Samuel Overton was born on 2 September 1885 at Rushall, Staffordshire, and was brought up in Shrewsbury where his father, Phillip, worked as a labourer in a malt house. His mother’s name was Hannah, and they had 9 children but 3 died in infancy. Samuel had 2 elder sisters: Kate and Laura; and a younger sister and brother: Camellia and Frank. The family moved to Oswestry and in 1901 were living at 41 Llwyn Road. He left school at 14 and worked as an errand boy. In December 1905 he married Frances Ellen Charles, and they lived at 1 Llwyn Road. They would have 5 children. Samuel worked as a carter delivering mineral water and drinks for Messrs Dorsett Owen and Co. but by the outbreak of war was employed by Frank Jackson of the Castle Hotel. After the war his wife remarried Thomas R Davies in early 1919 and continued to live at 1 Llwyn Road.

 Samuel enlisted at Oswestry in March 1917 and was posted to 6 Bn KSLI. He was KIA on 3 September 1917 by a gun shot wound to the chest. At that time men from the battalion had been attached to the 83 Field Coy. Royal Engineers and the divisional engineers were engaged on working parties in the forward area. Amongst other works they were busy repairing and building plank and duckboard trackways in preparation for the forthcoming next stage of Third Ypres. He died the day after his 32nd birthday. He is buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery and is also commemorated at Holy Trinity Church in Oswestry.

Acknowledgements. Cemetery photos by Louise Culliford 

References & Sources.

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