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Auction: 22133 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 206

‘We suffered severely on the bridge over the canal by rifle and artillery fire. The machine guns had a particularly trying time. Practically all the detachment were doing great. Lieut. Dease the machine gun officer was killed or wounded. Lieut. Dease and Pte Godley both displayed the most conspicuous bravery in working the guns, after they had been wounded. The guns having finally been disabled by artillery fire had to be abandoned.’

The War Diary of the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, refers to the Defence of Nimy Bridge which earned Dease and Godley the Victoria Cross

The British War Medal awarded to Private C. E. Saltmarsh, 4th Battalion. Royal Fusiliers, who was killed in action during the first V.C. winning action at Nemy Bridge, during the Battle of Mons

British War Medal 1914-20 (L-11023 Pte C. E. Saltmarsh. R. Fus). good very fine

Christopher Edward Saltmarsh was born at Chelmsford on 24 December 1887, the son of George Walter and Sarah Saltmarsh. Educated at Moulsham Infants School, Chelmsford and worked as an Errand Boy before enlisting with the Royal Fusiliers at Warley some time prior to the 1911 census. Present with the 3rd Battalion in Mauritius in 1911 Saltmarsh was transferred to the Army Reserve, going to work with the National Steam Car Company.

Called up upon the outbreak of the Great War he was posted to the 4th Battalion at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight. Mobilised quickly the Battalion was one of the first to enter the war on 13 August 1914, Saltmarsh was to join them, one of 734 reservists embodied for service. The 4th Battalion was stationed along the edge of the Mons-Conde canal with the Nemy Bridge an integral part of 'C' Companies position and 'D' Company further south-east by Lock 5.

These two companies were forced to hold their ground against six German Battalions. A German solider named August Niemayer managed to cross the Nemy Bridge and closed it allowing them to cross. The bridge was covered by 2 machine guns under Lieutenant Dease. Twice wounded Dease stuck to his guns, ensuring that one remained in action. He only withdrew from his post when carried away by Lieutenant Steele, Dease succumbed to his wounds minutes later. As the forward companies were forced back the last gun remained in action, manned by Private Godley. He remained under heavy attack until the bridge was stormed, putting the gun out of action and throwing it into the canal Godley. Both were awarded the Victoria Cross as the result of their efforts.

Along with Lieutenant Dease the 4th Battalion lost 150 men at Mons with Saltmarsh losing his life in the fighting. The Essex County Chronicle wrote of his death stating:

'Pt. Christopher Saltmarsh, of the 3rd Royal Fusiliers, who was the main support of his aged parents, of Anchor Street, Chelmsford, was killed in action. Intimation of the sad event was received from the War Office on Saturday. The deceased, who was a Reservist, called up at the beginning of the war, saw all the fighting at Mons. He had been employed at the National Steam Car Works at Chelmsford, and was a popular man with his workmates. While with the colours he served seven years abroad, mostly in India. A brother of his went through the South African campaign in the Essex Regiment without a scratch, but died about six months ago.'

Saltmarsh has no known grave and is commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne and on the Civic Centre Memorial, Chelmsford; sold together with copied research including two battalion war diary extracts, an extract from a battalion history and typed research.

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Sold for
£190

Starting price
£30