Category Archives: Commemorated name/s

Albert Edward Searing, Amos Thomas Searing & Samuel Searing

Army, Commemorated name/s, Graves, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somme, Ypres

Division 56

CIMG2135

In 1911 Sarah Searing was living at 101 Watlington Street, Reading. She lived with her daughter, also called Sarah(31) and her three sons Albert (27), Amos(30) and Samuel(26).
All three were labourers, Albert worked as a bricklayer’s labourer, Amos worked at the tin factory and Samuel at the biscuit factory. In 1901 the family lived at 88 Watlington Street,The County Tap, and Sarah the mother is described as the innkeeper and her daughter as barmaid.

All three men are commemorated on their mothers grave but only their initials are given. It has taken some energy to establish thier identities.  Sister Sarah’s details are only given on the CWGC register for Albert and then no first name is supplied: Miss S. E. Searing, of 31, Cortis Avenue, Broadwater, Worthing.  Tragically all three brother have no known graves and there commemoration in the cemetery rendered them almost invisible.

Albert Edward Searing
Private 201975
1st/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Albert Searing  He died on 13th August 1917. The CWGC register states his age as 33. but it is believed, using census information, that he was 35.  He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Panel 45.  Strangely the war diary for the 1st/4th indicates that they were at Dambre camp and the battalion spent the day practicing for the forth coming attack which was due to begin on the 15 August. The record for the
13 August states two killed and seven wounded. There are no other details but the circumstances seem strange.

 Amos Thomas Searing
Private 33662
2nd  Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Amos Searing  died on 2nd April 1918. Born about 1881 he was thought to be  about 37 on his death.  He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the Missing, Panel 56 & 57.

 Samuel Searing
Private202225
2nd/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

Samuel Searing  He died on 22nd August 1917 it is thought that he was about  32.  He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Panel 105, 106 and 162.

 

Sydney Edward Sawyers

Army, Commemorated name/s, Loos, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Sydney Edward O. Sawyers
Private 16640
8th Royal Berkshire Regiment 

 

Sawyer SE photo

Sydney Edward O. Sawyers  was the son of John and Mary Anne Sawyers who were living at 17, ElmLodgeAvenue, Reading at the time of the 1911 census. John Sawyers is recorded as an army pensioner and bank porter. Sydney is recorded as a railway clerk and younger brother Leonard a tramway conductor, Gertrude at 13 years was still at school. Sydney is commemorated on the grave of his sister Gertrude.  The grave monument is badly damaged, the grave number is 15870; the Berkshire Family History Society classification is 67C11.

 Sydney lost his life on 25th September 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos.  He is buried in the Dud Corner Cemetery, location VI.E.14.  The walls of this cemetery form the massive Loos Memorial to the Missing.

Ronald Stuart Salmon

Army, Commemorated name/s, Loos, Other Regiments, Reading School War Memorial

Ronald Stuart Salmon
Rifleman 3061
1st/21st (First Surrey Rifles) London Regt.

 

Salmon RS photo  CIMG2140CIMG2139

Ronald Stuart Salmon was the son of Mr Edward Henry and Mrs Annie Salmon, of Castle Hill, Reading. He is commemorated on the family grave, number 8459, on a small scroll stone.  The 1911 census indicates that the family were living at 14, Bulmershe Road, Reading. The family comprised Ronald’s mother who  was a widow and head of the family, Hilda his older sister and younger brother Cyril. Ronald’s occupation is given as a publishing clerk. His mother is recorded as having given birth the twelve children, seven of whom were still living.  In 1901 the family were living at 109, Castle Street from where Edward Salmon ran his butchers business. At that time the family comprised six children, Cyril was then four months old, his mother was 44 years old and she had a mothers help and a servant to assist her in running the home.

 Ronald Salmon was killed at Givenchy whilst helping wounded comrades on 25th May 1915. 

A Letter from his Commanding Officer to Ronald’s mother is reported in the Reading Standard of June 12th 1915. “My company was taking part in an attack on a German position –– Your son was, when I last saw him, devotedly attending to some of his wounded comrades, several of whom he brought to safety, and he met a noble death whilst actually engaged in the work of rescue.  He is much missed by B Company, all ranks of which unite in offering you our sympathy in your loss”.

The report continues “The letter speaks for itself and shows that the qualities of manliness, courage and self-sacrifice inborn in the British soldier were possessed in large measure by Rifleman Salmon”. 

Roland Salmon was an old scholar of Reading School, and after finishing his education was in the office of Mr Blake Allnatt, chartered accountant of Reading.  Salmon had worked for three years in the Barclays Bank in Wycombe.  He enlisted on September 3rd 1914 in the Surrey Rifles and was drafted to the front on March 15th 1915.  Ronald Salmon had a, not untypically, short time in active service.  His Division 47th (2nd London) fought their first battle, the Battle of Aubers,  9 May 1915, which included an attack on Fromelles and the Rue du Bois.  Ronald was  killed on the closing day of the next battle, the Battle of Festubert which had opened on May 15th.  He has no known grave and is commemorated on the La Touret Memorial to the Missing, panel 45. He was aged 21.