th October, 1918, he led his section forward and, charging an enemy machine-gun post, killed the crew. His promptness of action on this occasion and later in assisting to clear up several machine-gun posts on the railway was of great value to the company to which he was attached.

(M.C. Gazetted 1st January, 1919.)

He resigned his commission on February 26, 1921 and retained the rank of Lieutenant.

In 1923 he married Elizabeth Baines and their son William Thomas Ainsworth was born in 1925. Their daughter Kathleen followed in December 1929. But by 1939, Thomas was widowed and living in Blackpool as a boarding house keeper, and looking after his two children.

On December 18, 1940 he was granted an emergency commission as a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery and immediately attended a month’s training at the “Z” Battery Training Wing at Shrivenham, (133rd OTC Group, Royal Artillery, Anti Aircraft). He was then posted to the newly formed 127th Anti-Aircraft “Z” Battery at Nottingham (part of the 6th Anti-Aircraft “Z” Regiment) where he remained for 9 months, until September 1941. From here he was attached to the Depot of the 6th Anti-Aircraft Regiment at Woolwich for the next 3 months where he attended a short training course. In December 1941 he was posted to the 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment in County Durham which was the location of the newly formed 228 Anti-Aircraft “Z” Battery, manned by a mixture of the Royal Artillery and the Home Guard. He remained there until April 25, 1942 when he was relegated to the unemployed list, finally relinquishing his commission on March 15, 9154.

Hon. Lt. Joseph Michael Connery

Joseph Morial Cardinal Connery was born in Gorton in July 1878. His father, Michael Henry Connery, was the long serving Quartermaster of the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment.

On June 19, 1893, when he was just 14 years and 11 months old, he joined the Manchester Regiment as Joseph Michael Connery. He spent 21 years with the Regiment, rising to the rank of Company Sergeant Major. Serving with the 1^st Battalion, he deployed to Gibraltar in 1897 and then fought in the Boer war in South Africa where he spent more than 3 years. From South Africa the 1^st Manchesters deployed to Singapore returning to the UK in 1904. On January 24, 1906 he married Edith Kate Whitehorn and about nine months later his first son Arthur Henry Connery was born. Geoffrey James Connery followed in April 1910.

At the outbreak of war, he was serving with the 2^nd Battalion Manchester Regiment who deployed to France in August 1914. He was wounded at the battle of Mons and invalided back to the UK in September 1914. Upon his return to Ashton under Lyne he was discharged to pension from the 2^nd Battalion due to completing 21 years of service and subsequently applied for, and was awarded, a commission of Honorary Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment Territorial Force.

On August 2, 1915 Hon Lt. Joseph Michael Connery embarked on His Majesty’s Transport Ship Arcadian along with 3 other Officers and 145 other ranks en-route to Mudros where they arrived on August 19^th and joined the Battalion at Cape Helles on August 22^nd. Within 4 days he was sent sick to hospital and invalided to the UK three weeks later. After he recovered, he was retained in the UK by the War Office and was promoted to Honorary Captain on January 17, 1918.

After the war he moved with his family to Great Horkesley, near Colchester. Captain Joseph Michael Connery died there on November 30, 1934. He was 56 years old.

2/Lt. Percy Ainsworth

Percy Ainsworth was born in Blackburn on January 14, 1890. His father, Edwin James Ainsworth, was a Cotton Manufacturer. Percy was the youngest of 5 children, (John “Jack” James, Isabel, Alice and Edwin). Educated at Blackburn Grammar school, by 1911 he was living with his parents and Isabel and Edwin in St. Annes-on-Sea, along with a domestic servant. Percy was employed as a Yarn Salesman, as was his father.

On September 3, 1914 he joined the 17^th Manchester Regiment as a private. He was quickly promoted to Corporal and then Lance Sergeant. On April 16, 1915 he was discharged from the 17^th Battalion as he had been granted a commission as a Second Lieutenant with the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment (Territorial Force). He joined the 2/9^th at training in Southport and moved with them to Pease Pottage in June 1915.

On August 2, 1915 2/Lt. Percy Ainsworth embarked on His Majesty’s Transport Ship Arcadian along with 3 other Officers and 145 other ranks en-route to Mudros where they arrived on August 19^th and joined the Battalion at Cape Helles on August 22^nd. He was assigned to C Company but in late September took over the Battalion machine gun section. He served the remainder of his time in Gallipoli without incident.

He sailed with the Battalion to Egypt, arriving January 18, 1916 but 10 days later reported sick to hospital. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on March 14, 1916 where he underwent training. On October 8, 1916 he was appointed as a Flying Officer (Observer) and attached to the 67th Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, Kantara. On April 7, 1917 he was appointed Flying Officer and attached to 63^rd Squadron in Mesopotamia. He made his way back to the UK before departing Devonport on June 23^rd for Basra. He joined the 63^rd Squadron in Basra on August 13, 1917 and during his sea passage was promoted to Lieutenant. He contracted sand fly fever within a week of arriving and spent 8 days in No 3 British General Hospital and the Beit Nama Officers convalescent hospital. In April 1918 he earned six weeks leave in India departing on April 17^th and returning on May 31^st. He remained with the 63^rd Squadron until July 18, 1918 when he embarked Basra for Egypt and the No 32 Training Wing. In Egypt he was attached to the No 20 Training Depot Station in Shallufa, where he remained for 3 months except for a two-week training course at the 32 Wing Flying Instruction School. He was then briefly attached to the No 58 Training Squadron before he was re-assigned for duty in the UK. In England he was attached to the No. 4 Training Depot Station, (at Hooton Park on the Wirral), where he was appointed Aeroplane Officer. He resigned his commission on January 27, 1919 retaining the rank of Lieutenant, and he was demobilised on March 17, 1919.

In 1937 he married Mollie Jenkinson and they lived in Altrincham where he had resumed his profession as a yarn salesman. Lt. Percy Ainsworth died in Cheshire in 1963. He was 73 years old.

2/Lt. Harold Harrison Knight

Harold Harrison Knight was born in Ashton under Lyne on December 13, 1891. His father, John Wallwork Knight was a cotton wool broker and mill furnisher with business address in Cavendish Street, Ashton. He was educated at William Hulme’s Grammar School, Manchester (1902-1907). By 1911, Harold was working as an assistant in his father’s business and living with his parents and older sister, (Winifred), and a domestic servant on Henrietta Street in Ashton. During this time, he joined the Ashton Golf Club and was one of several 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment officers who were members of the club.

Shortly after the outbreak of war he was appointed as a Second Lieutenant in the 9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment (Territorial Force), along with 10 others, on October 12, 1914. Harold joined the 2/9^th at training in Southport and moved with them to Pease Pottage in June 1915. A month prior to receiving his commission he was the best man to Lt. Alfred Gordon Birchenall (9^th Battalion Manchester Regiment) in his marriage to Harold’s sister Winifred, Lt. Birchenall being unable to travel to Egypt with the Battalion due to illness.

On August 2, 1915 2/Lt. Harold Harrison Knight embarked on His Majesty’s Transport Ship Arcadian along with 3 other Officers and 145 other ranks en-route to Mudros where they arrived on August 19^th and joined the Battalion at Cape Helles on August 22^nd. Less than two weeks later he was admitted to the 1/3rd East Lancs Field Hospital suffering from dysentery and was invalided to the UK on September 3, 1915 on the hospital ship Delta. He arrived at Southampton on September 15th where he spent some time in hospital in London and convalesced in Wales before returning home to Ashton in late November.

By December 1915 he was fully recovered from Dysentery but still too weak and underweight for active service. He was passed fit for home service in January 1916 rejoining the the 2/9^th Manchesters who were at camp in Codford. He was passed fit for active service a month later but remained with the 2/9th as they moved to camp at Witley, in Surrey. On June 12, 1916 he was again best man at the wedding of a brother Officer, this time for Lt. William Marsden Barratt. He rejoined the 1/9th Battalion in Egypt on November 8, 1916 traveling with 69 other ranks. He was promoted to Lieutenant on June 1, 1916 otherwise his time in Egypt was uneventful, only attending a 3 week course of instruction in Cairo in January 1917.

He sailed with the Battalion to France, arriving March 11, 1917 and two months later spent 11 days sick in hospital. Shortly after his return to the Battalion he was appointed Town Major for 7 weeks. He then took home leave in the UK for 11 days, leaving on July 27, 1917. On August 27 he was attached to the 42^nd Division and remained attached for just over a month. He took another home leave pm December 7, 1917, this time for two weeks and upon his return was attached to the 126^th Infantry Brigade Headquarters for two weeks.

In February 1918 the army was about to go through a dramatic reconstruction with Brigades being reduced from 4 to 3 Battalions. On February 21, 1918 Lt. Harold Harrison Knight was posted to the 1/6^th Battalion Manchester Regiment. On March 27, 1918 the 1/6^th Manchesters were close to Ablainzevelle, South of Arras. They came under repeated attack by German forces and although the attacks were repulsed, they suffered heavy casualties from shell fire. 15 other ranks were killed or reported missing and 65 wounded. While two Officers were wounded and one killed. The Officer killed was Lt. Knight.

Lt. Harold Harrison Knight was killed in action on March 27, 1918 and is buried in the Douchy-Les-Ayette British Cemetary and is commemorated on the Albion United Reformed Church War Memorial and the Ashton under Lyne Civic War Memorial. He was 26 years old.