A plug for Gatley resident and war historian John Hartley, who’s book “6th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment in the Great War” is available for just £20 from Pen and Sword books (and hopefully from all good bookshops too).

The 6th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, was a pre-war Territorial unit. Many of its members held “white collar” positions employed by the City’s legal, financial and stockbroking practices or worked for the major commercial organisations trading and manufacturing cotton goods. It went overseas in September 1914, taking with it many new recruits who would undertake their basic training whilst the Battalion formed part of the British garrison in Egypt.

It saw action at Gallipoli from May 1915 until the evacuation at the end of the year and fascinating campaign is dealt with in considerable detail. The Battalion returned to Egypt until the spring of 1917 when it moved to France.

The Manchesters saw regular action for most of 1918, coming under attack in the German offensive in March. Throughout the summer and autumn, the Battalion took part in the Advance to Victory and was still advancing when the Armistice was signed in November.

The book also recounts the history of the second line battalion, the 2/6th Manchesters, from its inception in 1914 until it was all but destroyed in March 1918.

Congratulations John – here’s wishing you every success with this one, and looking forward to your next project.