John Murray Manson

Killed in Action on the 16/05/1915 at the Battle of Festubert

The Battalion arrived at Zeebrugge on the 07/10/1914 and were part of the 20th Brigade, 7th Division. John arrived in France on the 16/03/1915 and was killed exactly 2 months after his arrival whilst his Company attacked enemy trenches at the Battle of Festubert, 15th - 25th May 1915 : The Battle of Festubert was in effect a second phase of the recently failed attack on Aubers Ridge. The strategic context and why this battle took place are explained on that page. Once again, the attack would take the form of a pincer attack with two assault frontages: a northern one along the Rue du Bois near Port Arthur and Richebourg l'Avoue, and a southern one at Festubert. At 2.45am on the 16th May : The bombardment intensifies on the 7th Division front, including six field guns firing from the front line, opening gaps in the German breastwork (a tactic tried with some success by the Division at Aubers), although in places the lines are only 80 yards apart and great care is taken to avoid shelling the British troops forming up. At 3.10am : first platoons of the 20th Brigade (led by 2/Scots Guards and 2/Border) leave their front line, to close up with the German before the barrage lifts. Considerable casualties are incurred as they advance too far, into the British shells. At 3.15am : although the 2nd Division has failed to reorganise ready for a supporting advance, the 850-yard frontal attack of the 7th Division goes in. 22nd Brigade on the right, attacking across Duke's Road towards the School House and the Northern Breastwork (a sandbag-parapet German communication trench), with 2/Queens and 1/Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the first wave, is hit by heavy machine-gun fire. The advance is halted for an extra 15 minutes shelling. On their left, 20th Brigade are slowed by a deep ditch, and crossfire from the Quadrilateral position on their left front, untouched by the bombardment as it lay in the area between the two Divisional attacks. 7th Division casualties in the Battle of Festubert in 3 days : 4,123 of which 167 Officers. John was buried behind the lines. He now has no known grave. His original resting place was probably destroyed during later fighting. See Newspaper clipping for letter sent to John's father by Lieutenant W Waring commanding "D" Company. John was described by his employers as an "honourable and obliging employee". John is also remembered on the Maxwell Parish Church and East United Free Churches Rolls of Honour (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 3, the Family Plot in Wrangholm Churchyard, Motherwell x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration, John's name on the Le Touret Memorial, his name on the Le Touret Memorial Panel List, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls and the Gordon Highlanders Cap Badge.