Wilfrith's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Wilfrith Elstob was born in Chichester, Sussex in 1888, the son of Frances Alice (née Chamberlain) and the Rev. Canon John George Elstob. By 1891, the family had moved to Fanshawe Vicarage, Fanshawe Lane, Siddington, where two-year-old Wilfrith was living with his parents and brothers Noel Chamberlain (6), Eric Bramley (5), and baby Auberon (11 months).
Wilfrith was educated at The Ryleys School, Alderley Edge, from 1895 to 1898. In 1898 he entered Christ's Hospital School, London as a boarder, where he was a house monitor and played for the Rugby 1st XV; the school magazine described him in May 1905 as "Tall and heavy forward, very fair dribbler. Improved greatly throughout the season. Somewhat slow". The Officer Training Corps was formed at the school in 1904 and Wilfrith joined, rising to the rank of Lance Corporal.
Later in 1905 Wilfrith left school and entered Manchester University, gaining his BA in 1909 and a teaching diploma in 1910. He taught for a year at the Lycee in Beauvais before continuing his studies at the Sorbonne in Paris. In 1912 he went to the Preparatory School of Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh as a senior French master, remaining there until the outbreak of war in 1914.
MILITARY SERVICE
On 11th September 1914 Wilfrith enlisted with the Public Schools Battalion, but before he could begin his training he was offered a commission with “A” company, 16th Battalion The Manchester Regiment, a unit largely made up of clerks and warehousemen from large Manchester firms. The battalion trained at Heaton Park and in May 1915 Wilfrith was promoted to acting Captain. Further training was undertaken at Grantham and Salisbury Plain before the battalion embarked for France on 6th November 1915.
Wilfrith was put in command of ‘D’ Company and took part in the 1st July 1916 attack on the Somme near Mountauban. Wounded by machine gun fire to the neck a Sergeant bandaged him up so he could continue his duties. His leadership that day earned him a Military Cross. Eight days later Wilfrith was wounded again in action at Trones Wood. Heavy losses in officers and men saw Wilfrith promoted to second in command of the battalion and three months later, when the commanding officer was killed in action, Wilfrith was placed in charge of the battalion and promoted to acting Lieutenant Colonel.
Lt-Col Wilfrith Elstob was reported to have been wounded in the Macclesfield Courier on 22 July 1916:
SIDDINGTON - CANON ELSTOB'S SON WOUNDED - News has been received that Canon Elstob's son, Wilfrith, has again been wounded and is in hospital. Canon Elstob's son was formerly a master at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, and on the outbreak of war he obtained a commission in the 16th Manchester's. This is the second time he has been wounded.
During 1917 the battalion took part in the Battle of Arras and the Third Battle of Ypres. From August to December 1917 Wilfrith was in temporary command of the 90th Brigade, of which the 16th Battalion Manchester Regiment was a part, and in January 1918 Wilfrith was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery and leadership during 1917.
On 18th March 1918 the battalion took over a section of the front line near St Quentin in France known as Manchester Hill after the 2nd battalion's capture of it in 1917. The British Army was preparing for a large German attack. Wilfrith organised his men accordingly and warned them that they may have to endure a heavy artillery bombardment, that the action may last several days and that the unit was expected to defend their position to the last man. At 06:30 on 21st March high explosive, shrapnel and gas shells began to rain down on the British lines. Wilfrith moved his headquarters closer and visited a number of posts to check on the men and give them encouragement. The German infantry began their attack at 08:30 and quickly took two company headquarters and front line positions. By 11:30 the enemy breakthrough was complete on either side of Manchester Hill.
Wilfrith defended his position side by side with his men, throwing bombs, using his revolver and when he ran out of ammunition he took up a rifle and continued the fight. He was wounded twice, but as in previous actions he had his wounds dressed and stayed at his post. He continually encouraged his men and praised them for doing a magnificent job. When bombs ran low he fetched new supplies and at one point he repelled an enemy assault single-handed. At about 14:00, surrounded by the enemy, Wilfrith used a buried cable to assure the Brigade Commander that “The Manchester Regiment will defend Manchester Hill to the last.” Wilfrith encouraged his men to fight on, telling them, “Here we fight, and here we die.” Shortly afterwards the last few men were overcome by the enemy and Wilfrith was killed doing his duty.
The Macclesfield Times reported on 5 April 1918 that Wilfrith was missing:
MISSING - Canon Elstob (Vicar of Siddington and Capesthorne) has received an official intimation that his son, Colonel Wilfrith Elstob, DSO, MC, of the Manchester Regt, has been missing since March 23rd. No further details are to hand. Canon Elstob has three other sons serving.
Further information was printed in the Macclesfield Times on 19 April 1918:
MISSING - From accounts to hand, it now appears certain that the officer in command of the battalion of the Manchester Regt which fought so gallantly around Manchester Redoubt was Col W Elstob, DSO, MC, who was officially reported missing a fortnight ago. He is the third son of Canon Elstob, Capesthorne, whither he went when six weeks old, and before the war was a master at Merchiston, the great Scottish public school. He was one of the earliest to respond to Lord Kitchener's appeal. His Military Cross was awarded for gallant work at Montaumont, where he was wounded. He was wounded again during the fierce fighting in the Trones Wood engagement. The DSO was awarded to him in the New Year honours. Colonel Elstob was one of the youngest commanding officers in the Army, for though not quite 30 years of age, he had been Lieut-Colonel commanding a battalion of the Manchester Regt for 18 months. A memorial service to the men who died on Manchester Hill was held at the Manchester Cathedral on Monday, when Bishop Welldon told the story of their heroism. Canon Elstob, Vicar of Capesthorne and Siddington (father of the gallant commander of the battalion) was present at the service.
The assumed death of Lt-Col Wilfrith Elstob was reported in the Macclesfield Courier on 27 July 1918:
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ELSTOB REPORTED KILLED - BRAVE, MODEST, AN INSPIRATION TO ALL
Very general and widespread sympathy will be felt and expressed with the Rev Canon Elstob, Capesthorne Vicarage, Chelford, upon the sad news received this week. Lt-Col Wilfrith Elstob, DSO, MC, 16th Battalion Manchester Regiment, his third son, who was officially reported missing on 21st March 1918, is now officially reported killed on that day whilst in command of his gallant battalion of "Pals" - the heroes of Manchester Hill. He was 29 years of age. "The Manchester will defend Manchester Hill to the last" - in death "The Pals" were not divided.
One who knew Colonel Elstob well, both at Merchiston and in France, writes thus of him:- "I believe Elstob is definitely reported killed. The report comes from his Major, who was with him in his last great fight at Manchester Hill, and who is now a prisoner in Germany. I had hoped all along that he might turn up in Germany, but I could not help feeling that if he had any say in the matter he would not allow himself to be taken alive. He was one of the finest men in the Division. He was a man of unusually strong personality. Every one who came in touch with him felt the force of it, from Divisional Commander to private. I happened to hear from the lips of two successive Divisional Commanders what a particularly fine fellow they thought him, and I know his own officers and men worshipped him. He was one of the most modest men I have ever known. Whether commanding a brigade, as he did for a time last year, or a platoon, as he did barely two years ago, he was just the same. He got an MC, of course, and then a DSO. He was the kind of man to whom such things are bound to come, but they did not affect him... His extraordinary high sense of duty was an inspiration to all of us who knew him well..."
Lt-Col Elstob was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. The citation, taken from the London Gazette dated 6 June 1919, includes the following words:
For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice during operations at Manchester Redoubt, near St. Quentin, on the 21st March, 1918. During the preliminary bombardment he encouraged his men in the posts in the Redoubt by frequent visits, and when repeated attacks developed controlled the defence at the points threatened, giving personal support with revolver, rifle and bombs. Single-handed he repulsed one bombing assault driving back the enemy and inflicting severe casualties. Later, when ammunition was required, he made several journeys under severe fire in order to replenish the supply. Throughout the day Lieutenant-Colonel Elstob, although twice wounded, showed the most fearless disregard of his own safety, and by his encouragement and noble example inspired his command to the fullest degree. The Manchester Redoubt was surrounded in the first wave of the enemy attack, but by means of the buried cable Lieutenant-Colonel Elstob was able to assure his Brigade Commander that "The Manchester Regiment will defend Manchester Hill to the last."
Sometime after this post was overcome by vastly superior forces, and this very gallant officer was killed in the final assault, having maintained to the end the duty which he had impressed on his men - namely, "Here we fight, and here we die." He set throughout the highest example of valour, determination, endurance and fine soldierly bearing.
COMMEMORATION
Lt-Col Wilfrith Elstob is commemorated on Panel Ref. 64 to 67 of the Pozieres Memorial.
Locally, Lt-Col Wilfrith Elstob is commemorated on the Macclesfield Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church and Park Green Club memorials; the Henbury and Broken Cross memorial at Henbury Church; The Ryleys School (Alderley Edge) memorial and the Siddington All Saints Church memorial. He is also commemorated in a stained glass window at Siddington All Saints Church.
Lt-Col Wilfrith Elstob is commemorated elsewhere in the country, including on the Manchester University war memorial, on a plaque dedicating a library room to him at the former Toc H Headquarters at Victoria Park, Manchester (now located at Kings Regimental HQ, Ardwick Green, Manchester), and at Christ's Hospital School, West Sussex.
NOTES
Brother of Noel, who was a captain in the Monmouthshire Regiment; Eric, who served on HMS Arrogant in the Royal Navy; and Auberon who served as a chaplain with the Young Men's Christian Association. They all survived.
SOURCES
GRO Indexes: Births
England and Wales census: 1891, 1901, 1911
Christ's Hospital website www.chwarmemorial.org.uk
Manchester University website www.ww1.manchester.ac.uk/roll-of-honour/wilfrith-elstob
Museum of the Manchester Regiment - The Men Behind the Medals website www.themenbehindthemedals.org.uk
Lives of the First World War website
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 5 April 1918, 19 April 1918
Macclesfield Courier: 22 July 1916, 27 July 1918
London Gazette: 6 June 1919
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.