Oldham Historical Research Group

'THE GREAT WAR',     'THE WAR TO END WAR',     'WORLD WAR 1'
'What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
- Only the monstrous anger of the guns.'

                                                                                                  
from 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' by Wilfred Owen

From the National Archives: Unit War Diaries of the British Army 1914 - 1922

"These records are the unit war diaries of the British Army in the First World War. They are not personal diaries (try the Imperial War Museum for those). They are part of a large series of records, WO 95, which contains many more diaries scheduled for digitisation. We are now conserving, sorting, digitising and itemising thousands more diaries from the WO 95 series as part of our First World War 100 programme."
Full details on the National Archives website HERE

24th BATTALION, THE MANCHESTER REGIMENT (OLDHAM COMRADES)
ON THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE SOMME
TRANSCRIPTIONS

AUGUST 1916 ... File WO-95-1646-2_1
UNIT WAR DIARIES OF THE 24TH BATTALION

ORDER PAPERS ISSUED TO THE 24TH BATTALION DURING THE SOMME OFFENSIVE

Examples of ORDER PAGES

WO-95-1646-2_1-82
© Crown Copyright

WO-95-1646-2_1-82

WO-95-1646-2_1-83
© Crown Copyright

WO-95-1646-2_1-83

DIARY PAGES FOR AUGUST 1916

WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO-95-1646-2_1

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Appendix I
SECRET
Copy No. 7
24th Battalion the Manchester Regiment.
OPERATION ORDER No. 22

Reference map, Sheet 62 D. N.E. & AMIENS 17

1. 'A' and 'B' Companies will proceed by bus today at 2pm to E. 12 and will come under the orders of the C.E. XV Corps, MAMETZ.
Bivouac area to be selected by O.C. Detachment.

2. Parade outside Headquarters 1:15pm
DRESS : Full marching order.

3. Rations for tomorrow and cooking utensils will be carried. The Supply Train will deliver rations for 6th at E. 12 on evening of the 5th.

4. Transport under Capt. Robertson will march at 5pm. this evening via POULAINVILLE & ALLONVILLE to PONT-NOYELLES, where they will report to the Town Major for billets for the night.
The march will be continued to E. 12 on 6th via DERNACOURT.

Issued at 1:10pm

Copy No.
1. O.C. 'A' Company
2. O.C. 'B' Company
3. O.C. 'C' Company
4. O.C. 'D' Company
5. T.O. & Q.M.
6. Capt. Robertson
7. War diary
8. War diary

4/8/16
G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

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Appendix II
SECRET
Copy No. 5
24th Battalion the Manchester Regiment.
OPERATION ORDER No. 23

Reference AMIENS Sheet 17

1. The Battalion, less two Companies, will move y train tomorrow the 12th August.
Train leaves VIGNACOURT 7:30am., arrives MERICOURT 11:30am. Billets will be at RIBEMONT.

2.Reveille tomorrow will be at 3:30am. Breakfast 4:15am.
Parade in MOIR STREET at 5:15am.
ORDER OF MARCH: Headquarters, 'C' and 'D' Companies.
The head of the column will be at the end house on the right of the street.
DRESS: Full marching order.
MOVE OFF at 5:30am.

3. Dixies will be carried to the station.

4. 2/Lieut. H.E. Braine will report at VIGNACOURT STATION at 6:30am on the 12th and will ascertain the entraining point and mark the compartments allotted.

Issued at 5:15pm

Copy No.
1. O.C. 'C' Company
2. O.C. 'D' Company
3. 2/Lieut. Braine
4. Headquarters
5. War diary
6. War diary

11/8/16
G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

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Appendix III
SECRET
Copy No. 6
24th Battalion the Manchester Regiment.
OPERATION ORDER No. 24

REFERENCE ALBERT Combined Sheet

1. 'C' and 'D' Companies will proceed to E. 12. c. 9.7 tomorrow the 16th inst.

2. Parade on Church Square 4:45pm. Move off 5pm.
ORDER OF MARCH: - 'C', 'D'. Fifty yard interval will be kept between these two Companies.
ROUTE:- BUIRE - DERNANCOURT - MIN du VIVIER - ALBERT - MEAULTE ROAD - thence along track by Railway to E. 12. c. 9.7.

3. Transport consisting of one tool wagon per Company, Canteen Cart and one Limber will proceed at 3pm under orders of Transport Officer. Field Kitchen will follow the two Companies. Officers kits are to be loaded on the Limber which will be in the Church Square at 2pm.

4. Forward Headquarters will be at E. 12 . c. 9.7.
Battalion Headquarters will remain at RIBEMONT.
Reports and returns will be rendered through Forward HQ.

Issued at 9:10pm.

Copy No.
1. O.C. 'C' Company
2. O.C. 'D' Company
3. Quartermaster
4. O.C. Detachment
5. 2nd in Command
6. War diary
7. War diary

15/8/16
G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

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Appendix IV
SECRET
Copy No. 6
24th Battalion the Manchester Regiment.
OPERATION ORDER No. 25
25th August 1916
REFERENCE ALBERT Combined Sheet

1. 'A' and 'D' Companies with Tool Wagons and Cookers will move off at 10am tomorrow the 20th instant to FRICOURT WOOD. Tools are to be dumped and wagons returned together with the horses of Cookers to Transport.

2. Headquarters, 'B' and 'C' Companies, Tool Carts and Cookers, to move off at 3pm. 'A' and 'D' Tool Carts to be used to take up spare kit. Tool Carts and horses of Cookers to return to Transport..

3. Officers Kits will not be taken up. The Quartermaster will arrange for Train Baggage Wagons for kits.

4. Transport will move to E. 12 . c. at an hour to be arranged by the Transport Officer.

5. Major Chaddwick will ascertain the position for bivouacs and allot same to Companies etc. The Transport Officer will arrange the supply of water.

6. Lewis Guns will move with Handcarts at the same time as their Companies. Band will remain with Transport.

Issued at 10:45pm..

Copy No.
1. O.C. 'A' Company
2. O.C. 'B' Company
3. O.C. 'C' Company
4. O.C. 'D' Company
5. Quartermaster
6. War diary
7. War diary

G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

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WAR DIARIES - NATIONAL ARCHIVES
WO-95-1646-2_1

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Appendix V
SECRET
Copy No. 7
24th Battalion the Manchester Regiment.
OPERATION ORDER No. 26
29th August 1916
REFERENCE GUILLEMONT, Sheet 1/20,000

1. INFORMATION:
The Fourth Army and French on our right are receiving the attack at 'Zero' hour on August 30th.
'Zero' hour will be at 12:55pm.

INTENTION:
The 7th Division objective is:
(a) The village of GINCHY
(b) The line of the road as far N. as the junction of PINT TRENCH and ALE ALLEY (T. 7. d. 4.0.)
(c) ALE ALLEY to its junction with BEER TRENCH.
The 20th Division is attacking the village of GUILLEMONT.

3. OBJECTIVE:
The 22nd Infantry Brigade are carrying out the attack. Their two objectives are:
First: - PINT TRENCH and the village of GINCHY.
Second: - The Trench running from T. 20. a. 1.3, East of GINCHY to T. 14. a. 4.3.

4. CONSOLIDATION:
Strong points are being established at:-
I. T. 20. a. 1.6.
II. T. 14. c. 5.4.
III. Northern edge of Trench T. 14. a. 4.3.
IV. Outside N.E. Corner of ORCHARD T. 13. b. 9.4.
V. T. 7. d. 3.2
VI. T. 7. d. 4.0
Keeps at:-
I. T. 13. b. 8.0.
II. T. 13. d. 8.5.

V. RESERVE:
The Battalion will remain in Reserve at FRICOURT WOOD.

VI. REPORTS:
Divisional Headquarters FRICOURT CHATEAU
Battalion Headquarters, FRICOURT WOOD.

Issued at 12:35pm..

Copy No.
1. O.C. 'A' Company
2. O.C. 'B' Company
3. O.C. 'C' Company
4. O.C. 'D' Company
5. Quartermaster
6. War diary
7. War diary

G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

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Appendix VI
SECRET
Copy No. 8
24th Battalion the Manchester Regiment.
OPERATION ORDER No. 27
31st August 1916
REFERENCE MAP - LONGUEVAL 57 c S.W.3. Edition E 1/10,000

I. Operations are postponed until further notice.

II. On the day of the attack the 24th Manchester Regiment has been ordered to assemble in the vicinity of MONTAUBAN, and when 7th Divisional Objective has been reached to prolong GINCHY AVENUE from PORTER TRENCH at T. 13. c. 55.40 to German Trench running from T. 20. a. 1.6. to T. 14. a. 40.25. which will then be our front line.

III. 'A' Company will work from PORTER TRENCH to German Support Trench due EAST at T. 13. d. 10.45., inclusive.
'C' Company from this point to NORTH Corner of Farm building at T. 13. d. 55.40. inclusive.
'B' company from this point to the GINCHY - MAUREPAS Road at T. 13. d. 95.40. inclusive.
'D' Company from this point to nearest point of front line.

IV. The following method will be adopted to lay out trench.
On orders being given to move out each Company will send forward 1 Officer and a small party with tapes and pickets.
'D' and 'B' will go out together and lay out their tasks from T. 13 .d. 95.40. ''D' to the EAST and 'B' to the WEST.
'A' and 'C' will lay out their tasks from T. 13. d. 10.45. 'C' to the EAST and 'A' to the WEST.
'B' and ''C' companies must be careful to meet at their junction at NORTH Corner of the Farm T. 13. d. 55.40.
Companies will move off 15 minutes after laying out parties in the order 'D', 'B', 'C', 'A'.
A winding trench will be dug 5 feet deep by 3 feet wide.
On completion of tasks Companies will return to FRICOURT WOOD, reporting completion of work at report centre.

V. Position of Report Centre will be notified later.

Issued at 4:30pm...

Copy No.
1. O.C. 'A' Company
2. O.C. 'B' Company
3. O.C. 'C' Company
4. O.C. 'D' Company
5. C.R.E.
6. 2nd in Command
7. War diary
8. War diary

G.B. DEMPSEY Lieut. and Adjutant.
24th Battalion The Manchester Regiment

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transcribed by Sheila Goodyear
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