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Private Harold Griffiths
1/6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
World War I 1914-1918
Harold Griffiths was born in Manchester, England around 1895. He was a member of the 6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment of the British army. It was a Territorial unit, an equivalent to the US National Guard. The Territorial Force was created in 1908 in response to Germany’s build-up to war.
Harold joined the Manchesters like many others, excited about serving his country with a rather “romantic” notion of what war was all about. After the start of World War 1, His unit was sent to Egypt with three other Territorial battalions, which formed the 127th Manchester Brigade of the 42nd Lancashire Division.
Without notice, the 42nd Division was sent to Gallipoli on May 7th, 1915. The British attempted to knock Turkey out of the war by landing on Gallipoli and attempting a naval breakthrough the Dardinalles. On June 4th, the British army attacked with every unit it had, in what would later be called the Third Battle of Krithia. The Manchester Brigade went over the top in the summer sun and broke through the Turkish lines, reaching some 1000 yards behind the first line of trenches. Under the din of machine gun and rifle fire, units on either side of the Manchesters were stopped in their tracks, and now the Manchesters’ flanks were exposed. They had no choice but to drop back, leaving dead and wounded comrades behind. At roll call that night, only 160 out of the 770 soldiers assigned to the battalion were present. Sadly, Harold Griffiths was not. The Gallipoli campaign ended up being a failure. Within a year, the British withdrew, leaving over 25,000 fallen soldiers behind.
Private Harold Griffiths
1/6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
World War I 1914-1918
Harold Griffiths was born in Manchester, England around 1895. He was a member of the 6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment of the British army. It was a Territorial unit, an equivalent to the US National Guard. The Territorial Force was created in 1908 in response to Germany’s build-up to war.
Harold joined the Manchesters like many others, excited about serving his country with a rather “romantic” notion of what war was all about. After the start of World War 1, His unit was sent to Egypt with three other Territorial battalions, which formed the 127th Manchester Brigade of the 42nd Lancashire Division.
Without notice, the 42nd Division was sent to Gallipoli on May 7th, 1915. The British attempted to knock Turkey out of the war by landing on Gallipoli and attempting a naval breakthrough the Dardinalles. On June 4th, the British army attacked with every unit it had, in what would later be called the Third Battle of Krithia. The Manchester Brigade went over the top in the summer sun and broke through the Turkish lines, reaching some 1000 yards behind the first line of trenches. Under the din of machine gun and rifle fire, units on either side of the Manchesters were stopped in their tracks, and now the Manchesters’ flanks were exposed. They had no choice but to drop back, leaving dead and wounded comrades behind. At roll call that night, only 160 out of the 770 soldiers assigned to the battalion were present. Sadly, Harold Griffiths was not. The Gallipoli campaign ended up being a failure. Within a year, the British withdrew, leaving over 25,000 fallen soldiers behind.
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