Pte 32618 Samuel Maddack Roe

• Age: 18
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 20th August 1916
• Commemorated at: Loos Memorial
  Panel Ref: P27-30

Samuel Maddack Roe was born on the 14th September, 1897 in Liverpool and was baptised on the 03rd October, 1897 at St Peter’s C. of E. Church, Liverpool. He was the son of James Samuel Roe and his wife Sarah Ann (née Orme) who were married on the 19th June 1881 at St Clement, Toxteth. James was a 21 year old mason of Embledon Terrace, father Joseph a labourer, whilst Sarah was aged 21 of 31 Beaumont St, father Thomas a corporation surveyor.

The name Maddack comes from his several times removed grandparents Samuel and Catherine Maddack who can be found on the 1861 Census in Liverpool. 

The 1901 Census find the family are living at 121 Cardwell Street, Liverpool. Samuel is 3 years of age. His father James Samuel is shown as a Stonemason born in Liverpool in 1860, whilst his mother was also born in Liverpool in 1860. Samuel's siblings, all born in Liverpool unless stated are listed as follows: Joseph T. aged 18 b.1883 and employed, like his father, as a Stonemason, James aged 16 b.1885 is a Solicitors clerk, Margaret J. aged 15 b. 1886 is a domestic servant, William Henry aged 14 b.1887 is an errand boy in a tea shop, Catherine aged 12 b.1889 at Darwen, Lancashire, Jeffrey aged 10 b. 1891, Charles aged 8 b.1893, Arthur aged 7 b.1894, Sarah aged 5 b.1896, Jessie aged 1 b.1900 and Mabel b. 1901 is a newborn baby.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 28 Mona St Liverpool. Father, James Samuel aged 51, is now a stonemason employed by Liverpool Corporation. Mother, Sarah Ann is also aged 51. It is recorded that they have been married for 29 years and have had fourteen children of which two have sadly died. Those listed at home on the Census are; James aged 26, born 1885 is a law clerk, William Henry aged 24, born 1887 unemployed stonemason, Jeffery aged 20 born 1891 also a stonemason with Liverpool Corporation, Charles aged 18, born 1893 a shipping clerk, Arthur aged 17 born 1892 is also a clerk, Sarah aged 15, born 1896 has no occupation listed, Samuel Maddock aged 13, born 1898, Jessie aged 11, born 1900 and Mabel aged 10 born 1901 are at school.

A report in the Liverpool Evening Express of 15th May 1911 gives details of an incredible story under the headline Mormon Kidnap. James Samuel Roe wrote a long letter in which he stated that his daughters, Margaret and Catherine, joined the Mormons in Liverpool and later left for Utah. He believed that his daughters had been entrapped by three men. 

Samuel enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 32618 when he was killed in action on the 20th August, 1916 aged 18 during the Somme offensive.

The Battalion Diary for 20th August 1916 records the following:  

7.50 pm. Enemy sprung a mine (A.9 b. 23) in front of our line. This involved I sap & shook our parapets in places. Our artillery barrage excellent & also our Stokes and Trench mortars, rifle and Lewis Gun fire. Consolidation and occupation of the new crater was at once proceeded with and good observation post secured. Enemy opposition feeble. 

Casualties 3 Killed.

Reconnoitring patrols went out and found nothing special.

Casualties on 20th Aug.

16646 Corporal A.J.Campbell died of wounds (shell)

16799 L/Cpl J.Currie killed (rifle bullet)

23385 Pte G.Hyland killed (mine explosion)

26101 Pte J.Quinn

32618 Pte S.M.Roe

11621 Pte A.Rockcliffe““ 

Samuel's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.

The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos to the end of the war. On either side of the cemetery is a wall 15 feet high, to which are fixed tablets on which are carved the names of those commemorated. At the back are four small circular courts, open to the sky, in which the lines of tablets are continued, and between these courts are three semicircular walls or apses, two of which carry tablets, while on the centre apse is erected the Cross of Sacrifice.

The memorial was designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Charles Wheeler. It was unveiled by Sir Nevil Macready on 4 August 1930.

He was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Echo on the first anniversary of his death on Monday 20 August 1917 :

ROE—In loving memory of Samuel (Sam) Roe, who was killed action, somewhere France, August 15 (sic) 1916

Some may think you are forgotten when they me smile. 

But they little know the sorrow that smile hides all the while.

ROE—In memory of Private Samuel Roe, killed in action August 20, 1916.—Jeff and Milly (in France), 8, Grote-street.

Soldiers effects, Army pay of £2 8s 3d and War Gratuity £3 to mother Sarah Ann, pension of 3/6 pw to his father James Samuel, 46 Lowther Street. 
His sister Margaret Roe Robinson was living in the United States at the time Samuel was killed. She was expecting a baby and when he was born she named him Samuel after her brother, lost so young on the Somme.

In the Liverpool Echo of 30th December 1918 two of his sisters place an In Memoriam notice:

Private SAMUEL ROE, killed in France, August 20 1916, the dear brother of Millie and Jess (in Italy). (Though death divides, fond memory clings). 8 Grote Street.

Samuel earned his two medals.

His mother died, aged 64, in 1924 and was buried on the 29th November at Allerton Cemetery, her address at the time of her death was 46 Lowther Street. 

His father died, aged 79, in 1939 and was buried on the 8th August also at Allerton Cemetery, his address a the time of his death was also 46 Lowther Street. 

Samuel is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 44 Left.

Grateful thanks are extended to Karen Bridges for the biographical details contained herein. 

We currently have no further information on Samuel Maddack Roe, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.