Victor Lionel Manning, Machine Gun Corps

On 2nd September 1915, a proposal was made to the War Office for the formation of a single MG Company per Brigade, by withdrawing the Vickers guns from the Battalions. They would be replaced at Battalion level by Lewis guns. The Machine Gun Corps was created by Royal Warrant on October 14th, 1915, followed by an Army Order on 22nd October. The MGC would consist of infantry machine-gun Companies, cavalry machine-gun Squadrons, and Motor Machine Gun Batteries. The reorganisation was completed by mid 1916. The Base Depot of the Corps in France was established at Camiers, close to the Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.Second Lieutenant Manning was commissioned on 25 May 1917 and entered France on 22 July 1917. He was originally part of 74th, 75th or 195th MG Company. The 74th and 75th Companies joined the 25th Division in mid March 1916. They both moved into the newly created 25th Battalion MGC on 1 March 1918. The 195th Company joined the Division in October 1916 and then the 25th Battalion MGC on 17 March 1918. As a Second Lieutenant he would have been in charge of a Machine Gun Sub-Section, comprising two six-man Machine Gun Teams.

Second Lieutenant Manning, serving with Section 2 of 'A' Company, was killed in action at Fremicourt during the The Battle of Saint Quentin (21st - 26th March). This was at the beginning of The German Spring Offensive (21st March-5th April 1918) when the Germans broke through the British front and overwhelmed the defenders. Following a short, intense bombardment, three German armies (70 divisions), 1700 artillery batteries, and 1000 aeroplanes struck along a 45-mile front near Arras. Within 48 hours, the Germans had penetrated 10 miles, the greatest single day’s advance on the Western Front since 1914. In just three weeks the German army overran over 1500 square miles of territory, including the former Somme battlefields, a gain unequalled since 1914, before they were finally halted on 5th April having pushed the front line back 40 miles.

In this battle, the units of the 25th Division were ordered to reinforce other sorely pressed formations in a piecemeal fashion. From the opening phases of the attack until the Division was withdrawn six days later, it fought continuously under different commanders and staffs, and not as a Division. At the forefront of the defensive line Machine Gunners were positioned both to obstruct the attackers as well act as a buffer to allow troops to withdraw behind them and regroup. In this way they became the first obstacle the advancing enemy had to overcome and put out of action. The guns and their crews became obvious targets.

He was born in Dublin on 23 March 1885 at 53 Kenilworth Square. In 1901 his family lived at Maes-yr-Haf, Holyhead. His father, Lionel John Manning (42) had been employed since 1889 as a Master Mariner for the LNWR at Holyhead and was originally from Hillsborough, County Down, Ireland. His mother, Frances Maria Manning (nee Hanlon) (39) 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 brother Robert Charles Manning would probably have been away at school in Ireland. He attended Wellington College. In 1911 the family had moved to Valley, Anglesey and were living at Gorphwysfa. Resident at this time were his father, mother, sisters - Ruth Noel and Hester Mary and brothers - Robert Charles and William Gibson. At this time he was residing with his aunt Harriette Jane Hanlon, an Artist, at Dublin. He was a Civil Servant (2nd Division Clerk) employed at the Education Department, aged 26. He registered himself as an Agnostic. In his Will he left £291. 5s. 6d. to his Aunt Harriette.

His younger brother, Major Robert Charles Manning, Royal Engineers, died of wounds a few months later in September 1918.

He was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.

He was buried in Bancourt British Cemetery, France. Grave location I.N.18. He is also remembered on a family grave at St. Seiriol's Churchyard, Holyhead.