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Difference between revisions of "Samuel James Verrier"

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==War Service==
 
==War Service==
Proceeded to France aboard [[HMT Princess Victoria]] from Folkestone on 28 Dec 1916 to 4th ADBD Étaples and joined his Battalion in France 7 Feb 1917 as they came out of the line at Flers.   
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Arrived in England after training in Australia, and unlike others who had several months or more in England before going to the Front, Samuel proceeded to France aboard [[HMT Princess Victoria]] from Folkestone on 28 Dec 1916, the same month that he arrived in Plymouth.  Marched into the 4th Division's Base Depot in Étaples and joined his Battalion in France on 7 Feb 1917 as they came out of the line at Flers.   
  
His early days in the battalion were occupied with working parties to improve PERTH Camp, and training at Buire.  On 1 Mar 1917 the battalion is reorganised to balance numbers of fit men and training continues at Buire including practice attacks on defended positions until they move to Mametz on the 21st.  They move closer to the front at Vracourt on the 27th, and man the Advance Guard Line.   
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His early days in the battalion were occupied with working parties to improve PERTH Camp, and training at Buire.  On 1 Mar 1917 the battalion was reorganised to balance numbers of fit men and training continued at Buire including practice attacks on defended positions until they moved to Mametz on the 21 Mar 1917.  They moved closer to the front at Vracourt on the 27th, and manned the Advance Guard Line.   
  
At 8.00pm on 1 Apr 1917 A, B, and D Companies move into position for an advance and attack on Noreuil, but by the statements of some of Sam's mates, he had already been killed.     Some of the witness statements held on the Red Cross files include:..."I saw him killed by shell at Vaux - Vraucourt, died instantly.  Buried by the Bn Padre in Military cemetery at Vaux - Vraucourt.".."He was in D Coy.  We were in reserve at the village of Vaux-Vraucourt on the 1st April.  I saw Verrier lying dead in a billet".. "We were in a dug out together when a shell came over killing him.  This happened between Vaux-Vraucourt and Noreuil" (Hughes P.A. 2654.)
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At 8.00pm on 1 Apr 1917 A, B, and D Companies moved into position for an advance and attack on Noreuil, but by the statements of some of Sam's mates, he had already been killed. Some of the witness statements held on the Red Cross files include:...<blockquote>"I saw him killed by shell at Vaux - Vraucourt, died instantly.  Buried by the Bn Padre in Military cemetery at Vaux - Vraucourt."</blockquote>
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<blockquote>He was in D Coy.  We were in reserve at the village of Vaux-Vraucourt on the 1st April.  I saw Verrier lying dead in a billet</blockqoute>
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<blockquote>We were in a dug out together when a shell came over killing him.  This happened between Vaux-Vraucourt and Noreuil" ('''Hughes P.A. 2654'''.)</blockquote>
  
 
Samuel's death is published as part of Casualty List 291 in the Daily News on Thursday May 3rd, 1917.
 
Samuel's death is published as part of Casualty List 291 in the Daily News on Thursday May 3rd, 1917.
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[[Category:1917 KIA]]
 
[[Category:1917 KIA]]
 
[[Category:Killed in action]]
 
[[Category:Killed in action]]
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[[Category:Armadale-Kelmscott]]

Revision as of 23:21, 23 March 2018

Unknown.png
Personal Information
Date of Birth unknown Oct 1889
Place of Birth Adelaide, South Australia
Death 1 Apr 1917
Place of Death Noreuil, France
Age at Enlistment 26 years, 6 months
Description 5'10½" (1.79m) tall; weight 140 lbs (63.5 kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair
Occupation orchardist
Religion Church of England
Address 'The Falls' Karragullen, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father Mr Jesses Verrier
Military Information
Reg Number 2744
Date of Enlistment 26 Apr 1916
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 51st Battalion, 6th Reinforcement, D Company / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation 10 Oct 1916 - 2 Dec 1916
Ship Embarked On HMAT A23 Suffolk
Fate Killed in Action 1 Apr 1917, at Noreuil, France
Monument Kelmscott War Memorial (South panel)
Roleystone Honour Board
Villers-Bretonneux Memorial
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal


Pre War

Electoral Roll entries 1916 - 1917 Karragullen, orchardist


War Service

Arrived in England after training in Australia, and unlike others who had several months or more in England before going to the Front, Samuel proceeded to France aboard HMT Princess Victoria from Folkestone on 28 Dec 1916, the same month that he arrived in Plymouth. Marched into the 4th Division's Base Depot in Étaples and joined his Battalion in France on 7 Feb 1917 as they came out of the line at Flers.

His early days in the battalion were occupied with working parties to improve PERTH Camp, and training at Buire. On 1 Mar 1917 the battalion was reorganised to balance numbers of fit men and training continued at Buire including practice attacks on defended positions until they moved to Mametz on the 21 Mar 1917. They moved closer to the front at Vracourt on the 27th, and manned the Advance Guard Line.

At 8.00pm on 1 Apr 1917 A, B, and D Companies moved into position for an advance and attack on Noreuil, but by the statements of some of Sam's mates, he had already been killed. Some of the witness statements held on the Red Cross files include:...
"I saw him killed by shell at Vaux - Vraucourt, died instantly. Buried by the Bn Padre in Military cemetery at Vaux - Vraucourt."
He was in D Coy. We were in reserve at the village of Vaux-Vraucourt on the 1st April. I saw Verrier lying dead in a billet</blockqoute>
We were in a dug out together when a shell came over killing him. This happened between Vaux-Vraucourt and Noreuil" (Hughes P.A. 2654.)

Samuel's death is published as part of Casualty List 291 in the Daily News on Thursday May 3rd, 1917.

  • Viller-Bretonneux Memorial
  • Section of 51st Battalion panels


Notes

Memorialised at VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL. Son of Jesse and Alice Verrier, of 10, Roy St., Perth, Western Australia. Born at Adelaide.


External Links