Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Salney Darwood was born 1896 in Wigton, Cumberland, the youngest son of 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls, born to Joseph Darwood 1853 and his wife Ruth Thompson 1859, both natives of Wigton, Cumberland. They were married in Wigton, June 1876 and after the birth of their first daughter his parents migrated to the north east, living in Drury Lane, Jarrow where Joseph worked as a shipyard labourer. By 1891 they had moved to 13 Duke Street, Jarrow, however they returned to Wigton in about 1893 where their two youngest boys were born. Joseph found work as a chimney sweep, in 1901 they were living at 13, Duke Street, Wigton. His father took the decision to return to the north east and settled at 14 Greylingstad Terrace, Craghead, finding work at the colliery as a shifter below ground. Salney now 16 years of age was also employed there as a horse driver, drawing the sledges, rollies and wagons from the crane to the shaft.
Salney Darwood enlisted in Newcastle upon Tyne, November 9th 1914 and was assigned as Private 909, 1st Tyneside Irish, 25th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, a Pals battalion. Moved on March 1915 to Woolsingham they joined the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division. Taken over by the War Office August 27th 1915 they were moved to Salisbury Plain by the end of the month, crossing to France in January 1916. Preparations for the Battle of the Somme were underway, extending railway links to transport men, horses, ammunition and food, road building, sinking bore holes and laying pipes to enable a water supply for the horses and men, the latter being the minimal for washing.
The 25th Battalion was engaged in the Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th 1916 part of the Battles of the Somme. Private 909 Salney Darwood Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action July 1st 1916 and was one of the 58,000 casualties, a third of whom died, sustained that day, the worst day in the history of the British Army. His sacrifice is recorded, pier and face 10/11/12B, on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, which commemorates the 72,195 missing British and South African servicemen who died between 1915 to 1918 and have no known grave. Slaney was 20 years old and single.
His mother as sole beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His father Joseph Darwood died 1917 followed by his mother Ruth in 1920.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Salney Darwood is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04
