Person

Michael Manley was born at Lamesley of an Irish father and a Geordie mother. He enlisted into the 3rd Tyneside Irish in Newcastle on 2/12/1914.
He entered France with the battalion on 11/1/1916 and he recorded these words of the journey to the Somme front in 1916.

The battalions entrained at St Omer and Wizernes for Amiens, detraining at Amiens and marching to St Gratien, where they arrived at 11 p.m. and billeted for the night. This was a long, hot, trying march and several men fell out on the way. Michael Manley recalled the journey,

‘We travelled a whole day in this train, shunting about with all these ammunition trains coming up all the time. Eventually we ended
up at a place called Amiens. We had to march about 20 miles to get to the front; we were all tired and when we fell out I remember this
officer calling over to us, “If you carry on like this you’ll miss the big Push!” Some hope.’

He was awarded a Divisional Card of Honour on 24 November 1917 after the Battle of Passchendaele.

Michael Manley was the last known survivor of the Tyneside Irish Brigade to die.

The card of honour and photograph can be viewed here:
https://witness.theguardian.com/assignment/52751e38e4b01fc33230d4aa/1235411
https://witness.theguardian.com/assignment/52751e38e4b01fc33230d4aa/1235433

Birth date: 1890

Death date: 11-Nov-1994

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 8 Lucy Street Stanley 1911 – 1914, Hustledown School House Southmoor 1918.

Religion: Roman Catholic

Employment: Shop Assistant Co-op Store.

Family: Michael Manley 46, May Manley 46, Michael Manley 21, Mary Alice Manley 19, Kathleen Manley 17, John Manley 15, Margate Ely Manley 12, Theresa Manley 10.

Military service:

Lance Corporal
Regimental number 26/1064
C Company 26th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Irish), also served with the 9th & 12/13th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers.

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Divisional Card of Honour

Gender: Male

Contributed by John Sheen