SALTMARSH F.

FREDERICK SALTMARSH 1892-1918

16916 Company Serjeant Major Frederick Saltmarsh M.M., 13^th (Service) Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry died of wounds 18 October 1918 and is buried at Doingt Communal Cemetery Extension. [1] He was 26 years old and is commemorated on the memorial in St. Mary’s Church, Staindrop, County Durham.

Frederick’s brother 18/1748 Private Thomas Saltmarsh, 15^th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 10 April 1917 and is buried at Cojeul British Cemetery, St. Martin-sur-Cojeul, France [2] and is commemorated on the memorial in St. Mary’s Church, Staindrop, County Durham.

Family Details

Frederick Saltmarsh was born 1892 [3] at Staindrop, County Durham the son of Fred and Elizabeth A. Saltmarsh. There were at least 4 children:

Frederick P. born 1892 at Staindrop
Thomas born 1894[4] at Shildon
Annie H. born 1896[5] at Staindrop
Ernest born 1900[6] at Staindrop

In 1901, the family lived at Staindrop, near Staindrop Hall. 31 year old Frederick worked as a coal miner (hewer). [7] By 1911, the family lived at Church Street, Staindrop. Frederick was still employed as a coal miner (hewer), 18 year old son Frederick was also a coal miner, a braker, as was 17 year old Thomas who worked as a driver.

Frederick’s father Fred hailed from Latchingdon, Essex [8]within the Purleigh Parish in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Rochester.[9] They were agricultural labourers. Fred moved north to County Durham with his parents, Samuel and Elizabeth and his brothers Walter, Joseph and Samuel about 1883/84. At that time there was a large scale migration of families from Essex to work at the brickworks at Butterknowle, County Durham although many men found work in the coal industry as miners or cokemen. A terrace of houses at Butterknowle was in fact called Essex Row.

In June 1917, Frederick married Gertrude Hartley.[10]

Service Details

Frederick Saltmarsh enlisted at Staindrop into the Durham Light Infantry and was allocated the regimental number 16916.[11] He was promoted Lance Corporal eventually being promoted to Company Serjeant Major.[12] His service records have not been researched.

The 13^th (Service) Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was formed in Newcastle as part of K3, Kitchener’s New Army and came under the orders of the 68^th Brigade, 23^rd Division. It joined the 74^th Brigade, 25^th Division 19 September 1918 at St. Riquier.[13]

Between 21 and 26 August 1915 the Division landed in Boulogne and proceeded to the concentrate near Tilques. Private F. Saltmarsh entered France 25 August 1915.[14] The 23^rd Division thereafter served on the Western Front until late 1917 when it moved to Italy.

1915
5 September: the Division was attached to III Corps and moved to the Merris-Vieux Berquin area where trench familiarisation began under the tutelage of the 20^th (Light) and 27^th Divisions. The Division took responsibility for a front line sector for the first time nine days later, taking over between Ferme Grande Flamengrie to the Armentieres-Wez Macquart road. CIII and CV Brigades RFA were attached to 8th Division for operations in connection with the Battle of Loos. At this time, 23^rd Division was holding the front at Bois Grenier. It remained in this area for a considerable time. 10th Northumberland Fusiliers carried out the Division’s first trench raid in the night of 31 December / 1 January.

1916
The Division was relieved after a lengthy five month spell in the front line by 34th Division, between 26 January and 8 February 1916. After a certain amount of confusing movement, Divisional HQ was established at Blaringhem and the units concentrated around Bruay.

3 March 1916: orders were received to relieve the French 17^th Division in the Carency sector. The front to be held was between the Boyau de l’Ersatz and the Souchez River, including the posts on the Notre Dame de Lorette hill behind. Artillery was positioned in the area Carency – Ablain St Nazaire – Bois de Bouvigny, an exposed position in which it was subject to severe shelling. In early March many former miners were withdrawn from the ranks to establish a Tunnelling Company of the Royal Engineers. Mid-March saw 68^th Brigade taking over the Calonne front and 69^th the Angres front. Many parties were attached to 176 Tunnelling Company RE especially for work in the Noulette sector. Relieved by 2^nd Division between 12 and 19 April and withdrew to Bruay area.

10 – 13 May: Moved back into the Souchez-Angres front.

The German Attack on Vimy Ridge

21 May: The enemy attack fell most heavily on 47th (London) Division, which was to the 23^rd Division’s right in the area of Berthonval. Shellfire fell heavily around Aix Noulette from 4.30pm. Divisional artillery was very active in support of the 47^th Division until 24 May and again on 1 June when 2^nd Division continued operations to recover lost ground. 23^rd Division was relieved by 47^th (London) Division on 11 June and moved to Bomy, with the artillery going to Chamblain Chatelain (“Charlie Chaplin”) and Therouanne. Intensive training commenced.

The Battle of the Somme

The Division took part in the following engagements:

The Battle of Albert in which the Division played a part in the capture of Contalmaison
The Battle of Bazentin Ridge
The Battle of Pozieres
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette
The Battle of Morval
The Battle of Le Transloy in which the Division played a part in the capture of Le Sars

Serjeant F. Saltmarsh was awarded the Military Medal in October 1916.

“On the 16^th there was a great presentation by the divisional commander of honours won during the Flanders fighting. Pte A. Constatine had been awarded a bar to his Military Medal, while the ribbon of that decoration was given to Sergts. H. Burns, W. Powell, J. Robson, F. Saltmarsh, W. Sledge and E. Wilkinson…” [15]

The citation included the following text:

“He was wounded by shell fire in the neck during a counter-attack. He inspired his platoon with confidence and brought them out safely.” [16]

Teesdale Mercury 7 November 1917: News of Serjeant Saltmarsh’s Military Medal was reported as follows:

“Sergt. F. Saltmarsh DLI of Staindrop had been awarded the Military Medal. He was wounded by shell fire in the neck during a counter attack, inspired his platoon with confidence and brought them out safely.”

1917
The Division fought at the Battle of Messines and The Third Battle of Ypres, at the following phases:

The Battle of the Menin Road
The Battle of Polygon Wood
The First Battle of Passchendaele
The Second Battle of Passchendaele

November 1917: the Division moved to Italy where it then remained. It completed concentration between Mantua and Marcaria on 16 November and took over the front line at the Montello on 4 December.

1918
15-16 June: the fighting on the Asiago Plateau.[17]

18 September: 13/DLI returned from Italy arriving at St. Riquier and came under the orders of the 74^th Brigade, 25^th Division. The battalion was joined by:

9^th, the Yorkshire Regiment (the Green Howards)
11^th, the Sherwood Foresters

The Division was involved in the following engagements: [18]

The Battle of Beaurevoir, a phase of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line

Marching up from between Amiens and Albert to Templeux-le-Guerard, the Brigades took up position on 3 October at Ronssoy, Moislains and Nurlu, preparatory to an attack on the enemy’s defensive line at Beaurevoir. Fighting for the well defended position went on until 7 October, by which time a 3000 yard advance had been made despite heavy casualties. 508 German prisoners were taken.

The Battle of Cambrai 1918, a phase of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line

8 October proved to be a highly successful day for the Division, which made a fine advance in the area of Ponchaux with few casualties.

The Pursuit to the Selle

9 October: the Division pressed through Honnechy and St Benin, although losses mounted. The Division was relieved during the night 11/12 October by 50^th Division. The Division rested in the area Serain – Premont – Ellincourt until 16 October.

13/DLI: in action [19]

The 25^th Division was part of the XIII Corps Fourth Army. [20] Between 5 and 10 October, the Brigade was involved in heavy fighting and between 12 and 23 October, the battalion was at billets, received a large draft and trained for open warfare. C.S.M. F. Saltmarsh died of wounds 18 October 1918. It is therefore presumed that his wounds were sustained during fighting which took place earlier in the month, possibly 10 October.

10 October: 5.30am 13/DLI led 74^th Brigade with the intention of reaching the high ground north east of le Cateau. At 10.00am, machine gun fire from a position south west of the village of St. Benin held up the battalion. At about 2.30pm, a heavy barrage was put down by the enemy. Hand to hand fighting took place in the village and within an hour the village was taken and a line was established beyond the river Selle to meet the Americans on the right. During the night, the enemy bombarded St. Benin and the valley to the south west with gas shells. The 2^nd Royal Munster Fusiliers relieved 13/DLI on the night of 11/12 October.

“Losses since the beginning of the month had reached the total of 21 officers and 428 men, mostly sustained in heavy fighting at Beaurevoir.” [21]

Later research records that between 1 and 12 October 1918 13/DLI lost 4 officers and 107 men and a further 1 officer and 6 other ranks killed in action or died of wounds between 1 and 19 October including C.S.M. F. Saltmarsh 18 October.[22]

Company Serjeant Major F. Saltmarsh was awarded the Military Medal, the 1914-15 Star, the British War and Victory medals.[23]

Burial

Company Serjeant Major Frederick Saltmarsh M.M. is buried at grave reference I.F.40 Doingt Communal Cemetery Extension. The village of Doingt was taken 5 September 1918 by the 5^th Australian Division and the 20^th 41^st and 55^th Casualty Clearing Stations were established there from September. There are 418 burials.

The following epitaph was organised by his wife, Gertrude:

“Safe In God’s Keeping

Till We All Meet Again

Dearly Loved By All”

Gertrude remarried and lived at 2 Vane Terrace, Cockfield, County Durham.[24]

Commemoration

Company Serjeant Major Frederick Saltmarsh is commemorated on the memorial in St. Mary’s Church, Staindrop, County Durham.

References

[1] CWGC

[2] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[3] England & Wales Birth Index 1837-1915 Vol.10a p.269 Auckland 1892 Q3

[4] England & Wales Birth Index 1837-1915 Vol.10a p.193 Auckland 1894 Q2