Manchester Regiment Flash

[Strapper]

This is my Great Grandfather Sgt. Harold Hetherington Williams. 2nd Manchester Regimant. Can anyone give me info. On the three stripes above the Sergeant stripes and what they were doing when he was killed on 5th December 1917. I would greatly appreciate it
Kindly
strapper

[Odulf]

The diamond and the horizontal stripes are so called "Battle Patches".

The red diamond indicates the Brigade within the 32nd Division, the number of bars indicate the unit (2nd Manchesters) and the colour of the bars indicate the Company:

A Coy = red

B Coy = green

C Coy = yellow

D Coy = blue

HQ = black

It is strange that he does not wear the battle patch of the 32nd Division (5 rings placed as the 5 on a dice), but instead a patch with the title MANCHESTER, but the patch with the 5 rings may have been issued later.

[Strapper]

Thank you Odulf. Not sure on the date of the Picture. Due to his rank and date of death I would assume it would be between mid 1916 and late 1917.

[Tony]

Strapper,

I can't see your great grandfather.

As for what they were doing in Dec. 1917 here's a link to the war diaries http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?discoveryCustomSearch=true&_q=2+manchester+regiment&_cr1=WO+95&_col=200&_hb=tna&image1.x=44&image1.y=16

It looks like the one you need is the 2nd from the top.

Tony

Edit: Just seen Odulf has answered your question about the stripes in another thread

Edited December 14, 2014 by Tony

[Strapper]

Thanks Tony...I will be buying that.