Introduction
Private Alfred Samways was among the village’s valiant war dead of the First World War, but sadly was omitted from the village’s war memorial.
Childhood
Alfred was born at Mosterton, Dorset, on 30 July 1899, as the sixth child of Samuel John Samways and Sarah Alice Samways.[1] His parents were not married, as Samuel had a wife from whom he was separated. Alfred’s birth certificate listed Samuel’s occupation as a cowman, but he appears to have undertaken a range of farm work.
During the first decade of Alfred’s life, his family lived at Mosterton and the neighbouring parish of Broadwindsor. He may not have attended school regularly, as his father was fined on at least three occasions for neglecting to send his children to school, including in April 1907, when the family was living at Dibbleford in Broadwindsor.[2]
Hardington
Between July 1908 and April 1911, Samuel and Sarah settled at Hardington, where they lived at Hewingbere Cottage. The 1911 census Alfred was recorded as a schoolboy. He did not attend Hardington school, but may instead have attended North Perrot or Haselbury School. By the age of 16, he was working as a carter, possibly at Hewingbere Farm.[3]
First World War
On 4 October 1915, Alfred enlisted in the army at the age of 16, although he gave his age as 19. He served with the Somerset Light Infantry until 5 June 1916, when he was discharged as physically unfit for war service.[4] He later joined the Second Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Wiltshire Regiment, serving in France and Flanders. He died of wounds on 4 November 1918 at the age of 19 and was buried in Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery.[5]
Omission from the war memorial
Alfred’s absence from the Hardington war memorial cannot be securely explained. His family lived on the margins of the parish, and his parents’ irregular marital situation may have set them apart socially, but it is also possible that his name was recorded elsewhere or was overlooked altogether. In the absence of firm evidence, the precise reason remains uncertain.
References
[1] His birth was registered at Beaminster Q3, 1899.
[2] Bridport News, 10 April 1903, p.6; 12 April 1907, p.6.
[3] British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920.
[4] British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920.
[5] Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919; Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921.