Albert Salmon

Pte. Salmon was a professional soldier and arrived in France in time to be involved in the fighting at Mons. He was killed in action on 11 April 1917 during the Battle of Arras. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Arras memorial (Bay 1).

Extract from an article published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 23rd September 1914 concerning Albert Salmon : - “TO CLAIM A NOTTINGHAM BRIDE. “Few people were aware that a quiet military wedding was being celebrated in Nottingham to-day [23rd September 1914]. Formerly a trooper in the 10th Hussars, Albert Salmon, of Sprotborough-terrace, Alfred-street South, was called up as a reservist on the outbreak of war, and now, having seen something of the fierce fighting at Mons, he has returned to this country in charge of German prisoners. Granted a short furlough, he came up to his native city to get married to Alice Farnsworth, of Bell-terrace, Bell-street, and to-morrow he goes south to act as drill instructor until such time as the regiment can be re-formed. “The wedding took place by licence — 43 hours’ notice required — at the Registry Office in Shakespeare-street, this morning, and was conducted by the Superintendent of Marriages, Mr. J. A. Battersby. The bride was in her simple outdoor dress, the bridegroom in khaki. The pair were accompanied by a “pal” in the 18th Hussars, Trooper Albert Shaw [1] and a merry little party if other friends. “Troopers Salmon and Shaw both hail from Nottingham, and were attached to a party of 200 reservists of cavalry regiments which took 500 remounts from Glasgow to the seat of war. At Le Mons the reservists were attached to the remount dêpot, and during all the heavy fighting that took place, they had to take fresh horses into the firing line in the teeth of the hail of death. The two “pals” formed the opinion that but for the timely appearance of the British troops in the firing line the French Army would have been crushed by the German hordes. “The French were not prepared for the pitch of perfection to which the enemy had brought their organisation. The only quality the Germans lacked was “grit.” Had their legions possessed “grit” they must have swept all before them. “At Amiens a little party of 200 troopers narrowly escaped annihilation. They only left the town a couple of hours on a forced march before two German Army Corps arrived. “When 150 of the survivors of the Battle of Mons were detailed off to convey 800 German prisoners to England, the two friends were amongst them. They went by train to St. Lazare, and in a cattle boat – converted into a troop ship – to Southampton. On the water three days they sighted several torpedo boats. They had quite an exciting experience with a magnificent French cruiser. Trouble seemed to be brewing when the cruiser fired a gun, but it proved to be a blank charge, and a signal to “Stand by.” Then it was discovered that the Union Jack at the stern of the troopship had become entangled in some ropes, and was not visible. The matter was speedily righted, and the cruiser proceeded on her way. “Many of the German prisoners on board candidly confessed that they had no desire to fight. They wanted to be back with their wives and families in civilian life, and welcomed any opportunity to surrender to the British. That explained the immediate surrender of whole detachments.” above extract courtesy of Jim Grundy and facebook pages of Small Town Great War, Hucknall 1914-1918. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 27 April 1917: Salmon. Killed in action, April 11th, 1917, Trooper Albert Salmon, Hussars, second son of James and Annie Salmon, aged 31. Sleeping bravely with the unreturnable brave. Duty nobly done. Silently mourned by loving father, mother, brother Horace, sisters Clara, Sarah Ann, Lucy, Mabel.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)