Pte 15850 John Augustus Manifold

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

John Jack Augustus Manifold was born on 11th July 1894 in Liverpool,and was baptised on the 11th December 1894 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. John was the second child and eldest son of Joseph Henry, and his wife Mary Ellen(nee Morrison). His parents had married at St Michael's Church, Toxteth on 16th August 1891. John was a 26 year old pilot, father Thomas, whilst Mary was aged 22, father Robert.  

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 7, Park Avenue, Poulton cum Seacombe, Birkenhead, Cheshire.

The father Joseph Henry aged 35, born 1866 is a Liverpool Pilot for Mersey Docks and Harbour Board who was born in Liverpool. His wife Mary Elizabeth is aged 32, born 1869 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed.  They have five children at the time of the Census, Clarrie aged 8, born 1893, John Augustus aged 6, born 1895, and Irene aged 5, born 1896 in Liverpool. Their remaining siblings Joseph aged 3, born 1898 and Violet aged 2, born 1899 were both born in Seacombe. They had a domestic servant Sarah Roberts aged 19, born 1882 in West Hartlepool and a visitor Margaret Lindon aged 34, born 1867 who was a domestic servant in a hotel, and born in Liverpool.

John was educated at Wallasey Grammar School.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 8 Hale Road Liscard, Cheshire. 

The father Joseph Henry aged 45, is still employed as a Liverpool Pilot for Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, his wife Mary Elizabeth is aged 42, and has no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty years and have six children. Clarrie aged 18, is a typist for a general broker, John Augustus aged 16, Irene aged 15, Joseph aged 13, Violet aged 12 and Francis aged 9 are all at school.

Prior to enlisting he was employed as an assistant inspector with the Oceanic Insurance Company.

Jack enlisted at Liverpool on 01^st September 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15850. He gave his age as 20 years , his occupation as clerk (Ocean Accident Insurance Company) and his next of kin as his father, 8 Hale Road. He was five feet eight inches tall, weighed 133lbs, fresh complexion, blue eyes, fair hair and gave his religion as Church of England. 

From the 23rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

On 25th February, 1915 he was admitted to Rainhill Hospital suffering from Influenza and was treated for four days.

For reasons unknown John did not travel to France with his Battalion on the 7th November 1915, but arrived as part of a reinforcement draft for the 18^th Battalion on 23rd December 1915.

On 24^th December 1915 he was attached to 30^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples and on 07^th January 1916 to No 2 Entrenching Battalion for three months, resuming with his unit on 03^rd March 1916.

On 1^st July 1916 he was killed in action during the attack at Montauban. 

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter wrote in the conclusion of his account of the day’s action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.   

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

Jack has no known grave being commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His death was reported in the Wallasey News on 22^nd July 1916 under the header:

Grammar School Boy Killed:

As briefly announced in our Wednesday's issue, Private John (Jack) Augustus Manifold, of the Liverpool Pals, was killed in action recently. He was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs J. H. Manifold. 8 Hale Road, Liscard, and was assistant inspector of the Oceanic Insurance Company. He was educated at Wallasey Grammar School and was captain of the school for swimming. He played in the school's first football team and was 21 years of age. 

Liverpool Echo 25th August 1916 

MANIFOLD - Mr. and Mrs. Manifold and Family desire thank friends for kindness and sympathy in their late bereavement. —8, Hale-road. Liscard. 

Jack is remembered on the following Memorials:

Wallasey Roll of Honour in Wallasey Library, Earlston Road

Wallasey School, Birket Avenue, Leasowe, Wirral (the former Grammar School)

Wallasey War Memorial which is located in the hospital on Mill Lane, Wallasey.

Soldiers Effects to father Joseph H., Pension to mother Margaret. 

Father died aged 89 in 1952 and the mother died aged 84 in 1953.  

We currently have no further information on John Augustus Manifold, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us. 

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