Robert Charles Manning, Royal Engineers

The 1st Canadian Division Cyclist Company was formed in Canada on 20 September 1914. Their initial role was intelligence gathering, topography interpretation, signalling, tactics and usage of the light machine gun (Lewis Gun). Major Manning joined this unit at Valcartier Camp, Quebec, Canada on 26 September 1914. He was a Civil Engineer and had completed 2 years in the Officer Training Corps of Trinity College, Dublin. The 1st Canadian Division sailed on 3 October 1914 and arrived in England eleven days later. Training re-commenced on Salisbury Plain and the Division embarked for St Nazaire in early February 1915. It arrived in the Hazebrouck-Strazeele area on 15 February 1915. Major Manning arrived in France on 10 February 1915. On 1 May 1915 he was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and joined the 170th Tunnelling Company.

The 170th Tunnelling Company was formed in February 1915, and initially attached to 11th Field Company, Royal Engineers. It was formed with a nucleus of civilian sewer-workers from Manchester and with miners withdrawn from a number of infantry battalions. It was rushed to Givenchy for operations to counter enemy activity and was relieved by 176th Tunnelling Company in June 1915. It was then employed under the command of 2nd Division on operations near Cuinchy and the Brickstacks in Summer 1915. The Company blew two mines at the Hohenzollern Redoubt in the opening of the Battle of Loos. They remained in this very active area for a considerable time. In April 1918 troops of the Company fought a large fire in Bethune. 

Major Manning was born on 6 July 1889 at Rathger, County Dublin, Ireland, the son of Captain (Master Mariner) Lionel John Manning, MBE and Frances Maria Manning (nee Hanlon). He was the husband of Anna Frances Manning (nee Broughall). They married in late 1915 at Headington, Oxfordshire. He was educated at Chesterfield, Birr, Kings County; Portora Royal School, Enniskillen and then Trinity College Dublin. He gained his BAI, MA, and MAI (Engineering) in 1912 and was a member of the University Officer Training Corps. Some time after graduating he moved to Canada to work as a Civil Engineer.

He was wounded in action at Ypres on 21 September 1915 and was given a commission in the field for conspicuous bravery at Hill 60. He received the Military Cross in 1915 for successful mining (London Gazette 14 January 1916), the Distinguished Service Order in 1917 and the French Legion of Honour (Croix de Chevalier) in January 1918 for saving the coal mines at Lens. He was mentioned in dispatches five times (London Gazette on 3 January 1916 and January 1917). He was promoted Captain and Adjutant in January 1916 and then to Major in February 1918.

In 1901 his family lived at Maes-yr-Haf, Holyhead. His father, Lionel John Manning (42) was employed as a Master Mariner for the LNWR at Holyhead and originated from Hillsborough, County Down, Ireland. His mother came from Dublin. His siblings included sisters Ruth Noel (13) and Hester Mary (9) and brothers Francis Graham (8) and William Gibson (2). At this time he and his older brother Victor Lionel Manning would probably have been away at school in Ireland. In 1911 the family had moved to Valley, Anglesey and were living at Gorphwysfa. Resident with him at this time were his father, mother, sisters - Ruth Noel and Hester Mary and brother William Gibson. 

The War Diary (Weekly Progress Reports) for the 170th Tunneling Company show that they were located in the Brickstacks sector at Cuinchy (south of the La Bassee canal) at that time and were mainly working on Dugouts and Machine Gun Posts for the 16th Division. Some of the company were engaged on "investigation duties". The last report signed by Major Manning as Commanding Officer was on the 4 September 1918 when he reported that four "booby traps" had been found. The Company War Diary records that Major Manning was wounded during the morning of 6 September 1917 on the Le Basse to Labeuvriere road. He died of his wounds at 7.15 pm at No. 22 Casualty Clearing Station at Pernes.

His will went through Administration at Bangor on 17 March 1919 with £1,316 1s. 6d. going to his wife, Anna Francis Manning. It would appear that his wife gave birth to a son in 1919, who sadly died on 19 April 1919 and is buried in the family grave at St. Seiriol's Church Cemetery, Holyhead. Neither the birth or death were formally recorded.

In 1911 his older brother Victor Lionel Manning was residing with his aunt Harriette Hanlon at Dublin. He was a Civil Servant (2nd Division Clerk) employed at the Education Department, aged 26. He later served as a Second Lieutenant in the Machine Gun Corps and was killed on 23 March 1918. His younger brother, William Francis Manning, served in the RNR as a Sub-Lieutenant and was awarded the DSO.

Their father Captain Lionel John Manning was in command of  HMHS Anglia when it was sunk by mine in November 1915, with significant loss of life.

In addition to the gallantry awards listed above, he was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.

Buried in Pernes British Cemetery, France. Grave location VI.A.38. He is also commemorated on the Valley War Memorial, Ynys Wen Cemetery, Valley, Anglesey and on memorial plaque at Valley Community School. He is also remembered on his parent's grave at St. Seiriol's Church Cemetery, Holyhead. In addition he is listed in "Ireland's Memorial Record 1914-1918". He is also commemorated on the War Memorial Plaques at the Trinity College 1937 Reading Room, Dublin and the Portora Royal School, Enniskillen.

With thanks to Robert Fitzmaurice of Trinity College, Dublin for the updated photograph of R C Manning (January 2024).