Sampson, R
REGINALD SAMPSON
Remembered with honour Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery: Plot I, Row F, Grave 16.
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.
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.
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.
Service number
58Rank
Lance-CorporalUnit
1st BattalionRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
27*/09/1918Age at death
24Place of death
Memorial(s)
- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)