The Hilderstone Miscellany

Last updated 23/2/2001

WILLIAM WILKINSON

The 1891 census records for Hilderstone and the surrounding villages do not indicate a Wilkinson family living in the Parish. Military sources show that only two men named William Wilkinson from the general area of Stoke/Stone had lost their lives whilst serving in the North Staffordshire Regiment.  The book “Soldiers Died in the Great War, North Staffordshire Regiment” lists both men as having been born in Fenton and enlisting in Fenton, furthermore documents from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) failed to identify which of these two men was the William Wilkinson commemorated on the Hilderstone memorial.

In October 1916 an obituary appeared in the “Weekly Sentinal” newspaper for one of the men. It gave next of kin, wife and child living in China Street, Fenton.  This address, together with the date of death (resulting from wounds as confirmed by the CWGC) indicated that this was not the soldier from Hilderstone.  It is now believed that the man commemorated on the Hilderstone memorial is:

241644 Private Wilkinson W

2^nd/6^th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment.

By September 1917 the battle of “Third Ypres” ( known generally as Passchendaele) was at its height and William’s battalion was heavily committed.  It is known that he was killed in action on September 26^th but unfortunately his body, like thousands or his comrades, was never recovered.

William Wilkinson is commemorated amongst the dead of the North Staffordshire Regiment on Panels 124 to 125 and 162 to 162a of the TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, 5 miles north-east of Ypres in Belgium.

WILLIAM TURNER

The Hilderstone census of 1891 records the Turner family, father Thomas, mother Selina E, daughter Selina aged 6 years, sons Thomas 3 years and William 1 year, living at the Roebuck Public House together with an uncle.  The family were later to move to The Home Farm.

William enlisted for service in the Royal Artillery and rose to the rank of Sergeant.

October 1917 saw him with “C” Battery, 95^th Brigade Royal Field Artillery at GHELUVELT in the Ypres Salient supporting the attack by the Australian Forces on the village of BROODSEINDE.  The records state that “C” Battery, whilst carrying out their fire tasks were subjected to continual enemy artillery duels.

At the age of 27, 82363 Sergeant William Turner was killed on October 9^th 1917.  He rests in the HUTS CEMETERY, Section X, Row B Grave 9.   The cemetery is at the village of DIKKEBUS, Belgium, 4 miles south-west of Ypres.  He is also commemorated on his mothers grave in Christ Church cemetery.

CHARLES EDWARD SALMON

The son of Charles and Jane Salmon of Hilderstone.

As with John Arnold, Charles Edward Salmon was also living in Australia when war was declared.  He also joined the Australian Imperial Forces and served as:

512 Private Salmon C E .

44^th Infantry Battalion AIF

In March 1918 the German Forces, having broken through the line, had by 27^th/28^th reached the positions held by the 11^th Brigade, 3^rd Australian Division on a line from Corbie to Sailly on the river Somme.  The 44^th Infantry Battalion was part of 11^th Brigade. On March 28^th, during one of many attack and counter attacks, which were taking place along the whole front, Charles Salmon fell in action.

Due to forward and backward movement of the forces over the following weeks his body was never recovered from the battlefield.  He was 24 years old.

He is commemorated on the AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MEMORIAL at VILLERS-BRETONNEUX , on the Somme.  The memorial records the names of tens of thousands of Australian soldiers who fell in the battles of The Somme, Arras and the final 100 days to victory, and who have no known graves.

Charles is also commemorated on his sister Selina’s (Mrs Barker) grave in Christ Church cemetery.     

GEORGE WALDRON

George was born in Hilderstone, the son of John and Sarah Waldron, and enlisted into the army from there. He joined the Royal Artillery and served as:

122507 Gunner Waldron G.

359 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.

In April 1918, 359 Battery were part of the XI Heavy Artillery Group located in the Ypres sector.  It is not recorded how George was wounded but it is known that he was evacuated from the battery positions through the casualty clearance centre to the field hospital at EBBLINGHEM where he later succumbed to his wounds.  Aged 41 years old George was buried in Section I, Row C, Grave 14of EBBLINGHEM MILITARY Cemetery.  The village lies between the towns of ST.OMER and HAZEBROUCK, due south of DUNKERQUE.  His next of kin was his wife Mary who, at the time of his death, was living at 34 Neville Street, Oak Hill, Stoke on Trent.  Mary is buried in Christ Church cemetery and her grave carries an inscription commemorating her husband George.

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