Samuel Richard Lawrence was born in 1888 at Oswestry. His parents were Samuel, a gardener, and Mary Lawrence. Samuel was the youngest of 6 children. In 1891 they were living at 4 Smithfield Street (English Walls). By 1901 both his parents had died: Samuel in 1895 and his mother Mary in 1897. Samuel was living in Manchester where he was working as an apprentice to a steam engine manufacturer. During this time too he served a spell in the regular army with the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, possibly signing on in January 1903, when he turned 18. By August 1907 he was back in Oswestry and married to Emily Jane and in 1911 they were living at Coppier House, Llwyn-y-maen. He was working as a boiler maker at the Cambrian Works. Shortly afterwards they moved to Griffithstown, South Wales, living at 5 Spring Terrace, Cwrdy; Samuel was working in the goods shed at Pontypool Road (GWR) Station.

At the outbreak of war, as a former soldier and reservist, he was mobilised. He reported to Shrewsbury and went over to France with the 1 Bn KSLI on 10 September 1914. He was wounded shortly after arriving but soon returned to duty. Samuel was KIA on 23 October 1914 when the battalion was in action during the Battle of Armentieres. His body was lost and he has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. He is also remembered on the Panteg War Memorial at Pontypool.

A report of his death in the BCA noted that he had been killed the day before a letter and some cigarettes arrived for him – these would likely have been shared amongst his mates. Also, on the day his wife, Emily Jane, received notification of his death, she had also received a letter from him saying that he was well.

Killed in the same action were Private 10135 William Grady,  Private 10135 Bert White and Private 10191 Albert Foulkes (West Felton War Memorial), all on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

See Private 59586 Percy J Mayes – who married Samuel’s sister, Gladys Gwendoline, in 1917,

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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