Bard Cottage Cemetery
D.L.I. Memorial Book
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Wilfred Hoarsley Savage was born 1896 in Hetton le Hole one of 9 children (2 deceased) born to William Savage 1853 native of Hutton, Yorkshire and his wife Isabella Dunn born 1857 in Hetton le Hole whom he married in the district of Houghton le Spring in 1875. After their marriage they lived for several years with her parents at West Side, Hetton. William was employed as a colliery engine man, Wilfred at the age of 16 was employed there as a colliery joiner apprentice.
Wilfred enlisted in Sunderland and was assigned to the 14th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. His military record no longer exists but he would have been given the rank of Private, he did however rise through the ranks to Sergeant 24682. Between September 21st-24th 1914 the members of the newly formed 14th Battalion D. L. I. travelled to camp in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and in October on to Halton Park where along with other Battalions of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry they formed the 64th Brigade, 21st Division. In the middle of October they were moved to billets in High Wycombe where they trained until April 1915 returning to Halton Park and finally marched the 75 miles to Whitley Camp July 21st 1915 to continue their training. September 11th 1915 they embarked for France via Folkestone landing in Boulogne. The Division was entrained for St Omer where most of the new Divisions were prepared for services in the front line. Their first experience of total war took place 10 days later September 25th when they were moved up to the front and into trenches on the Loos battlefield. By November 1915 they were defending Potijze and were gassed in an attack near Wieltje sustaining high casualties. Remaining in and around the Ypres salient in Belgium until March 1916, at times in the front line, at times in reserve, they then moved and took over the line Picklem Road and the Yser Canal where they stayed until June 1916. It was during this stay that Sergeant 24682 Wilfred Hoarsley Savage was killed in action May 30th 1916. He is interred at Bard Cottage Cemetery, near Ypres in Belgium, grave I. I. 2. Wilfred was 21 years old and his widow Mary Jane, living at 101, North View, Colliery Row, Fence Houses, as his sole beneficiary, received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Wilfrid Hoarsley Savage is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12
