Thiepval Memorial
D.L.I. Memorial Book
Photo: Dorothy Hall
In Duncombe Cemetery Ferryhill Station is a headstone which reads:-
In loving memory of
Benjamin beloved husband of
Elizabeth Taylor
Died July 15th 1907 aged 40 years
Also 3 sons and 1 daughter of the above
Also my beloved husband Fred Snaith
Killed in France September 16th 1916 aged 40 years
Also John Robert Taylor
The beloved son of the above
Killed in France September 12th 1918 aged 23 years
Forever with the Lord
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Fred Snaith, was born, Stockton on Tees in 1876, the son of Thomas (1844 - November 25th 1905), an iron moulder and Mary Clay (1844 - 1903), also natives of Stockton on Tees and one of 9 children, 6 boys and 3 girls. Fred worked as a miner and married widow Elizabeth Taylor, April 5th 1913 in Sedgefield.
Fred enlisted in Durham, August 17th 1914 and had already been in service for 12 years with the Durham Light Infantry Territorials. He was assigned the rank of Private 19858, Durham Light Infantry, 3rd Battalion, 18th Brigade attached to the 6th Division, for the duration of the war. Embarked, via Southampton, for France, January 25 1915, he joined his unit in the field February 7th 1915. He was wounded in the hand and leg August 9th and admitted to the 3rd General Hospital on the 10th.Three days later he was returned to England. On his return to France December 12th 1915 he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion and joined them in the field January 1st 1916. The following month he was hospitalised at the Etaples field hospital for an abscess on his jaw and remained there almost two months. Upon his discharge he was posted to the 8th Entrenchment Battalion and then on to the VI Corp Road Garrison and only rejoined his Battalion July 7th 1916.
On the morning of September 16th 1916 the Battalion was involved in a small attack towards the German line but was held up by machine gun fire from an enemy strong point. The Battalion lost several officers and at roll call that evening the casualties were counted as 30 dead, 99 wounded and 34 missing. Private 19858 Fred Snaith was among the latter presumed killed in action. Fred has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Picardie, France, pier 14A and 15C. At the time of his death he was serving with the D. L. I. 2nd Battalion, “B” Coy. He was 40 years old.
His widow Elizabeth was, after the production of their marriage certificate, assigned a pension of 15/- (fifteen shillings), a week, with effect from April 2nd 1917. The pension was for herself alone and did not include her son, John Robert Taylor, from her previous marriage, who at the time was also serving with the Durham Light Infantry. Elizabeth was sent her husband Fred’s awards, the 14/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal to her home address of 11 Magdalene Place, Broom, Ferryhill.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Fred Snaith is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12 and at Ferryhill on F38.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 249
