Geoffrey Manuk’s Extraordinarily Short Life.
His Armenian pedigree stretches back several centuries with ancestors such as Khojah Phanoos Kalandar, Coja Sultan David Shameer, Astur Sarkies de Agavally, Ter Johannes Sarkies, Phanoos Bagram and Kevork ter Simon to name just a few, it is surprising to find that he was in fact baptised in a Scottish church in Calcutta, his parents clearly shunning the family history that was in his DNA.
Born in London 5th January 1894 to Percy and
Nellie Manuk he was baptised in St. Andrew’s Church Calcutta a year later[1].
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| Birth certificate of Geoffrey Chater Manuk |
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| Baptism record of Geoffrey Manuk at St. Andrew's Church, Calcutta |
A 2 x great grand nephew of Sir Paul Chater a philanthropist
from Calcutta, Geoffrey’s own father Percy was a renown barrister and art
collector who lived in Patna, India where he practised law. An only child he spent his early years in Calcutta. Like many young men
in India, Geoffrey applied to join the Indian Army, something that would give him a footing for the future. When the First World War broke
out he sailed for England to sign up.
He was assigned to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
and by the end of October 1914 had been appointed with a temporary commission
as Lieutenant. Just a month later he was again promoted this time to temporary
Captain and by January 1916 he had been posted to the 7th Battalion
in France. He fought, marched, fought some more, saw many friends die in the
killing field and spent a year in the godforsaken trenches before returning to
England in February 1917. By May 1917 he was back in France. Extracts from the battalion war diary[2] for October
1917 give a snapshot of the life, conditions and routine that Geoffrey would
have encountered on the front line.
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| War Diary of the 7th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Extract for October 1917 |
Place, Date, Hour
PROVEN, 1.X.17
In camp (P5) preparing for move.
On Route PROVEN TO BAPAUNE
2.X.17
Battn. Marched from camp to PROVEN RAILHEAD and entrained
11am for BAPAUME, arriving midnight.
BAPAUME-YTRES
3.X.17
Marched with transport to YTRES via ORCQUINEY arriving
about 6am. Remainder of day resting and changing camp.
YTRES-HAUT ALLAINES
4.X.17. 12.50p.m
Bn (with transport) left camp at 12.50 and marched to
HAUT ALLAINES via ETRICOURT, MANANCOURT & MOISLAINES, arriving at 2.30pm.
HAUT ALLAINES
5.X.17-7.X.17
Refitting and reorganising. Weather very wet. MAJOR LP
STOOR 12th KINGS, attached to Bn as Sec-in-Command to A/Lt-Col J.T.
Jenson 6/10.17.
HAUT ALLAINES0SOREL LE GRAND
8.X.17. 9am.
Embussed at MOISLAINES & debussed near FINS, marching
thence to Nisson Huts at SOREL, arriving noon.
SOREL-VILLERS GURSLAIN
9.X.17. 9pm
Relieved 21st Middlesex Regt. (40th
Divsn. 121st. Infy Bde) A B & HQRS at GUISLAIN (x2B9) & C+ D
Coys behind GONNELIEU (R26 c +d).
Continued to SUPPORT LINE 7 days, providing garrison;
also working parties for 7 SOM L.I. (right front coy) and 7 D.C.L.I. (left
front coy).
16.X.17. 8pm
A/Lt.Col J.T. JANSON left for 30 days special leave in
UK. Major LP STORR assumed command with Capt. R.G. ROYLE as Sec-in-Command.
GONNELIEU 16.X.17-22.X.17 Relieved 7 D.C.L.I. in left
front sector, with companies distributed as follows: Right Front B, Left Front
D, Right Support A, Left Support C. On the 19th there was an
inter-company relief, the support coys moving into front lines and the front line
coys into support.
17.X.17.
2/Lt. W. Short appointed ADJUTANT vice 2/LT R.C.W.
SMITHERS (killed in action Aug 16/17) from Aug 17th.
18.X.17
2/LT C. Ellis with a patrol of 18 D.R. lost direction and
entered a German trench. The party effected its escape leaving the officer
behind.
20.X.17. 10am
Court of Enquiry convened by MAJOR LP STORR assembled at
BN. HQRS. Members. CAPT. R.G. ROYAL (President), LT. N.D. GYE & 2/LT H.R.
PRUST. Instructions: to record opinion on “(I) Whether Sec.Lt. ELLIS is
missing, killed, prisoner of war or wounded and prisoner of war.
(II) Circumstances attending loss of Lewis Gun &
Three Rifles and culpability of men in charge of same”. After examining nine
witnesses, the Court found that 2/LT ELLIS must be wounded and a prisoner of
war. A qualified culpability was brought against men who abandoned Lewis Gun
& rifles.
VAUELLETTE FARM & RAILTON
22.X.17 – 29.X.17
Relieved in left front sub-section by 7 D.C.L.I. &
proceeded into RESERVE: hqr COY & a*c TO Vaucellette fm & b&d Coys to
RAILTON. Intensive training in musketry, bombing, PT & close order drill
was carried out with good results.
23.X.17
Bn took baths at HEAUDECOURT. Also on 27th.
26.X.17
Concer at HEUDECOURT arranged by Pdre. Rev. F.M. WINDLEY
(C of E).
27.X.17
Football match at MOUSLAINES. 62 field ambulance V. 7.
K.O.Y.L.I result Amb.4 K.O.Y.L.I. 1
28.X.17
Voluntary Church parades and working parties.
GONNELIEU. 29.X.17
Relieved 7 D.C.L.I. (less 1 Co) in left front sub-Sector
with Companies disposed as follows: right front “A”, Right Support “B”, Left
Front “C”. “D£ Co was at Fins assisting R.E.s.
30.X.17. 6am
“D£ Co relieved “C” Co. D.C.L.I. in Left Support.
31.X.17
Battalion extended its front to the left. Right support
co took over No. 1 Post R. Front Co. Right Front Co took over posts 1 & 2
L.F. co. Left Front Co took over posts from 10th K.R.R. bringing his
left to the GOUZEAUCOURT-CAMBRAI RD.
Due to illness Captain Manuk left the unit on 30th
October 1917 and headed for Rouen from where he sailed for England arriving on
the 16th November 1917. He was one of many to suffer P.U.O. commonly
known as trench fever, something that plagued hundreds of soldiers in France.
“Medical Officers
during World War 1 tended to put trench fever down as PUO - pyrexia (ie fever)
of unknown origin. Often they would take a stern view and prescribe
"M&D" - medicine and duty. The unfortunate soldier would be
returned to duty with some medicine, often the notorious Pill No. 9 (see
right). Pill No. 9 was a laxative beloved of the British Army doctor; it's
doubtful that it did much to help a man suffering with a fever.
Not all men
suffering with trench fever could return to duty, they were simply too ill. In
those cases, they would be evacuated to a hospital for rest and recuperation.
It's likely that many of them were in no rush to recover and rejoin their unit.
Trench fever, though unpleasant, was undoubtedly a welcome relief from being
shelled on the front line.[3]”
By January 1918 Geoffrey Manuk had been placed in a convalescing
home at Osborne on the Isle of Wight. In February of that year he wrote a desperate
letter to the War Office stating that he was still too unwell and not fit for
service. In April a report from Maudsley
Neurological Hospital in London recommended no further hospital treatment for
Capt Manuk but perhaps another 4 months spell at a convalescing home and
suggested he “may again be fit for sedentary duties at home”. However, that was
not to be and he relinquished his commission on account of his ill-health on
the 19th June 1918. He was
granted the honorary rank of Captain.
He was awarded the British War and Victory medals on the
21st December 1921.
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| Geoffrey was awarded the British and Victory war medals |
After the end of the war he can be found living in Iverna
Court, London in 1919, ironically not far from the Armenian Church.
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| Geoffrey was living close to the Armenian Church in London |
In the early 1920’s having recovered from the illnesses
that had cut his war service unexpectedly short and perhaps yearning for some
warmth on his body and maybe a safer adventure for his heart, he can be found
in South Africa as a diamond digger. A bachelor with no commitments, he might
have thought it would be a good way to make some money. It was in fact a brutal
way to earn a living, the searing heat and basic conditions of the mines were
not for the faint hearted. He didn’t last long and on the 19th
October 1924 at Droogveld, Sydney-on-Vaal in Barkly West he died aged 30 years
and 9 months. Having been through the very harrowing and bitter times of WW1 in
Flanders, he met his death in the harsh scrub land of the South African desert
panning for diamonds. His debts amounted
to £100 (sterling) which were paid by his father, P.C. Manuk. The list of
possessions as noted in his estate inventory show the very bare minimum he had
with him[4].
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| Geoffrey's Estate Papers are held at the Cape Town National Archives |
1 silver wristlet watch
1 pocket compass
1 wood and canvas stretcher bed
1 box kitchen utensils, Beatrice and primus stoves
1 cabin trunk containing clothing
1 leather suitcase, containing clothing
1 bundle of clothing, etc. & helmet
1 leather writing satchel and contents
1 box boots (3 pairs)
1 box sundries (shaving and toilet requisites etc)
1 square tank (wood and iron) 6' x 4'
1 house (since smashed by the wind) 8' x 9'
1 single bebe
1 overcoat (gents)
He is buried at the Old Mine Cemetery, Sydney on Vaal,
Delportshoop, Barkly West District, Northern Cape, South Africa.[5]
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| Buried in the Old Mining Cemetery at Sydney on Vaal, South Africa |
Photo courtesy of: Gansie Coetzee, South Africa
Via website: The Genealogical Society of South Africa eGSSA branch
My
thanks and acknowledgments go to Gansie Coetzee and the Genealogical Society of
South Africa for photographing and recording the graves at the Old Cemetery,
Sydney on Vaal (rural farm cemeteries) where Geoffrey Chater Manuk is buried. A simple tombstone and taking into account the harsh sun and dusty conditions in the African veld, it has a remarkably readable inscription.
There are no Armenians in Sydney on Vaal and it is likely that his grave has never been visited by family or friends - maybe one day someone will.
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