Wigan Album

The 2/5th were a Territorial Regiment which was formed in Wigan in November of 1914 until the 31st July 1918. They were then transferred to the 1/5th Battalion Manchester Regiment. The "2" means they were the second line unit raised to the 5th battalion . The 2/5th were part of the the 66th division. Wonderful photo.

They look so proud and dignified little did they know what they were going to. Proud men as we should be as the saying goes Heroes lead by idiots

My great uncle Mansel Bowen was associated with this Manchester Regiment, killed in action in the hell hole that was Passchendaele. He was a Welshman born near Saundersfoot and joined with other Welshmen.
The 2/8th Lancashire Fusiliers suffered heavy casualties on 9 October 1917. Thirty-three men were killed, 206 men were wounded and 143 men went missing. The high amount of missing fusiliers can be explained by the fact that the Battalion was forced to retreat, leaving many wounded and dead behind in No Man’s Land. Private Bowen was possibly one of the men left behind. The 37-year old was later declared killed in action. Mansel Bowen’s remains were not found or never identified. He therefore has no known grave and is remembered on Panel 55 of the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Brigade: 197th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade
Division: 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division
Force: British Expeditionary Force

Keith these 2/5 Manchester's were 199th Brigade of 66th Division at Passchendaele reduced to a cadre after being slaughtered in the German Spring Offensive in 1918 and then disbanded.