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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 711

Pair: Private A. R. Manley, 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, who went 'in the bag' on the third day of the Battle of St. Quentin on 23 March 1918 and was interned as a Prisoner of War at Saaralben

British War and Victory Medals (20171 Pte. A. R. Manley. North'N. R.), contact marks, minor edge bruising, very fine (2)

Aubrey Reginald Manley was born at Woodford, Northamptonshire on 10 November 1898, the son of John and Mary Manley of Church Green, Woodford. Working as a Labourer prior to the Great War Manley enlisted and was posted to 11th Platoon, 'C' Company, 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment.

This unit saw heavy fighting throughout the war, particularly in late 1917 and early 1918. The start of the German Spring Offensive caught the British by surprise, they were forced to rush any available units to the line - including the 6th Battalion. Arriving at the front they were thrown into the fighting at Ly-Fontaine on 21 March, almost immediately being forced back with the 7th Bedford Regiment and a Battalion of Royal Fusiliers on their flanks.

The fighting continued the next day with the 6th Battalion repulsing an attempt to force their front over the St. Quentin Canal. Unable to dislodge the 6th Battalion the German advance switched focus to the units on their flanks and, on 23 March the heavy pressure forced these Battalions back.

The 6th Battalion found itself out on a limb, under fierce attack with its flanks exposed. Briefly reinforced by a Battalion of Strathcona's Horse the reprieve did not last long and - alone again - under intense bombardment they were forced to withdraw.

Given their exposed flanks it is unsurprising that many of the 6th Battalion were caught out of position and taken prisoner between 22-23 March. Manley was one such unfortunate, listed as going 'in the bag' on 23 March. Despite this they fought a heroic action in the face of an overwhelming offensive which was to prove the last great effort of the German Army on the Western Front. If not for this Battalion and those like it holding up the enemy advance a breakthrough may very well have been achieved.

Interned at Saaralben for the rest of the war Manley survived and was later repatriated, eventually being demobilised and returning to civilian life.

Working as a Labourer and moving to Kent, he married Maude Clara Hadlow at the Abbey Church of Saint Mary and Saint Sexburga at Minster, Kent. The couple lived at 11a, Hilda Road, Sheppey, Kent where they had two children, Bertram and Violet.

Manley died on 9 February 1980 at Sheerness, Kent, being buried at Sheppey Kent; sold together with copied research comprising census data, P.O.W. documents and two photographs as well as a marriage ban, birth certificate and War Diary entry for March 1918.

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Sold for
£85

Starting price
£40