Underage officer

Underage officer

30th January 1915

Born on 26th February 1900, Battersby was four weeks shy of his 15th birthday when he volunteered to join the ranks of the Manchester Regiment on 30th January 1915. With no chance of being accepted into the army at the age of 14, he declared himself to be 19 years of age, and employed as a draper. In spite of his youth, Battersby had already been promoted to Lance Corporal by the time he was posted to the Manchester's 14th (Reserve) Battalion at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield on 13th March 1915. Within a month of his arrival at Lichfield, he had submitted his application for appointment to a commission. Supported by references from the Headmaster of the Grammar School at Middleton and - most impressively - David McCabe, Lord Mayor of Manchester, the application was approved, and on 6th May 1915 he was discharged from the Manchester Regiment on being appointed to a commission in the East Lancashire Regiment.

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