The Manchester Regiment was an Infantry Battalion that would have had an MG Section as part of its Battalion Headquarters. These weapons would have been brigaded when the Machine Gun Corps was formed in 1915. The guns, and crews, would have been formed into a Machine Gun Company.
During the Great War, the Battalions were distributed as follows:
The 2nd Battalion was part of the 14th Brigade (redesignated 95th on 12 January 1916), attached to the 5th Division. It's MG Section was transferred on 20 December 1915 to form the 14th Bde. MG Coy., later redesignated the 95th.
As a unit of the 5th Infantry Division, it will have taken part in the following battles and engagements.
| 1914 | |
| 23 and 24 August | Battle of Mons [II. Corps]. |
| 23 August to 05 September | RETREAT FROM MONS [II. Corps]. |
| 26 August | Battle of le Cateau [II. Corps]. |
| 01 September | Crepy en Valois. |
| 06 to 09 September | Battle of the Marne [II. Corps] |
| 13 to 20 September | BATTLE OF THE AISNE [II. Corps] |
| 13 September | Passage of the Aisne. |
| 20 September | Actions on the Aisne Heights. |
| 10 October to 02 November | Battle of la Bassee [II. Corps]. |
| 05 to 19 November | BATTLE OF YPRES [I. Corps] |
| 1915 | |
| 17 to 22 April | Capture of Hill 60 [II. Corps, Second Army]. |
| 23 April to 01 May | BATTLE OF YPRES [V. Corps, Second Army]. |
The 20th Battalion was part of the 91st Brigade of the 30th Infantry Division until 20 December 1915.
On 20 December 1915 it became was part of the 22nd Brigade, attached to the 7th Division. Its MG Section was transferred on 24 February 1916 to form the 22nd Bde. MG Coy..
As a unit of the 7th Infantry Division, its MG Section did not take part in any formal battle and engagements (Source: Becke, 1934).
The 21st Battalion was part of the 91st Brigade of the 30th Infantry Division until 20 December 1915.
On 20 December 1915, the 91st Brigade was transferred to the 7th Division. Its MG Section was transferred on 14 March 1916 to form the 91st Bde. MG Coy..
As a unit of the 7th Infantry Division, its MG Section did not take part in any formal battle and engagements (Source: Becke, 1934).
The 22nd Battalion was part of the 91st Brigade of the 30th Infantry Division until 20 December 1915.
On 20 December 1915, the 91st Brigade was transferred to the 7th Division. Its MG Section was transferred on 14 March 1916 to form the 91st Bde. MG Coy..
As a unit of the 7th Infantry Division, its MG Section did not take part in any formal battle and engagements (Source: Becke, 1934).
In 1922, the Machine Gun Corps was disbanded and the guns returned to the Infantry Battalion as a Machine Gun Platoon and then formed as a Machine Gun Company in the early 1930s.
This remained until the formation of Divisional Machine Gun Battalions in 1936 where guns were brigaded once again. The Manchesters were one of those Infantry Regiments converted to this new role.
The Divisional MG Battalion to the 53rd (Welch) Infantry Division.
The 53rd (Welch) Infantry Division was mobilised in September 1939 as a First Line Territorial Army Infantry Division. It saw action at the following battles:
The Divisional MG Battalion to the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division.
The 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division was mobilised in September 1939 as a First Line Territorial Army Infantry Division. It saw action at the following battles:
Part of the Indian 10th Infantry Division.
Part of the Indian 4th Infantry Division.
After the Second World War, the MG assets reverted to MG Platoons within support companies of Infantry Battalions.