Dates: 1881 - 1958
The Manchester Regiment was a regiment of the British army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 63rd Regiment of Foot and the 96th Regiment of Foot. The regiment amalgamated with the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) in 1958, to form what became the King’s Regiment.
The two regular battalions of the Manchester Regiment were formed by the amalgamation of the 63rd (West Suffolk) and 96th Regiments of Foot during the Cardwell-Childers reforms of the British Armed Forces. Militia and volunteers battalions from Lancashire were also incorporated as reserve battalions.
India featured prominently in the early history of the regiment. The 1st Battalion had been based there for a decade before departing for Egypt and thence to Britain in 1883, while the 2nd Battailon arrived in 1882 after service in Malta and Egypt. In the volatile North-West Frontier, the battalion participated in two expeditions against warring tribes in 1891.
In 1897, the 1st and 2nd Manchesters were posted to Gibraltar and Aden respectively, the latter battalion relocating to Manchester a year later.
The 1st Manchesters remained in Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) until it returned to Britain in 1947, where it was joined by the 2nd Battalion. After its return home, the 2nd Battalion amalgamated with the 1st in 1948.
A deployment to Germany followed, based in Wuppertal. After providing guards for Spandau Prison in Berlin, the battalion proceeded, in 1951, to Malaya aboard the troopship Empire Hallande . In three years of service during the Malayan Emergency, 14 men from the regiment died.
With the exception of a brief return to Britain, the 1st Manchesters remained part of BAOR until amalgamation in 1958.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving Manchester Regiment
" Are there any lads who served in the 9th Manchester Regiment (T.A.) from 1960 onwards. I was a boy soldier in the band and went on to join the Kings . Would be nice to hear from you "
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"Now we know that the amalgamation of regiments is due to start next year, what is going to happen to all the regimental marches. When the Kings Regiment and The Manchester Regiment amalgamated in 1958, it took another 10 years before a new march was produced. "
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" Quoting: Mac McWilliam I have recently come into possession of my Grandfathers medals and I am hopping for a little help from you all. I am trying to trace to his records. He served in WW1 as a member of the 1st Manchester Regt. He was a bit of a hooligan as he was awarded The DCM and MM and ..."
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" Hi Mick, Like Syd I can recall spending hours in our shelter and running down stairs in the middle of the night in my jim-jams to dive inside when the sirens went off. A few memories are when my big brother made some ’bunks’ and I said they weren’t strong enough. He ..."
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" Hi PAT. First things first we hope you have a fantastic 2008 , from anne and I ,may your god look after you . Now as for the job in hand yes I have made contact with the manchester regimental assn.and the local council,waiting for their reaction. Also put on my pals pages . The state of all ..."
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