Pte Samuel Reginald Lea

• Age: 25
• From:
• Regiment: 13th KLR
• Died on Wednesday 9th May 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

Samuel Reginald was born in Rock Ferry on the 06th April 1892 and was baptised on the 05th June 1892. He was the son of Walter Lea and his wife Agnes (nee Dutton). Walter and Agnes married in 1887 at Christ Church, Higher Bebington.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 54 Old Chester Road, Woodhey, Higher Bebington. His father who was born in Cheshire is shown as living on his own means. His mother was born in Liverpool. Also present are his siblings; Beatrice Amery, aged 10, Walter Amery aged 7 and niece Hannah Amery aged 23. There is also a servant shown on the record a Eleanor Minnie Parkinson aged 23.

His father, Walter, died in the December quarter of 1910, aged 56.

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 54 Old Chester Road, Woodhey, Higher Bebington. His mother, Agnes, now a widow, aged 49, is the head of the household and living by private means. Also present are his siblings, Beatrice aged 20 apprentice to physical culture? and Walter aged 17 an apprentive to a merchants office.as well as a cousin Evelyn Harriet Dutton aged 7. Also present is a servant by the name of Frances Elizabeth Davies aged 25. Samuel Reginald is shown as an apprentice in a shipping office.

Both Samuel Reginald and his brother Walter Amery Lea enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 31st August 1914. Joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment they were given consecutive numbers Samuel Reginald 16314 and Walter 16313. Samuel Reginald gave his age as 22 years and 120 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5'5 inches tall, weighing 111lbs with a 34 and a half inch chest. He was of fresh complexion with brown eyes and brown hair.

From the 23rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He travelled to France with the rest of his battalion on 06th November 1915 reaching France on the 07th November 1915. 

He was in France until he was accidently injured on 24th May 1916. Records initially suggested a fractured fibula and he was transferred to a General Hospital at Rouen on 29th May 1916.

He travelled home to the UK on board the hospital ship SS Asturias reaching the UK on 22nd June 1916. He was treated at the Welsh Methodist Hospital, near Cardiff, where records show a sprained left ankle.

He returned to France on 15th November 1916 whereupon he was transferred to the 12th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment at Etaples on the day of his arrival in France. He was subsequently transferred to the 13th Battalion K.L.R. on 25th November 1916.

Samuel was killed in action on 09th May 1917, aged 25.

His death was reported in the Birkenhead News on 26th May 1917:

AN ELDER SON FALLS

Mrs W. Lea of Oak Villa, Woodhey, Rock Ferry, has received intelligence that her eldest son, Samuel Reginald Lea, of the King's Liverpool Regiment was killed in action on May 9th. He was 25 years of age and a highly esteemed man.

Samuel's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France. 

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Agnes and Probate (1917) to Agnes Lea, widow.

His effects were returned to his mother and contained letters, a photograph, mirror, hymn card and photo wallet. His mother also received his medals.

Samuel Reginald is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Christ Church Bebington

Nelson Lines (London & Liverpool) Memorial

Nelson Lines was firmed in 1880 primarily for the meat trade between Argentina and the UK. It created a passenger line in 1910 travelling to South American cities such as Rio De Janeiro, Montevideo and Buenos Aries.

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