Samuel Edward Eaton, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Private, 53876 (3371), Ist Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died of wounds, aged 31, on 13 January 1917 at the Western Front.
The 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers was attached to 22nd Brigade in the 7th Division. From 11 January to the 13 March 1917 the Battalion took part in Operations on the Ancre and just prior to this, the Capture of Munich Trench on the 10-11 January. The following is from Sir Douglas Haig's dispatch covering the operations. "The most important of these attacks was undertaken at dawn on the morning of the 11th January by the 7th Division, against a system of hostile trenches extending for some I,500 yards along the crest of the spur east and north-east of Beaumont Hamel. By 8.30 a.m. all our objectives had been captured, together with over 200 prisoners. That afternoon an enemy counter-attack was broken up by our artillery."
The Battalion War Diary for 12 January 1917 records that the Battalion was in the front line and suffered "2 men to hospital, 3 killed and 9 wounded". It was relieved during the evening and records 4 men sent to hospital the next day whilst in reserve. It is probable that Private Eaton was one of the nine wounded on 12 January.
Eldest son of Joseph Henry and Margaret Ann Eaton (nee Meredith) of "Garnedd," London Road, Holyhead and husband of Annie Eaton (nee Hughes) of 19 Field Street, Holyhead. Born at Llandudno Junction in April 1886. In 1901 lived with his parents, four older sisters and a younger brother at 50 London Road, Holyhead. His father came from Flintshire and was employed as a Railway Foreman and later Inspector at Holyhead Railway Station for the LNWR. He married Annie Hughes in 1908 at Holyhead. Her father was Hugh Hughes, a Stonemason. The couple had three children - Joseph Henry Eaton (1908-1977), Hugh John Eaton (b.1910) and Samuel Meredith Eaton (1910-1913).
In 1911 the family lived at 24 Field Street, Holyhead and then comprised Samuel Eaton (26), Annie Eaton (25), Joseph Eaton (2), Hugh Eaton (1) and Samuel Eaton (3 weeks). He was employed as Ship's Steward for the LNWR at Holyhead. Enlisted at Caernarfon in March 1915. It is probable that he did not enter France until after January 1916.
Awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
Buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, France. Grave location XXI.A.1A.