Name
George William Salt
14 July 1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/04/1917
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
242710
Royal Engineers
482nd Field Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HITCHIN CEMETERY
NE. CXXIX B..
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
George was born on 14 July 1882 in Hitchin and his parents were Thomas and Susan E Salt.
In 1891 the family were living at 22 Bedford Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Thomas (49) and Susan (45), with Thomas working as a tailor. Their children were: Ernest J (11), George William (6) and Edith M (2).
By 1901 the family had moved to 7 Bucklersbury, Hitchin, where Thomas was working as a tailor on his own account from his home address – probably a shop. Both parents were present with all three children listed above, George now 17 and an apprentice to a painter, am older sibling Francis (14) was also listed.
In 1911 the family were living at the same address. Both parents were present and Thomas still working for himself as a tailor. The census recorded they had been married for 49 years with 15 children, of whom 7 had died. The children listed were George, now a builder’s painter, Francis and Edith Later other brothers were revealed, i.e. Walter and Harry and two other sisters.
George married Florence Alexandra Cole (b 17/7/1866) on 25 September 1912 in the Christ Church, Luton. Before enlistment he worked as a coach painter.
He enlisted on 11 December 1915 and during his medical examination was recorded as 32 years and 4 months old, 5’ 6” tall and weighing 140 lbs and living at 2 Stanley Street, Luton. It was noted that he had a large hydrocele on his left hand side and required dental treatment, but nothing severe enough to warrant rejection for service. He had blue eyes and dark brown hair and was muscular build.
Officially George was recorded as born in Hitchin, Herts. and living in Luton, Beds. when he enlisted in Chatham, Kent.
Wartime Service
He was allocated service number 242710 in the 482nd Field Company.
Having enlisted in December 1915 he was not called for service immediately and by 28 August 1916 he was consider Category CII, meaning he was considered fit for garrison duty Home service and not fit for the rigours of overseas service.
He was called for service until 28 February 1917, reported invalid 30 March 1917 and then, on 27 March, he was seen by the travelling medical board and recommended for permanent discharge as unfit for service and was due to be discharge on 23 April 1917 with 55 days service and with a note that he would require hospital out-patient treatment when discharged. At this point he was almost certainly in 1st Eastern General Hospital in Cambridge, he was diagnosed with Cerebro Spinal Meningitis. Contracted while on active service. He died in the hospital at 6:40pm on the 18 April 1917. He was transported to Hitchin and was buried in Hitchin Cemetery on 21 April 1917.
The death does not seem to have been expected, because his discharge and allocation of Silver War Badge was still being processed and posthumously badge number 164835 was issued with a discharge date of 23 April 1917.
Additional Information
The grave could not be found during a visit to the cemetery in the 1990s.
George's headstone (not CWGC) reads:
IN WVER LOVING MEMORY OF
SAPPER GEORGE WILLIAM SALE (ROYAL ENGINEERS)
WHO DIED APRIL 18TH 1917 AGED 34 YEARS
SAPPER GEORGE WILLIAM SALE (ROYAL ENGINEERS)
WHO DIED APRIL 18TH 1917 AGED 34 YEARS
His service record records no medals, and no effects issued.
After his death his widow was issued with a war gratuity of £12 10s, authorised to be paid to her on 27 April 1917 and pay owing of £2 11s 5d, approved on 4 September 1917.
His pension cards also record his widow as his next of kin, living at 2 Stanley Street, Luton, Beds. She was awarded a grant of £3 on 12 June 1917 and a pension of 15s a week from 22 October 1917.
In October 1921 she was living at 2 Stanley Street, Luton, Beds.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
