Major General Peter Davis CB, Colonel of the King's Regiment, is photographed with Brigadier Errington and a number of officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of C (The Manchester) Company, 5/8th (Volunteer) Battalion the King's Regiment

They are gathered around the newly-unveiled memorial in Francilly-Selency to the 2nd and 16th Battalions who fought on Manchester Hill.

The memorial was unveiled by Major General Davis and M. Tanter, Mayor of Francilly-Selency, on the 30th June 1996.

 

Manchester Hill gained its name when it was captured by the 2nd Battalion on the 1st and 2nd April 1917. Almost a year later it was the site of the 16th Battalion's desperate fight on the 21st March 1918.

The German Spring Offensive overwhelmed the battalion, but led by Lieutenant Colonel Wilfrith Elstob they held on all day and bought other units time to organise their defences.

Wilfrith was killed during the fighting. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism.