Samuel James Verrier
From Our Contribution
 | |
| 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 |
Contents
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:...[1]
"I saw him killed by shell at Vaux-Vraucourt, died instantly. Buried by the Battalion Padre in Military cemetery at Vaux-Vraucourt."(Lawson PA 2672) A Company
"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."(Leadbitter TW 2566) 14 Platoon, D Company
"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 was 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.