Samuel James Verrier

{{Infobox | name = Samuel James Verrier

| title = | above = | subheader =

| image = | caption = | image2 = | caption2 =

|headerstyle  = background:#ccf;
|labelstyle   = background:#ddf;
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| header1 = Personal Information

| label2 = Date of Birth | data2 = unknown

| label3 = Place of Birth | data3 = Adelaide, South Australia

| label4 = Death | data4 = 1 Apr 1917

| label5 = Place of Death | data5 = Noreuil, France

| label6 = Age at Enlistment | data6 = 26 years, 6 months

| label7 = Description | data7 = 5'10½" (1.79m) tall; weight 140 lbs (63.5 kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair

| label8 = Occupation | data8 = orchardist

| label9 = Religion | data9 = Church of England

| label10 = Address | data10 = 'The falls' Karragullen, Western Australia

| label11 = Next of Kin | data11 = Father Mr Jesses Verrier

| header12 = Military Information

| label13 = Reg Number | data13 = 2744

| label14 = Date of Enlistment | data14 = 26 Apr 1916

| label15 = Rank | data15 = Private

| label16 = Unit/Formation | data16 = 51st Battalion, 6th Reinforcement, D Company / 13th Brigade, 4th Division

| label17 = Date of Embarkation | data17 = 10 Oct 1916 - 2 Dec 1916

| label18 = Ship Embarked On | data18 = HMAT A23 Suffolk

| label19 = Date of Return | data19 =

| label20 = Ship Returned On | data20 =

| label21 = Fate | data21 = Killed in Action 1 Apr 1917, at Noreuil, France

| label22 = Monument | data22 = Kelmscott

| label23 = Medals | data23 = British War Medal
{{Victory Medal]]

}}

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries 1916 - 1917 Karragullen, orchardist

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.

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.

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.)

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

Notes

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