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It was not until 1922 that plans to provide a city war memorial for Manchester moved forward. The Manchester branch of the British Legion initiated the project. Ernest Simon, the serving Lord Mayor, established a war memorial committee with representatives from different military associations, the business community and the council. A subscription was opened and quickly raised some £10,000, the maximum sum it had been agreed to spend on a monument. In a city where unemployment was increasing, prospective subscribers were informed that work associated with the memorial would benefit local firms. Controversy, however, soon engulfed the memorial scheme. Identifying 'the best available site' for the memorial proved problematic. Initially, the war memorial committee considered three possible sites: Albert Square, Piccadilly and St Peter's Square. The favoured site was Albert Square, the city's principal civic space, where it was proposed to remove all of the existing statuary, including the Albert Memorial, so that the new memorial would stand alone, a powerful expression of the community's loss. The committee moved quickly, approaching the King, who indicated that he had no objection to the removal of his German grandfather's memorial from the square. The Albert Square site was also strongly favoured by the British Legion. But, perhaps anticipating opposition to this location, the committee also considered St Peter's Square as an alternative site; the Lord Mayor stating that they had also obtained the consent of the Bishop of Manchester and the trustees of St Peter's for the removal of the cross. The articles and letters which appeared in the local newspapers following the announcement of Albert Square as the unanimous recommendation of the war memorial committee suggested that many Mancunians did not share the committee's view, especially when it wouild involve the removal of all the statues. The Manchester Art Federation, which included the Manchester Society of Architects and Manchester School of Art, led the protests. Opposition also came from the Royal Manchester Institution which argued that the proposed removal of the statues represented a breaking of the 'sacred trust' with those who had provided them. The Manchester sculptor, John Cassidy, also doubted whether Albert Square was the best availible site. When the city council came to debate the issue, the arguments against moving the statues had been well rehearsed and it was the Piccadilly site that emerged - by a vote of 71 to 30 - as the favoured location. The proposal that only the Albert Memorial would be removed to make way for the war memorial was also defeated. Placing the memorial in Piccadilly - in the open space created by the demolition of the Infirmary - found particular support from members of the Art Gallery Committee who envisaged the memorial standing in front of' the art gallery that the city council intended to build there. But uncertainties still surrounded the plans for Piccadilly, and, in May 1923, the war memorial committee anxious to see the memorial scheme move forward, agreed to site it in St Peter's Square. It was understood that in order to make the necessary space for the war memorial that Temple Moore's memorial cross would be removed from the square. But the suitability of the St Peter's Square site, selected, as one correspondent to the Manchester Guardian put it, 'more or less casually by a number of laymen, acting in a spirit of compromise', continued to be questioned. One of the concerns rmained that although St Peter's Square was a central location it was very close to the city's theatre and cinema district. The selection of the design of the memorial also proved contentious. The importance of organising an open competition for such an important memorial had been emphasised by the Manchester Art Federation and the Royal Society of British Sculptors during the discusions over the site. The war memorial committee appeared to agree, appointing the Manchester architect, Percy Worthington, as the assessor. However, controversy erupted when it was announced that the committee was unwilling to leave the decision entirely to Worthington, reserving the right to overturn his selection. The announcemnt of this decision prompted an understandable reaction from architects and their professional association. The decision was debated in the local press, correspondents expressing their surprise and bewilderment over the committee's apparent arbitrary and arrogant stance. The Manchester Guardian turned to Charles Reilly, Professor of Architecture at Liverpool University, to explain the principles at issue to its readers. Paul Waterhouse, the son of Alfred Waterhouse, who had recently served as President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, regretted the deadlock whilst suggesting that he knew much more about the committee's internal conflict but would not betray confidences. The Lord Mayor, Wiiliam Cundiff, was equally diplomatic, referring to 'certain insuperable difficulties' within the committee whilst confirming that it was to go ahead and select its own designer. A sub- committee was appointed and instructed to approach an architect 'who can be trusted to prepare a suitable design.' That architect was Sir Edwin Lutyens. Lutyen's design was a cenotaph, and as with the majority of those he produced for other provincial towns (including Rochdale), the essential elements of the London cenotaph could be recognised. It was a simple, well proportioned undenominational shrine in Portland stone, with a central pylon surmounted by the Unknown Soldier. The elegance and restraint of the lettering was a noteworthy feature of the design. It represented 'the triumphant end of the war as well as the sadness and sorrow it entailed.' But not all those who studied the proposed design felt that it was an entirely appropriate monument. Some reacted to its modernity, others even doubted the validity of any formal memorial. One correspondent writing to The Builder argued for a simple open space. 'Surely the creation of some fine square or some much- needed street widening would be a more fitting memorial of the recent war than any monolith, which, after all, can never convey the magnitude of the debt the city owes to its brave dead. The dedication of the Old Infirmary site to be a permanent open square would be an admirable thing, and in the future it will be of greater value as an open space than it can ever be if built upon.' But after these extrtaordinary debates and arguments the project finally went ahead. By the early summer of 1924 Manchester's cenotaph was nearing completion. The intention to provide work for local men appears not to have been realised as Lutyens used the London-based Nine Elms Stone Masonry Works to erect the memorial. In all, it cost £6,490, the residual funds being used to provide beds in local hospitals for the families of servicemen. The unveiling ceremony in July 1924 was an occasion of dignified remembrance. No part of the ceremony was more significant than the unveiling itself which was carried out by the Earl of Derby and Mrs Bingle - 'a citizen of the working-class district of Ancoats ' - whose three sons had died in the war. The memorial was dedicated by Rev J. G. McCormick, the Dean of Manchester. Manchester's cenotaph was generally welcomed. Henry Cadness, a Manchester artist, acknowledged its simple beauty and dignity, providing 'an environment of consolation which will be ever sacred for all.' But it could not have gone unnoticed in the packed square that some people's view of the ceremony was obscured by the presence of Temple Moore's cross. Negotiations to remove it recommenced after the ceremony but the trustees were reluctant to do so. The issue was a delicate one and after some further discussion Lutyens effectively closed the matter by stating that because of the 'susceptibilities of the donors ' he did not object to the cross remaining. But however appropriate Lutyens' cenotaph was, there still remained an uneasiness about the suitability of the site, an uneasiness evident in 1925 when renewed discussions about the city art gallery were broadened to include the question of moving the cenotaph to Piccadilly. But no action was taken and the cenotaph was to remain in St Peter's Square. |
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War memorial; the central feature is a pylon surmounted by a moulded and carved bier upon which is the prone figure of a fighting man covered by his greatcoat. On each of the flank sides is carved the City of Manchester coat of arms encircled by large laurel wreaths, bound and supported by ribbons. On each of the ends are swords in enriched sheaths and the Imperial Crown in bold relief. Flanking the pylon are two obelisks, on which the dates of the Great War are carved. To the front is the Great War Stone, a replica of the stone of remembrance erected in the military cemeteries in France. It rests on a surround of three steps. |
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| The Manchester Regiment |
The 1st and 2nd Manchesters took part in the Battle of Mons in August, the first battle of the war, as well as the subsequent retreat which lasted into September. The 2nd Manchesters were involved in the First Battle of Marne in September 1914, which was a largely French affair, the French suffering over 240,000 casualties. The 2nd Manchesters subsequently fought at the Battle of Ainse. In late 1914, the 2nd Manchesters took part in the First Battle of Ypre seeing some stiff fighting in the early engagements. By October, just as "First Ypres" was beginning, the division the 1st Manchesters were part of, had finally reached the Western front from India. In December, the 1st Manchesters daringly attacked the village of Givenchy during First Ypres, fighting bitter house-to-house fighting with the retreating German forces. They soon captured the village, managing to hold it through the night. Further fighting took place the following day, until the decision was made for the regiment to withdraw. However, the regiment was still involved in very heavy fighting, even as they attempted to withdraw. The regiment was finally relieved by The Cameron Highlanders In April 1915 the 1st Manchesters, along with the rest of the 8th (Jullundur) Indian Infantry Brigade took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle suffering rather heavily in a concentrated attack on German positions beyond the village of Neuve Chapelle. The battalion, as well as the 2nd Manchesters, which took part in a number of attempts to capture Hill 60, also took part in the Second Battle of Ypres, which later in the month of April, fighting valiantly during the battle. It was during "Second Ypres", that the Manchesters gained their 3rd VC of the war, when Corporal Issy Smith of the 1st Bn, under his own authority, left his company to retrieve a wounded soldier, putting his own life in great danger in doing so. He succeeded in doing this, carrying the man over 245 yards back to relative safety. He repeated these actions later that day, helping to retrieve a number of wounded as well as attending to them despite the immense danger he faced in doing so. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre and the Russian Order of St. George (4th Class) for rescuing a Russian soldier while stationed in Mesopotamia. (although this seems to be internet rumour!) The 1st Manchesters had a brief role in the Battle of Loos in late 1915 before they embarked for Mesopotamia with the rest of the Division in late December. On the 4 June 1916, a famous poet, who would become synonymous with WWI Wilfred Owen was commissioned into the Manchesters, however he would not join the 2nd Manchesters in France until 1917. On the 1 July 1916, the many battalions of the Manchesters, including the famous Pals battalions, took part in arguably the most famous, yet equally tragic battles of the British Army's history, the Somme. Many of the Bns of the regiment had a relatively successful day, though some did suffer terrible casualties in reaching their objectives. The battle had been costly, over 57,000 British soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. Many battalions of the regiment continued to be involved in the Somme offensive, which lasted into November 1916. In late July, the 18th Bn of the Manchesters, a Kitchener battalion, along with the 16th and 17th Manchesters and other regiments, attacked an area known as Guillemont, suffering very heavy casualties during the engagement During the action, Company Sergeant-Major George Evans (18th Battalion) volunteered to take an important message, a duty that had resulted in the death of the five previous messengers. He ran over half a mile and, despite being wounded by enemy wounded, delieved the message, subsequently returning, from shell hole to shell hole, under persistent heavy enemy fire, to his company. He was awarded the VC. On the 2 April, the 2nd Manchesters attacked Francilly-Selency in which the battalion captured a number of German machine guns, with the position of Francilly-Selency also being taken. C Company of the battalion captured a battery of 77mm guns, after hand-to-hand fighting took place. Two paintings were made of this action by the military artist Richard Caton Woodville. Many Manchester battalions took part in the Arras Offensive which began later that month. The battalions took part in a number of battles of the offensive, seeing heavy, and costly, action. On the 31 July 1917, the Third Battle of Ypres began. As in many of the major battles, a large proportion of the Manchester battalions were involved. During 'Third Ypres', Sergeant Coverdale of the 11th Manchesters, killed three snipers, rushed two machine gun positions, then reorganised his platoon to capture another position, though after advancing some distance was forced back due to bombardment from the British artillery, suffering nine casualties in the advance. He later attacked with a smaller number of men, though when the Germans counter-attacked, he withdrew man-by-man, himself being the last to leave. During the last major German offensive on 21st March 1918, the 16th Manchesters were positioned on Manchester Hill in the St. Quentin area when the offensive began that day. The Battle of Manchester Hill was to be a truly tragic day for the battalion. A large German force, many thousands strong, attacked the 16th Bn, being repulsed in parts, but completely overwhelming the 16th elsewhere, though most of the positions lost were recaptured in counter-attacks by the 16th Manchesters. The 16th bitterly held their positions, fighting hand-to-hand with the German attackers. Lieutenant-Colonel Elstob performed bravely, fighting with pistol and grenade, indeed at one point repulsing a German grenadier attack single-handedly, encouraging his troops to continue fighting, making a number of journeys, despite very heavy fire, to replenish the dwindling ammunition supplies of the Manchesters. At one point, he sent a message to Brigade that 'The Manchester Regiment will defend Manchester Hill to the last', to his men he had said 'Here we fight, and here we die'. They did so, the battalion was, for the most part, annihilated. Lieutenant-Colonel Elstob was killed in the battle, he won the posthumous VC. The Hill was later counter-attacked by the 17th Manchesters, though by the end of the day they too had lost so many men that they ceased to be an effective fighting force. Two other men won the VC in the last months of the war in 1918. | |
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The Manchester International Brigade Many men from Manchester joined the fight against General Franco and the facists in Spain during the Spanish Civil war 1936 - 1939. Below are two tributes to these men who fought against the Facists before the Second World War. Both memorials are in Manchester Town Hall. |
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The Manchester Regiment Museum The collection covers the history of the Regiment from the raising of the 2nd Bn 8th Foot in 1756, through the formation of the Manchester Regiment in 1881 to that Regiment’s amalgamation to form The King’s Regiment in 1958. Its history is illustrated in the context of the local community from which it stemmed and the social history section covers topics such as Women in Wartime, War Poets, The Spanish Civil War, the Home Guard and National Service. There are displays of uniforms, weapons, medals, badges and regimental memorabilia related to its major campaigns in the American War of Independence, the Crimea, South Africa, both World wars, Palestine and Malaya. The Regimental Archives are available for researchers at the Local Studies and Archives Library based in Ashton- under-Lyne (Tel 0161 342 4242). Kevin, Steve and Lance visited the Museum, and it is well worth the trip. |
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