Name
Reginald Sampson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
58
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GOUZEAUCOURT NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot I, Row F, Grave 16.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of James Baxter and Ellen (nee VITTLES) SAMPSON of Watford.
His parents married 8 July 1883 at St Thomas’, Exeter, Devon. Ellen died 1932 in Watford aged 67, and was buried 4 July in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; James died 1935 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 14 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Reginald was born 3 September 1894 in Amport, Hants. He attended first Alexandra Infants’ School, Watford; then Alexandra School from 26 to 30 January 1903; then Callowland Board School, Watford, from 9 January to 27 April 1906; finally Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 2 May 1906 to 4 September 1908.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Watford, with his parents and nine siblings. On the 1911 Census, a grocer’s errand boy aged 16, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and seven siblings.
Officially recorded as born in Bletchley, Herts (sic) and enlisted in Mill Hill, Middlx.
Wartime Service
He enlisted 12 August 1914 in Mill Hill, Middx, for Short Service (3 years with the Colours): a cook aged 20, 5’6″ tall, C of E.
He served at Home 12 August 1914 to 30 May 1915, and with the B.E.F. 31 May 1915 to 27 September 1918, during which time he was wounded 9 October 1916; and appointed unpaid Lance-Corporal 8 February 1918. He was admitted to the 101st Field Ambulance 5 April 1918 with mustard gas wounds, and transferred the same day to 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station; was sent to the 2nd Australian General Hospital 6 April 1918, and rejoined his unit 3 May 1918.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 31 May 1915, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There is an article about Reginald in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 12 October 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 29 September 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
