Category Archives: Western Front

Charles Victor Schofield

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Other Regiments, Reading University College, Ypres

Charles Victor Schofield
Private 26744
3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards

Schofield CV

Charles Victor Schofield was the son of Richard and Emma Schofiled. The 1901 census has the family living at 7, Donnington Road, Reading. The family then consisted of both parents and their four children. Richard 22 was an architects assistant, Elizabeth 19 a School Board teacher, Edgar 16 a shoe repairers assistant and Charles, the youngest, who was then 9 years old. In 1911 the family were living at 135, London Road and only Charles and Edgar were living at home. Charles was a gasfitter and his brother a photographic printer.  The photograph indicates a differect address for Charles by the time he enlisted –  69, Donnington Gardens.   By the time CWGC registers were compiled after the Armistice his father, Richard William Schofield, had moved to 359, Elgar Rd.

 No service record is available for Private Schofield.The CWGC register indicates that he died of wounds on 20th December 1917 and is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, location P.V.D. 3B.  It is not known how or when he was injured however, the British advance on Cambrai had started on the 20th November 1917.  The Grenadier Guards had been involved in severe fighting during Third Ypres and their Division was involved in fighting at Bourlon Wood and the counter offensive at Cambrai. Rouenwas the home to severalmilitary hospitals and Privat Schofield would have experinced the full range o  Army Medical Corps. services from battle front to base hospital before he died.

It has taken much research to establish the full name of Private Schofield who for a long time was only known to me by his initials.

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.