The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Allotted to and proceeded to 54th Bn from 1st Training Bn, Zeitoun, 16 February 1916; joined 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916

Posted missing, 19/20 July 1916.

Previous report of missing now, 28 July 1916, to be reported as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Buried Rue du Bois Military Cemetery by Reverend F. P. Williams, 20 July 1916.

Statement, Red Cross File No 2410210, 4733 Pte A.W. BARRY, 54th Bn, 13 October 1916: 'I knew Samuels; he was on the Lewis Gun; also McDonald, and McDonald told me he saw Samuels hit in the arm early in the evening of 19.7.16 at Fleurbaix and he carried on in the 3rd. line of German trenches all that night, and he advised Samuels to come back to our trench. McDonald told me that Samuel's paybook was handed in to R. Samuels of B. [Company] 54 Bn a brother of L/Cpl A.E. Samuels.'

Second statement, 3240 Gunner G.H. BELL [14th Field Artillery Brigade] (patient, Kitchener's Hospital, Brighton, England), 22 December 1916: 'Informant states that on 19th or 20th July 1916 at Fleurbaix near Sailly he helped to erect a wooden cross over the grave of A.E. Samuels in a small Military Cemetery at Fleurbaix behind the lines. Informant states that he has looked after [the] grave and put flowers upon it.'

Note in file, SA, 2 March 1917: 'Date of death 20.7.16. Buried in Grave No. 36. Row F. Fleurbaix Military Cemetery, by Pioneer Sgt. C.F. McBain. Chaplain: Capt. F.P. Williams. Ascertained from Burial Records supplied by Sgt. McBain and personally inspected by me.'

Third statement, 4159 Corporal S.H. BURGESS, 54th Bn (patient, Royal Berkshire hospital, England), 26 September 1916: 'Informant states that on 19th July 1916 at the Somme he saw Samuel's (sic) lying dead, before he himself was wounded. Samuels was his mate, so he took special notice. Informant was wearing a ring given him by L/Cpl Samuels.'