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This web site recounts the history of the 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment Territorial Force during and leading up to World War 1 with a special focus on 1908 through to the end of the Gallipoli Campaign.

Without a doubt, by far the most famous member of the 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment was Lieutenant William Thomas Forshaw who won the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Krithia Vineyard in Gallipoli.

A comprehensive biography of Forshaw is available here and reveals a man who after displaying an extraordinary feat of courage and endurance spent the rest of his civilian life struggling to adapt to post-war society’s lack of support for men such as him.

9th Battalion Manchester Regiment

The 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment, Territorial Force was an infantry battalion of the Manchester Regiment based in Ashton under Lyne.

1914-15

Shortly after the outbreak of war the 9th Manchesters, as part of the East Lancs Division, mobilised and deployed to Egypt to protect the Suez Canal, to train and to acclimate to North African temperatures.

Kasr el Nil Barracks — Kasr-el-Nil Barracks, Cairo. Shown here from 1936 (Wellcome Library).

On May 9th, 1915 they landed at Sedd-el-Bahr under heavy fire at Gallipoli. They remained in Gallipoli for almost 8 months, leaving on December 29, 1915.

1916-17

In January 1916 the 1/9th Manchesters deployed to Egypt and spent the year there reconstituting their ranks with fresh recruits from England while guarding the Suez Canal from Turkish attack.

Bridge at Serapeum — Pontoon Bridge across the Nile at Serapeum (Australian War Museum).

In March 1917 they deployed to France where they remained for the duration of the war.

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Diaries & Biographies

Personal Diaries

A number of personal letters and diaries have been transcribed and made available here. Some are from the Imperial War Museum and one was kindly provided by relatives of the author.

They include letters and diaries of men who served with the 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment in Egypt and Gallipoli.

Biographies

A number of biographies of the Officers and men of the battalion who played a notable part in the narrative of the 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, are available on this website.

They include every officer that served with the 9th Manchesters in Gallipoli, all of the 9th Manchesters that won the Distinguished Conduct Medal in Gallipoli, and more.

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