| Regimental number | 1305 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Leeds, Yorkshire, England |
| School | Keplar School, Gledow Road, Leeds, Yorks, England |
| Other training | Paintbrush maker; apprentice with 7 years at Broadheads and Sons Ltd |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 21 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Paint brushmaker |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 25 |
| Height | 5' 4.75" |
| Weight | 154 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, S Betts, 78 Brown Hill Crescent, Leeds, England |
| Previous military service | Srved in the 7th West Yorkshire Territorials until the time he left for Australia. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 6th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/23/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray on |
| Regimental number from Nominal Roll | 2197 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sapper |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 8th Field Company Engineers |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | 'Winning in the Territorials Sports at Rounhay Park, Leeds for 3 mile race. A Silver Cup and Medal the year before going abroad in 1911. If you wish further particulars of our dear son, his place of work, Kents and Sons, Bourke Street, Brush Shop, Melbourne. I must tell you he was a good son and brother, and we have good references from those wherever he went to live up to the end.' (details provided by his parents, Samuel and Eliza Betts) |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Somme, France |
| Age at death | 27 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 27 |
| Place of burial | Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, (Plot I, Row L, Grave No. 52), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 23 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Samuel and Eliza BETTS, 78 Brownhill Crescent, Harehills, Leeds, England |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915. Wounded in action, 25 April 1915 (nature of injury not stated); admitted to Hospital Ship, 25-30 April 1915; transferred to 15th General Hospital, Alexandria, 30 April 1915; to Convalescent Depot, 5 May 1915; discharged to duty, 24 May 1915. Embarked Alexandria for Gallipoli, 2 June 1915; rejoined Bn, Gallipoli, 12 June 1915. Admitted to No 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, and transferred to HS 'Guleka', 2 August 1915 (dysentery); admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, 7 August 1915; transferred to 1st Auxiliary Convalescent Depot, 10 August 1915; discharged to Convalescent Depot, Helouan, 19 August 1915; discharged to light duties, 27 August 1915; rejoined Bn, Lemnos, 31 October 1915. Transferred to 2nd Field Company Engineers, 7 December 1915. Disembarked Alexandria, 27 December 1915 (general Gallipoli evacuation). Taken on strength, 8th Field Company Engineers, Tel el Kebir, 6 March 1916. Transferred to 5th Division Engineers, 10 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 25 June 1916. Killed in action, 19 July 1916. Buried in Rue Petillon Military Cemetery 4 miles SW of Armentieres, 19 July 1916. Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, BETTS Samuel |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
