Old Hulmeians War Memorial 1914

FRANK HIGGINBOTTOM

23 November 1896 - 25 March 1918

At School 1906 - 1912

Cpl 276797 2/7th Manchester Regt

Frank was born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy and in 1901, aged 4, was living at 11 Brookfield Avenue, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester with father Tom, a Commercial Traveller and Picture Framer, mother Ellen and grandmother Hannah. By the time Frank entered School, the family had moved to 24 Torbay Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy and in 1911 Tom was described as a Commercial Traveller in the Fine Arts industry, and able to afford to employ a domestic servant. Frank also by then had a younger brother, Alan, aged 8.

The School supported the Proctor Gymnasium and Hulme Lad's Club with an annual collection. From a total collection of £34. 3s. in 1906, Frank contributed 4s. and in 1907, 3s 6d. Frank was at School in 1910 when the House system was introduced and allocated to Gaskell House. On leaving School, he was employed by the London, Liverpool and Globe Insurance Company.

After the outbreak of war Frank enlisted in the 2/7 Battalion, Manchester Regiment, part of the 199th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division. The Battalion had been formed in Manchester in August 1914 as a second line unit, supplying reinforcements for the 1/7 Battalion. Frank's service records do not survive but his service number suggests he enlisted in November or December 1915, around the time of his 19th birthday. At this time the Battalion was in training at Crowborough Camp in Sussex. In March 1916 the Division was transferred to Colchester as part of the Southern Army Home Defence Force, guarding the coast in that area. On 6th March 1917, the Battalion left Colchester for Folkestone, Boulogne and the Western Front, arriving in the Bethune area and going into the trenches near Cambrin on the 19th. The Battalion remained in this sector until the end of June, when they moved to the Nieuport area on the Belgian coast. Although there were no major assaults the Battalion suffered over 100 casualties during that time of which 36 had been killed. In the last week of June, 341 reinforcements of Other Ranks were received.

The Battalion remained in the Nieuport area until the end of September. Again the Battalion had suffered heavy casualties from near constant shelling of gas and high explosive and casualties in the line during this period totalled 2 officers and 43 other ranks killed, 109 wounded and 37 missing. On 2nd October the Battalion received orders to proceed to the Eecke area, north west of Hazebrouck, however these were cancelled on the 4th and the Battalion ordered to Ypres in support of the Battle of Broodseinde, which had commenced that day, the advance by the Anzac forces having secured most of their objectives. On the 5th the Battalion proceeded to the line on foot and took over positions held by the 39th and 40th Australians, part of the 3rd Australian Division, near Zonnebeke.

Relief was completed by 1 p.m. on the 6th despite of a heavy enemy counter attack and heavy shelling. At 5 p.m. on the 7th, Battalion HQ was blown up by the barrage preceding another enemy counter attack, which was driven off with heavy casualties. , On the 9th, the 197th brigade were ordered to attack in front of the Battalion. Weather conditions were very bad with driving rain and 3/5 Lancashire Fusiliers did not manage to reach their assembly trenches. The 2/7th were ordered to mop up Cemetery, which they did taking 19 prisoners. A heavy enemy counter attack ensued and stragglers from the 197th brigade were collected and absorbed into the Battalion front line. The Battalion was finally relieved on the 10th and proceeded to the Menin Gate in Ypres to bivouac. The Battalion war diary states that "10 officers and 103 other ranks marched out. Total casualties whilst in the line: 2 officers killed, 110 other ranks wounded (1 since died of wounds), 37 other ranks missing, 42 other ranks killed. in addition 100 other ranks and 5 officers evacuated sick." On the 11th, the battalion proceeded to Brandhoeke by lorry and, from there on the 13th, to Arques, near St Omer, by train. Battalion training took place and reinforcements of 4 officers and 186 other ranks joined between 19th and 28th October. On 31st October, 4 Military Crosses, 1 DCM and 11 Military Medals were awarded for gallantry during the Ypres action. On 9th November the Battalion returned to Ypres, but in reserve and support, training and providing working parties. This continued throughout December to February, interspersed with brief periods in the front line.

In mid February the battalion was in reserve and received a draft of 10 officers and 217 other ranks from 2/8th Manchesters. After a short period of training the Battalion received orders to proceed by train to the Peronne area, and on the 25th marched to Hancourt and thence to Vendelles, just south of Jeancourt (map below), in reserve, where they set about clearing the village and improving the camp. The ration strength of the Battalion at the end of February was 36 officers and 744 other ranks.

On 6 March the Battalion relieved the 2/6 Manchester Battalion in the trenches in front of Villaret being relieved on the 14th by 2/5 Manchester Battalion. Work was undertaken on trench improvements in what appears to have been a quiet period of front line duty, the war diary reporting only 2 other ranks wounded during the time. From the 14th to the 21st the Battalion was in support in Jeancourt and Montigny, some 2 kilometres to the East of Jeancourt. The war diary reports a "Quiet day today" on 20th March but on the 21st at 4.10 a.m. recorded "Violent Enemy bombardment." The Battalion received orders to march out to Brosse Wood to hold position and

"Entered combat here." At 6.30 p.m. the remainder of the Battalion, consisting chiefly of B Coy fell back on Redoubts on flanks of Jeancourt Valley, and spent a quiet night. At 6.15 a.m. the next day another "Violent Enemy Bombardment" commenced and at 9.30 a.m. the attacked on the flanks causing the remnants of the Battalion to further withdraw. At 2.30 p.m. the enemy attacked again in large numbers but was held up for half an hour by machine gun and rifle fire. At 3.00 p.m. the Brigade retired through Montigny with the 2/7 Manchesters forming the rearguard. Throughout the night the Battalion fell back through Bernes towards Peronne, arriving at Barleux, just south of Peronne at 4.00 a.m. Here the Battalion was reorganised. At 11.00 a.m. 2nd Lieutenants A Walker and M J P Gapp and 100 other ranks moved up to Peronne to hold bridges over the River Somme. At 4.00 p.m. the Battalion moved up to Biaches to reinforce 2nd Lieut Walker's party and spent a quiet night despite being bombed by aeroplanes!

On the morning of 24th March, the Battalion C.O. Major J Rowbotham was killed near Peronne and the Battalion came under the command of Lt Col Maxwell of 2/5 Manchesters. At 1.00 p.m. the Enemy were seen on the east side of the river massing for attack, however this did not materialise, the war diary observing that "this attack was probably broken up by our incessant M G fire." At 10 a.m. on the 25th the war diary states "Enemy attacked our position in front of BIACHES ROAD making use of houses and shrubbery as cover. Enemy came into view when within 100 yards of our forward positions and met with severe M G fire and was repulsed. 12.30 p.m. Enemy again attacked gaining a footing in trenches on our left. Also penetrated line on our right. 1.30 p.m. Enemy observed in houses in right rear. Casualties (which included Frank) have been heavy today. Remnants of Battalion fell back on trenches N E of BARLEUX. Re-organise under MAJ WHITWORTH, 2/6th MANCHR, and become absorbed into Composite Battn of 199th BDE hereafter called 199th BDE. 6.00 p.m. Instruction received 66th DIV will withdraw to HERBECOURT Covered by 50th DIV." On the 26th the Composite Battalion was attacked at Herbecourt and fought a rearguard action back to Dompieres then fell back to Harbonnieres. Here on the 27th, a counter attack was attempted but failed and the Division was ultimately withdrawn from the line and moved back to the Amiens area.

At the end of March, the war diary refers to total casualties from 21 March inclusive to be: Killed 37, Wounded in Action 214, Missing 321. Of those missing, most were killed in action and their bodies never recovered or identified. Those whose bodies were recovered were brought into the Commonwealth War Graves Cemeteries after the war from small collections of graves on the battlefield. The missing, including Frank are commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial. Frank's name is on Panel 65.

THE HULMEIAN - April 1919

Corporal FRANK HIGGINBOTTOM, 2/7 Manchester Regiment, reported missing, is now known to have been killed in action at Peronne, on March 25^th, 1918. He was at the School from September, 1906 to July, 1912, and before joining the army was on the staff of the London, Liverpool, and Globe Insurance Company.

Pozieres Memorial - Panel 65

Old Hulmeians War Memorial 1914 - 1919