E. G. Bartholomew alias Salthouse
HMS Invincible
Medals 'Pip', 'Squeak' & 'Wilfred' and Death Penny
HMS Invincible blowing up at Jutland
Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail Thursday 19/06/1916
Edward George 'Ned' Bartholomew was born on the 31st March 1896 at Clayton Street, Throston, Hartlepool. He was the second eldest boy of eleven children to Matthew Bartholomew, [born 1861 Elham, baptised 2nd April 1862 at St Mary's, died in May 1936], and his wife Mary Ellen* [nee Evans], born 4th December 1872. Eight children survived but three died at an early age.
The children were Eleanor 'Elaine' born 1890, baptised 11th March 1891, Holy Trinity Church, died 1961, Matthew 'Matty', born 31st March 1893, died 1937, he served both in the Army and the Navy in WW1, Catherine Horsley, born 1894, Mary Ann, born 1898, John born 7th September 1899, [married 1926, a Lilian Tyson, born 19th June 1902, in 1939 were residing at 10 Raby Street, he died 20th September 1941 at Stoke Manderville hospital, Bucks, of Pneumonia, he was in the Royal Navy Patrol Service, LT/JX. 179947, H.M. Patrol vessel Joseph, HMS Pembroke IV], William Horsley born 21st April 1903, Elizabeth Jane born 1906, Frank Salthouse born and died 1908, James Horsley born 1910 and Frank Septimus born about 1912 died 1988.
Matthew and Mary Ellen [nee Evans], were married on the 11th October 1890 and were residing by this time at 7 Clayton Street, Throston, prior to this Matthew was residing at 54 Frederick Street, Throston.
Edward and Matthew were educated at the Throston County Boys School. The log book of Throston School records young Edward a a persistent truant! Edward was employed at the Furness Withey Company as a Heating Boilermaker.
George Edward used an alias to join up in to the Royal Navy Reserve on the 2nd January 1915. George Salthouse, as he was called now, used his alleged Grandparents surname, who resided at 54 Blandford Street, West Hartlepool. [His grandparents were called Jonathan Nicholson Salthouse, born 1854 and Catherine 'Katie' (nee Evans and Horsley), born 1851]. (Jonathan was the son of Francis Salthouse of Seaham and in 1871 was living in Trimdon as a coalminer although he had been born in Hartlepool). in 1881, Jonathan had moved back to Hartlepool at 54 Frederick Street, and was in lodgings with a 32 year old Catherine Evans who had a young 9 year old daughter Mary Ellen Evans*. [She married Matthew Bartholomew in 1890 and was Edward George Bartholomew alias Salthouse mother]. Catherine was given as a sailor's wife, (possibly Horsley), so it can be assumed that her husband was at sea.
The newspaper report dated 19th June 1916, that reports the death of George Edward Bartholomew does state the name of George Edward Horsley!
George was 5 feet 5 inches, Dark hair, Blue Eyes with a Dark complexion. George had a tattoo of a Heart and a dot on his left arm. He also advised the Navy that his Next of Kin was a John Salthouse, which in fact was his Grand father residing at 54 Blandford Street.
On the 4th January 1915 he received £5.00 travelling expenses at West Hartlepool. George is now appointed a stoker with the service number S 5181. On the 29th December 1915 he is now a crew member on board the H.M.S. Invincible.
HMS Invincible was the lead ship of her class of three battlecruisers built for the Royal Navy during the first decade of the twentieth century and the first battlecruiser to be built by any country in the world. During the First World War, she participated in the Battle of Heligoland Bight in a minor role, as she was the oldest and slowest of the British battlecruisers present. During the Battle of the Falkland Islands, Invincible and her sister ship Inflexible sank the armoured cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau almost without loss to themselves, despite numerous hits by the German ships.
She was the flagship of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron during the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The squadron had been detached from Admiral Beatty's Battlecruiser Fleet a few days before the battle for gunnery practice with the Grand Fleet and acted as its heavy scouting force during the battle. She was destroyed by a magazine explosion during the battle after the armour of one of her gun turrets was penetrated..
Edward George Salthouse body was never found. His father received an Interim Naval Gratuity of £12 10s with a final award of £18 15s, from the 7th August 1920.
In 1939 George Edwards Bartholomew mother Mary Ellen was still residing at 47 Lilley Street, Hartlepool now a widowed Pensioner.
Peter Richardson has submitted the family story:
Edward George Bartholomew [alias George Salthouse], is my wife’s uncle who was killed on HMS Invincible at the battle of Jutland. It was understood that he was over in France, [he never went to France], serving as Edward George Bartholomew, [this is incorrect he was too young to serve with his brother, also no Medal Card for him or pension awarded, Pension card confirms use of an alias as does CWGC], his brother [Matthew], got shot (wounded) and he brought him home, [he did not, George Edward was already in the RN when his brother got shot], Matthew was sent home by the army due to wounds, we think he did not like the conditions, and did not go back, [Matthew his brother was the one who deserted], George did not go to France or see action in the army], thus joining the navy under the name of George Salthouse. George Edward Bartholomew used an alias.
We have photos of him, first in the army probably serving as a Private, [this is Matthew, see cap badge and uniform], under his real name and then in his navy uniform serving as Stoker as George Salthouse. [It is two different people], he is shown with his father and younger brother, whose own daughter became my wife.
We also have his medals, Pip, Squeak and Wilfred and his death penny.
Acknowledgements: Barney Rice/Peter Richardson
Edward George Bartholomew alias George Salthouse is remembered in Hartlepool on H115.09 H115.16, H115.20, H115.30 page 3, H115.30 page 39, and H115.66, 1914-1918 Casualties, and on Battle of Jutland casualty List for Hartlepool, and on our List of Ships’ crews.