WILFRED GILBERT SAMUEL
Image courtesy of ukphotoarchive.org.uk.
Born: 3rd September 1890, Paddington, London.
Died: 21st September 1918; age: 28; KiA during operations during the Battle of Épehy. Part of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line.
Wilfred was among the battalions 250 casualties during the Battle of Épehy.
Residence: 32, Sloane Street, Chelsea, Middlesex.
Occupation: Articled Clerk.
Religion: Jewish.
Enlisted the 2nd September 1914, Private, 2029 in the Royal Fusiliers. Obtained his Commission June 1915 – 2nd Lieutenant – 1st/6th (Cyclists) Battalion, of the Suffolk Regiment based at Ipswich. Wilfred was promoted to Adjutant – 1st October 1916, while based at Saxmundham, Suffolk. He remained in England during his time in the unit.
Date of Entry Therein: 24th June 1918 – France.
Joined the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment – 20th August 1918 at Dernancourt.
Rank: Lieutenant/Acting Captain.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st/6th Cyclist Battalion attached to Bedfordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
Originally buried 200 yards (182m) East of Z Copse. On the 22nd September 1919, his remains were found and re-interred at Unicorn Cemetery, near St. Quentin..
Grave Reference:
III.E.14.
Vendhuile,
Aisne,
France.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Gilbert & Dame Louise Samuel, of London.
CENSUS
1891 29, Palace Court, Bayswater, London.
Wilfred was 7 months old and in the care of James Tait Black, 65 & his wife Janet (nee Coats), 47, at their home.
11 servants.
James was a partner in the publishing house of A & C Black Ltd. In 1919, Janet established the James Tait Black Prizes, they are now the oldest literary awards.
In 1891, Wilfred’s parents Gilbert & Louise were on holiday, at the Daish Hotel, High Street, Shanklin, Isle of Wight.
Father: Gilbert Ellis Samuel born June 1859, Liverpool, Lancashire, was a solicitor. In 1887 he established his firm and traded as Gilbert Samuel & Company.
Mother: Dame Louise Victoria Samuel (nee Stiebel), born August 1870, Pembridge Crescent, Kensington, Middlesex, was the daughter of German born parents. Louise was a suffragist and served as honorary secretary of the non-militant Conservative Women’s Franchise Association, which became the third largest women’s suffrage party of the pre First World War. In 1914, she co-founded the War Refugees’ Committee after her brother-in-law Herbert Samuel, the President of the Local Government Board, announced to the House of Commons, in September 1914, that the British Government had offered hospitality for the refugees fleeing from the threat of the German armies in Europe. The War Refugees’ Committee arranged for them (mainly Belgians) to be met at ports and stations, find temporary hostels for them and tried also to find work for them. In 1919, Louise was elected to Chelsea Borough Council for the Municipal Reform Party. She was also a member of a committee examining improvements to nursing in mental hospitals, and of another advocating smoke abatement.
In 1918, Louise was awarded the O.B.E for her refugee work. In the civilian war honours, in 1920, she was awarded the title D.B.E.
Wilfred attended Ipswich School – entered 1909, and Balliol College, Oxford. He played cricket for both Ipswich School and Balliol College, and Association Football & lawn tennis for his college.
Soldiers’ Effects to Gilbert Ellis Samuel Esq. – father.
Probate to Gilbert Ellis Samuel Esq. – Solicitor.
Wilfred is also remembered in the Balliol College War Memorial Book & Balliol College Register and Ipswich school Memorial.
http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/2ndbn/2ndbtnofficersdied.html
Suffolk Regiment, 1st/6th Cyclist Battalion
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