1921 Private James William Salmon
was a convalescent patient at Hickwells in May 1915. His entry in Nurse Oliver’s
album reads:
4/5/1915
Pte W Salmon
4th Batt Royal Fusiliers
Wounded on the 11th February at the
Battle of La Basse
Reg No 1921
He shares this page with entries
from 2229 Trooper Alfred Rock of the Royal Horse Guards, 6271 Private Ernest Whitcomb of the 1st Middlesex Regiment, 22002 Private D Jones of the Army Service Corps and 6155 Private Frank Chivers Dixon of the 1st Wiltshire Regiment.
He is possibly the same James William
Salmon who is recorded on the 1901 census living at 73
Napier Road, West Ham, London with
his family. The household comprised Robert Salmon (head, married, aged 30), his
wife Louisa Salmon (aged 28) and two children: Louisa (aged eight) and James (aged six).
Robert Salmon was born in Manningtree, Essex, his wife and the two children were born in London.
William’s medal index card
notes his number as SR/1921, the SR standing for Special Reserve. In peacetime, a man could enlist with the Special Reserve, receive six months’ training and then go back to his
civilian job, receiving part pay. He was however, liable for recall to the army
if war was declared. William enlisted on 30th March 1912 aged about eighteen and it seems probable that he was recalled to the services in
August 1914 and, then, after further training, went overseas with a draft of other Royal Fusiliers.
He landed in France on 29th November 1914 and, according
to his entry in Nurse Oliver’s album, was then wounded at La Bassee in February 1915.
His entry on the
silver war badge (SWB) register states that he was discharged due to wounds on 9th August 1919. These wounds were probably subsequent to those received
at La Bassee. His rank on the SWB roll is also given as lance-corporal.
Further Research
· The
National Archives: Medal Index Card
· The
National Archives: British War and Victory Medal Roll: SR TP/104 B2 Page 107: WO 329/762
· The
National Archives: 1914/15 Star Medal Roll: TP/57 Page 65: WO 329/2630
· The
National Archives: Silver War Badge Roll: TP/4503: WO 329/3174
