Samuel Thomas's Story.
The “Roll of Honour records two lads named Voinus; S. (Samuel Thomas) Voinus, Pte., is included on Fallen Memorial. (cheshirebmd does not record a Samuels birth but freebmd does record the birth of a Samuel Thomas Voinus in the Northwich area in 1888.) and a W. (William Henry) Voinus;
The name Voinus is quite unusual and the N.A.M.C. prove its rareness by only having two medal cards for lads named Voinus and that is for these two brothers.
Northwich Guardian 1916, 28th July, (P5/C2); LANCE-CORPORAL SAMUEL VOINUS.
Lance-Corporal Samuel Voinus, whose mother and sister were informed of his death on Monday morning is a native of Weaverham. He had lived for some years at Bradford, where he was employed prior to the war. He was a married man and his wife and two children have remained at Bradford. He enlisted in a Yorkshire Regiment at the beginning of the war and he had been at the front over twelve months. Mrs Voinus heard of her husband’s death during the weekend and at once communicated the sad fact to his mother and sister. He was 28 years of age. (Freebmd records Samuel Voinus marrying a Ann E. Clarkson in the Sept. Q. 1910 in Bradford.)
Northwich Guardian 1916, 4th August, (P5/C2); LANCE-CORPORAL VOINUS.
Last week we published the photograph of Lance-Corporal Voinus, a Weaverham solider who was K.I.A. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs William Voinus of Wilner House, Weaverham, his father being an old employee of Brunner Mond & Co. Another brother who enlisted in the “Pals” has since been transferred to the Army Cycling Corps and is now serving in France. Lance-Corporal Voinus who was 28 years of age leaves a widow and two children and they live at Manningham near Bradford.
C.W.G.C. - remember a Samuel Thomas Voinus at the Thiepval Memorial, France. He was with "A" Coy. 1st/6th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment, (Prince of Wales's Own) Service Number 3185; Died Wednesday July 12th, 1916, aged 28. Son of William and Sarah Voinus of Wilner House, Beach Rd.,Weaverham, husband of Agnes Alice Voinus of 15 Moorside, Baildon, Shipley, Yorks.
N.A.M.C. - have a card for Voinus Samuel T. with the West Yorkshire Regiment No 3185. Rank Private. Awarded the 15 Star, British and Victory medals, Theatre of War, France, Date of Entry 20/8/15. The card records Samuel was K.I.A.
As Samuel had lived near Bradford it was worth contacted Bradford Reference Library to see if Samuel is remembered on a Memorial at Manningham/Bradford. Ian from the Reference Library said that Samuel does not appear to be remembered on a local “Public” Memorial, i.e. those on public display but the local paper, Bradford Weekly Telegraph, did mention him as being killed and that the family had lived on St. Michaels Road.
Researched Bob Heaton