Ernest Fred Samuels was born on the 3rd of December 1878 in Richmond, Surrey, the 7th child of James and Fanny Samuels (nee Lay). He was Baptised at St.Mary Magdalene in Richmond on the 16th of February 1879 and the 1881 census shows Ernest living with his family at Alma Villas, 8 Rosemont Road, Richmond. Alma Villas was a row of semi-detached houses on Richmond Hill.
In 1891 now aged 13 Ernest was attending school and was now living at Oxford Villas, Princes Road, Richmond, with the family living next door being Ernest's Uncle, his Father's brother John, with his wife Emily and their son John.
Ernest enlisted into the Royal Horse Artillery on the 11th of December 1899 at London, aged 21 years. He was 5ft 11 tall, with a fresh complexion and blue eyes. Rank: Gunner, Service No: 2304.
Ernest was promoted to Acting Bombardier on the 22nd of January 1901, although he reverted back to the rank of Gunner by own request on the 23rd of September 1901. Ernest was injured whilst on duty on the 18th of February 1901, suffering from a Contusion of the Testicle. Granted Good Conduct Pay at 1d (1 penny) on the 11th of December 1901. On the 16th of June 1904 Ernest forfeited his Good Conduct Pay, although reason not given in his army records.
Ernest was transferred to 1st Class Army Reserve on the 23rd of December 1904 and gave his address as 98 Audley Road, Richmond, Surrey.
Ernest married Kate Miles on the 5th of August 1905 at Richmond, Surrey, although their first child named Ernest Frederick was born on the 27th of June 1905. (The 1939 register gives son Ernest birthdate as the 4th of July 1905).
Ernest and his wife Kate were living at 21 Benns Cottages, Kew Road, Richmond with son Ernest aged 6 and three more children Mable age 4, Alfred age 3 and Hilder who was 4 months old when the 1911 census was taken and Ernest was working as a general labourer in the building trade.
Ernest was discharges from the Army Reserve on the 10th of December 1911 after 12 years service.
First World War Service
Ernest re-enlisted on the 9th of September 1915 in London and rejoined the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Royal Horse and Field. He was ranked as Gunner and was given Regimental No. 102657. He was aged 36 but declared himself to be 38. Ernest was 6ft tall and weighed 145lbs. He had distinctive moles on the trunk of his body and a chest measured at 38 inches.His occupation was given as Coachman and he worked for W. Shipman at 9 Beaconsfield Road, Twickenham. Ernest and his family had moved residence and were now living at 8 Amyand Cottages, St.Margarets, Twickenham. He reported to the Royal Artillery's depot at Woolwich, London on the 13th of September 1915.
On the 24th of September, Gunner Ernest Samuels was posted to the No.1 Officer Cadet School, which was a joint Royal Horse and Royal Field training school based at St. Johns Wood in London. Ernest's previous service meant he probably helped with the training of the Officers.
Artillery training was extremely technical and included instruction (in addition to physical training, dismounted and mounted drill, and rifle exercises), exercises in gun drill. These included instruction in gunnery, laying, fuse setting and visual training, in addition to lectures on calculating projectile angles, velocity and ranging (establishing projectile elevation, fuse and line).
Ernest continued his service at St.Johns Wood as was promoted to Acting Bombardier on the 22nd of January 1917. On the 10th of March 1917 he was posted to 4A Reserve Brigade Royal Field Artillery under the authority of the 19th (B) Battery R.F.A. He reverted back to the rank of Gunner on the 14th of June 1917 under the ACI (Army Council Instructions) 1701 of 1916. Disposal of Warrant Officers & N.C.O's (Regular & Territorial Force) in excess of establishments at home.
On the 15th of October 1917 Ernest was sent to Military hospital for 4 days suffering from gonorrhea. He was transferred to the Military hospital at Court Farm, Warlingham, Surrey on the 19th of October and spent 59 days having treatment. He was discharged from hospital on 17th of December and a note was placed in his file,
No: 102651 Rank: Gnr Name: Samuels E Regt: RFA 19th RES
is suffering from chronic gleet. No gonococci can be found in his
urethral discharge, he is non-contagious and quite fit for duty. He
should not be re-admitted to hospital for venereal disease unless he
develops any complication or suffers a fresh attack.
C G D Thosse
Lieut.Colonel R.A.M.C
O i/c Military Hospital
Warlingham
British Expeditionary Force, France
Gunner 102657 Ernest Samuels was posted to the B.E.F on the 19th of December 1917 arriving at the Base Depot in France. Ernest was posted from the Base Depot to the 153rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery (CLIII Brigade, R.F.A). He joined them In The Field on 10th of January 1918 and was posted to 'A' Battery. The 153th Brigade R.F.A was attached to the 36th (Ulster) Division in the British Fifth Army.
On the 21st of March 1918 Gunner Ernest Samuels was sent to the 6th Casualty Clearing Station which was based Houchin as he was again suffering with gleet. The next day Ernest was sent to the 6th General Hospital which was based at Rouen. He stayed there until returning to the divisional base depot and was then posted to the 505th Battery in the 65th Army Field Artillery Brigade, which was in the front line arriving on the 30th of March.
Wounded In Action May 1918
On the 23rd of May 1918 Gunner Ernest Samuels was wounded in action sustaining gunshot wounds to his left leg, neck and hands. He was sent to 1/2 Lowland Field Ambulance on the 24th where they classed his wounds as being severe. That same day Ernest moved to the 57th Casualty Clearing Station which was at Aubigny, to the North West of Arras. He was admitted into the 4th General Hospital based at Camiers, North of Etaples on the 26th of May and it was from here that word was sent to his wife about his condition. On the 29th of May Ernest was sent by Hospital Ship to England embarking at Boulogne.
Once back in England Ernest was sent to the Military Hospital at Warlingham, Surrey and he stayed here for 71 days recovering from his wounds. Ernest was readmitted to a different hospital on the 14th of August 1918 and had another long stay, this time for 72 days and he was finally discharged on the 25th of October 1918. He was classed as Category A3, which meant he was able to march, see to shoot, hear well and stand active service conditions, but his body was still not ready physically to go back to the front line.
Once out of hospital Gunner Ernest Samuels was posted to the Royal Artillery Command Depot at Ripon, Yorkshire. On the 1st of November Ernest was posted to 5C Reserve Brigade which consisted of 49, 50 and 51 Batteries and was based at Charlton Park, London.
With the war's end on the 11th of November 1918, Ernest was still in England and he had been given some leave with a free travel warrant.
On the 20th of November Ernest was posted back to the B.E.F in France with the British Fifth Army. On the 8th of December 1918 Ernest was posted from the Fifth Army base camp to rejoin the Royal Field Artillery and on the 10th he was posted to the 177th Brigade. Ernest would have been apart of the mammoth task to clear the battlefields of the detritus accumulated over the 4 years of fighting.
Ernest continued his duties in France until the 12th of March 1919 when he was posted back to England, embarking at Boulogne. He arrived at the dispersal centre at Shorncliffe, Kent on the 13th for demobilization and was transferred to the Army Reserve on the 11th of April ending his military service.
Gunner Ernest Fred Samuels
Regimental No: 102657
Royal Regiment of Artillery, Royal Horse & Royal Field
British War Medal
Victory Medal
After the end of his military service, Ernest came back home to his family and continued to live at 8 Amyand Cottages, St.Margarets, Twickenham. He was still living here when the 1939 register was taken. Ernest died in 1951 aged 72 and is my 2nd Great Grandfather.
Lee Thomas