Samuel Henry's Story.
Samuel Henry Delves was born in Liverpool on 23rd February 1894 to parents Samuel, a butcher, and Annie. The 1901 census records that the family lived in Birkenhead at 155, Borough Road. Samuel at that time had three sisters and a brother. He was educated at St. John’s Church School.By 1911 the family had moved a few doors down the road to 182, Borough Road. Samuel like his father had become a butcher. On the 23rd June 1913 he married Elizabeth Aspey at St. Nicholas’ Church, Liverpool and went to live at 209, Oliver Street, Birkenhead. They had two children, Samuel Henry in October 1913 and Clara Violet in February 1915.
Samuel enlisted in May 1915 and served with the 51st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, going over to the Western Front in September 1917. In the spring of 1918 his brigade was based in the Somme area of France. Gunner Samuel Henry Delves was killed in action on the 28th March 1918. Sadly, his body was never recovered or identified and he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.
In 1923 Samuel’s widow, Elizabeth, married Arthur Ellams and went on to have three more children. She died in 1970.
Samuel Delves is also remembered on the Birkenhead War Memorial and on the Woodside and Wallasey Lairages, Live Stock and Meat Traders Association War Memorial.
Research, photograph and memorial photograph by Chris Booth