The Seventh Manchesters. By Captain S. J. Wilson, 11.C.
(Manchester University Press and Longmans. 63,,,3110—
Colonel Hurst wrote the history of his battalion's experiences in the Sudan and at Gallipoli. Captain Wilson continues the story from July, 1916, when the Seventh Manchesters were sent east of the Suez Canal. They took part in the decisive victory over the Turkish invaders at Romani in August, 1916, and marched on to El Arish. With the rest of the 42nd Division, they went to France in March, 1917, and were employed in the hard fighting round Ypres. In March, 1918, they were hastily sent to reinforee the Third Army, and succeeded in arresting the enemy's advance east of Bucquoy in a week of strenuous work. Captain Wilson's account of this critical affair is lucid and interesting. In the following August the battalion took part in the great offensive of the Third Army on the old Somme battlefield, helping to take Miraumont. In the breaking of the Hindenburg Line on September 27th, 1918, the Seventh Manchesters were east of Havrincourt Wood. The day's fighting cost them 300 casualties out of a strength of 450, and twelve officers out of sixteen. But they took 600 prisoners and two guns and attained all their objectives. On Armistice Day they were close to Maubeuge. The book, which has a few sketch-maps, is a good example of what a battalion history should be ; the long list of distinctions at the end speaks for itself.
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