Major "Mick" Mannock

[Guest John stanton]

As far as I know Mick Mannock has no known Grave. I have read or heard somewhere that his grave has been identified from amongst those marked as unknown.

Can anyone verify?

John Stanton

[museumtom]

There is only one MANNOCK in the SDGW and he is Edward.

Tom

[Paul Reed]

There is the grave of an unknown aviator in Laventie Military Cemetery which many people accept as being the grave of Mick Mannock, author and historian Tony Spagnoly among them.

[Jonathan Saunders]

There is only one MANNOCK in the SDGW and he is Edward.

Tom

... otherwise known as Mick Mannock

[Peter B]

He is named on the Canterbury War memorial just outside the Cathedral

Peter

[Paul Reed]

There is only one MANNOCK in the SDGW and he is Edward.

Tom

He was known as 'Mick' because of his Irish roots. His full details from CWGC are:

Name: MANNOCK, EDWARD

Initials: E

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Major

Regiment: Royal Air Force

Unit Text: 85th Sqdn.

Secondary Regiment: Royal Engineers

Secondary Unit Text: and

Age: 31

Date of Death: 26/07/1918

Awards: VC, DSO and 2 Bars, MC and Bar

Additional information: Son of Mrs. J. Mannock, of 24, Lozells Rd., Six Ways, Birmingham.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Cemetery: ARRAS FLYING SERVICES MEMORIAL

An extract from the "London Gazette", dated 18th July, 1919, records the following:-"On the 17th June, 1918, he attacked a Halberstadt machine near Armentieres and destroyed it from a height of 8,000 feet. On the 7th July, 1918, near Doulieu, he attacked and destroyed one Fokker (red-bodied) machine, which went vertically into the ground from a height of 1,500 feet. Shortly afterwards he ascended 1,000 feet and attacked another Fokker biplane, firing 60 rounds into it, which produced an immediate spin, resulting, it is believed, in a crash. On the 14th July, 1918, near Merville, he attacked and crashed a Fokker from 7,000 feet, and brought a two-seater down damaged. On the 19th July, 1918, near Merville, he fired 80 rounds into an Albatross two-seater, which went to the ground in flames. On the 20th July, 1918, East of La Bassee, he attacked and crashed an enemy two-seater from a height of 10,000 feet. About an hour afterwards he attacked at 8,000 feet a Fokker biplane near Steenwercke and drove it down out of control, emitting smoke. On the 22nd July, 1918, near Armentieres, he destroyed an enemy triplane from a height of 10,000 feet. Major Mannock was awarded the undermertioned distinctions for his previous combats in the air in France and Flanders:-Military Cross, gazetted 17th Sept., 1917; Bar to Military Cross, gazetted 18th Oct., 1917; Distinguished Service Order, gazetted 16th Sept., 1918; Bar to Distinguished Service Order (1st), gazetted 16th Sept., 1918; Bar to Distinguished Service Order (2nd), gazetted 3rd Aug., 1918. This highly distinguished officer during the whole of his career in the Royal Air Force, was an outstanding example of fearless courage, remarkable skill, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice, which has never been surpassed. The total number of machines definitely accounted for by Major Mannock up to the date of his death in France (26th July, 1918) is 50 - the total specified in the " Gazette " of 3rd Aug., 1918, was incorrectly given as 48 instead of 41."

[Paul Reed]

These are details from CWGC for the cemetery he may well be buried in:

Cemetery: LAVENTIE MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE

Country: France

Locality: Nord

Visiting Information: Wheelchair access to site possible - maybe by alternative entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our enquiries dept. on 01628 634221.

Location Information: Laventie and La Gorgue are adjoining towns. Laventie Military Cemetery is on the north-east outskirts of Laventie. From Laventie, head north out of the town on the D166. Approximately 1 kilometre along this road turn right at the first junction and follow the small road for 400 metres. The Cemetery is on the right hand side.

Historical Information: The towns of Laventie and La Gorgue fell into German hands in the Battles of the Lys in April, 1918, and they were retaken by British troops early in the following September. Laventie Military Cemetery was begun (in Plot II) in the latter half of June, 1916, by the 61st (South Midland) Division (whose graves are associated particularly with the Attack at Fromelles, 19th July, 1916), and carried on by other Divisions holding this front; in June, 1917-April, 1918, the Portuguese Corps buried in it. It was used again in September, 1918; and after the Armistice British, Indian and Chinese graves were brought in from other cemeteries and from the neighbouring battlefields, as well as a number of Portuguese. All the 176 Portuguese graves have, however, been removed to Richebourg-l'Avoue Portuguese National Cemetery. There are now nearly 550, 1914-18 war casualties commemorate in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified and special memorials are erected to four British officers of the Indian Army, killed at Neuve Chapelle, whose graves were believed to be in Lestrem Communal Cemetery but were not found on concentration. The cemetery covers an area of 3,120 square metres. Of the burial grounds from which graves were removed to Laventie Military Cemetery:- ENGLOS CHURCHYARD contained a United Kingdom grave of October, 1918. HAUBOURDIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY contained 11 United Kingdom graves of 1914. LAVENTIE (RUE DU PATRONNAGE) GERMAN CEMETERY contained the graves of a number of Portuguese soldiers buried by the enemy in 1918. LESTREM COMMUNAL CEMETERY contained the graves of four British officers of the Indian Army and two United Kingdom soldiers. ROUBAIX COMMUNAL CEMETERY (Place Chaptal) contained 13 United Kingdom graves and one Australian, nine of which were originally in ROUBAIX (RUE JOFFROY) GERMAN CEMETERY, between Roubaix and Lannoy. TRESSIN CHURCHYARD contained one Australian Flying Corps grave of October, 1918, and one United Kingdom grave of November, 1918.

No. of Identified Casualties: 495

Photo of it:

http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/cemetery_...ry=34300&mode=1

From memory the headstone of the unknown aviator is the rear row, close to the Cross of Sacrifice?

[Laurent]

There is the grave of an unknown aviator in Laventie British Cemetery which many people accept as being the grave of Mick Mannock, author and historian Tony Spagnoly among them.

This is not the grave of Mike Mannock ! Laventie military cemetery was begun in june 1916 with Plot2. This contains about 190 men buried in chronological order by their dates of death in june and july 1916. The cemetery expanded into Plot 3 and burials continued until april 1918 when the area fell to germans. all the men are buried wuth few exeptions by dates of death, the last row, Row F, is entirely chronological: 25 Feb. 1917 to 28 april 1917 the unknown airman (grave 12) is halfway along this row. The body was lost in battlefield...more infos about Mannock death here: http://monsite.wanadoo.fr/arham/page6.html

[Paul Reed]

Some years ago Tony Spagnoly consulted the original burial records of this cemetery, which showed that this grave came from the area where Mannock crashed.

I am merely passing on what Tony has said at countless talks, and I have not seen the supporting evidence myself, but interestingly the CWGC did not think there was enough evidence to change the headstone.

[Laurent]

As Chris page said in this article: "is it possible that search teams found mannock's remains int the field grave, didn't recognize him as an airman and reburied him in a nearby war grave cemetery as an unknown soldier or officer" personnel effects believed to have com from the body and later returning to the family, showed little sign of fire damage !.

on this picture Position 1 on the map, approximate field grave position as stated in german message when Mannock's plane crashed.

[Laurent]

position 4 (see the map) the crashsite as noted by a british intelligence officer. noted there is a confusion between german and british report !

[Laurent]

position 3, the grave of Mannock (near the house) as supposed !

[Laurent]

and at last position 2, burnt out wreck.