REGINALD+SALT

__Soldiers died in the Great War 1914 - 1919__

Salt, Reginald Harry, Corporal, 27865, A Signal Company, Royal Engineers Formerly 1506, Notts & Derby Regiment Born Ashbourne, Derbyshire Enlisted Derby Resided Ashbourne, Derbyshire Died of wounds France & Flanders 18th November 1914

__Commonwealth War Graves Commission__ (www.cwgc.org)

1st Army Corps H.Q. Signal Company Aged 20 Son of Israel and Emily Salt, of Mayfield Road, Ashbourne, Derbyshire Abbeville Communal Cemetery, I, 4

__Ashbourne News, 20th November 1914__

(Corporal Harold Salt) ‘tells of the deadly work of the British machine guns, and of the havoc wrought by the German shells, one of which exploded near to his brother, Corporal Reginald Salt, who is now in hospital suffering from wounds in the chest and abdomen.’

__Ashbourne News, 27th November 1914__

DESPATCH RIDER’S DEATH

On His Return to England

‘Last week we referred to the dangers to which despatch riders are subjected, and we recorded the wounding of Corporal Reginald Salt, R.E., of Fenny Bentley, but a few days ago news was received to the effect that Corporal Salt, who was 20 years of age, had succumbed while on his way to the coast after leaving the hospital, where he had been attended after receiving his injuries, from which it was thought he had sufficiently recovered to be able to return home. The circumstances under which Reginald was wounded were described in a letter from his brother, Corporal Harold Salt, also of the Royal Engineers, who arrived at his parent’s home at Fenny Bentley, Ashbourne, on Monday night. The letter referred to stated:- “Reg and five others were standing outside our headquarters when a ‘Black Maria’ shell burst close to. One officer was killed, another lost a leg, two motor cyclists were injured, and one operator was killed. I was just away when this took place. Reg is getting on famously in hospital, and is well cared for by English doctors, one of whom comes from Wirksworth, and the sisters are looking after him splendidly, so you have no cause to worry. He has very little pain, is in excellent spirits, and does not think anything of it.” Corporal Harold Salt, who was the bearer of the sad intelligence, mentions that Reg was buried a few miles from the coast, with every reverent attention that could be bestowed on the gallant young fellow. Needless to say, Colour-sergeant and Mrs. Salt, as well as Harold himself, have poignantly felt the bereavement, the more so as they all had reason to believe that the wounds were not likely to prove fatal, and that a sojourn at home would bring recovery.’