Private 241611 Henry (Harry) Saul


Saul Harry 96 354x600Saul Henry 96 375x141


Killed in Action on Sunday, 23rd September 1917, age 26.
Commemorated on Panel 90 to 92 and 162 to 162A of Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

2nd/6th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 176th Brigade of 59th Division.

Son of Francis and Emily Saul, of Churchyard Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Tipton, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, and Horseley Heath Post Office memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/828673/


Genealogical Data

Birth of Henry Saul registered March quarter 1892 in Dudley.

1901 Census
1 House 1 Court, Churchyard Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Francis Saul (48, Gas Worker, born Stratford), his wife Emily (44, born Munslow, Salop), and their 5 children: Elizabeth (21, born Tipton), Frederick (19, Railway Carter, born Tipton), John (13, Sash Weight Lifter, born Tipton), Harry (9, born Tipton), and William Charles (7, born Tipton).

1911 Census
1 House 1 Court, Churchyard Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Francis Saul (58, Gas Worker, born Stratford), his wife Emily (55, born Tugford, Salop), and 5 of their 9 surviving children of 11: Elizabeth (31, born Tipton), Frederick (29, Horse Driver, born Tipton), John James (23, Horse Driver, born Tipton), Henry (Harry) (19, Postman, born Tipton), and William Charles (17, Metal Worker, born Tipton).


Personal Data

Harry Saul had worked at Tipton Post Office, first as messenger and then as postman. He enlisted with the South Staffs and was in Ireland with the 2/6th South Staffs during the 1916 Irish Rebellion. Harry's unit moved back to England, leaving for France on 17th February 1917. After Harry's death, Harry's mother received a letter from his Captain speaking highly of Harry as a soldier, and says that he was properly buried. If that was so, his grave was lost during further fighting as Harry has no known grave.

After Harry's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £7/5/5d (7 pounds, 5 shillings and 5 pence); this was paid to his mother and executrix, Emily, in February 1918. His War Gratuity was £7/0/0d (7 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his mother in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Harry had enlisted in approximately February 1916.


Action resulting in his death

On the night of 23rd / 24th September, 59th Division were to move into the Ypres Salient to relieve the 55th (West Lancashire) Division after a successful attack in the area of Gravenstafel. Harry's 2/6th South Staffs, part of 59th Division, moved into the Salient under heavy German shell fire. Harry was one of 8 men from the 2/6th South Staffs killed during that relief, none of the 8 have a known grave and all are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.


Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald October 27th 1917
TIPTON POSTMAN KILLED IN ACTION.
"FULL OF LIFE AND GOOD HUMOUR."
The parents of Signaller Harry Saul have had the sad news of their son being killed on the 23rd of September. He enlisted in the 2/6th South Staffords, and went through the Irish Rebellion last year. He formerly worked at Tipton Post Office, first as messenger and then as postman. He was educated at St Martin's Day and Sunday School, and was a member of the Bible Class. He was respected by all who knew him, and his death has caused great sorrow. He was 25 years old, and was single.
The Captain of his Company writes to Signaller Saul's mother: "Dear Madam, I am writing to ask you to accept my sincere sympathy with you in the loss of your son, Signaller H. Saul. We all feel the loss deeply, for your son had been with my Company so long, and he was a great favourite with all. He was always in great spirit and full of life and good humour. He was wonderfully fearless and had a keen sense of patriotism and duty. Death was instantaneous and he suffered no pain. He was moving forward fearlessly at night through heavy shell fire, and we knew some of us would meet with death, but there was never a flinch, and never a murmour of complaint. Your son was in the front with me, and was almost next to me when he was killed. He was properly buried and a cross now marks his grave. I appeal to you to bear your loss bravely, for the mother of such a son must be both brave and proud."
also
THANKS
Mr and Mrs F. Saul, Churchyard Road, Church Lane, Tipton, desire to tender their sincere thanks for expressions of sympathy in their recent bereavement.

Tipton Herald September 28th 1918
In Memoriam.
SAUL - In loving memory of our brother Signaller Harry Saul, whom God called from the battlefield, September 23rd 1917. Always remembered by sister Emma and brother-in-law Ted, nieces Dulcie, Emmie, Edna and Olive Stacey.
also
SAUL - In loving memory of our son Signaller Harry Saul, 2/6th South Staffords, aged 25 years, killed in action in France September 23rd 1917, late of Churchyard Road, Tipton.
"His cheerful smile and happy face
Are pleasant to recall;
He had a kindly word for each
And died beloved by all.
A loving son, a brother kind,
A beautiful memory left behind.
His heart was good, his spirit brave,
His resting place is a soldier's grave."