When war broke out in August 1914, Sam's parents had both passed away and he was living with his married sister (Mrs Baron) at 6 Astley Street in Hull. His interest in and experience with horses led him to enlist initially as Private RTS/5023 in the Army Service Corps and he went to France on the 13th January 1915. Having been wounded and recovered in England, he was posted to the 1st/5th Bedfords in Palestine and was to become the Battalion’s only winner of this most coveted bravery award. His complete disregard for personal safety and “berserk fury” when faced with overwhelming odds saved his patrol from certain destruction.

An extract from The London Gazette, No. 30982, dated 29th Oct 1918, records the following;

"For most conspicuous bravery and initiative when with a strong patrol which was heavily attacked by the enemy and forced back in confusion. At this critical moment Private Needham ran back and fired rapidly at a body of the enemy at point-blank range. His action checked the enemy and enabled the patrol commander to reorganise his men. The patrol had many casualties, but successfully got back all their wounded, and it was due to the action of individuals, of which this is the most outstanding, that the entire patrol was not cut off. Pte. Needham's example was of the greatest value at a critical moment, and the bold and determined stand made by him did more than anything to inspire confidence, and undoubtedly saved a critical situation."

Page 232 of Captain FAM Webster’s book 'The History of the Fifth Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (TA)' says:

'At one stage of operations on the Bureid Ridge, one of Captain Yarde’s patrols suddenly bumped into a very much stronger Turkish patrol and, when our men were getting demoralised by our casualties, Private S Needham, who was a miner from Hull, saved the situation and won the Victoria Cross. He charged the enemy single handed and, fighting like one possessed, accounted for many Turks. His berserk fury created such a diversion in the darkness and confusion that, for the moment, the enemy was checked and themselves gave way before him. His comrades were unanimous in thinking that Private Needham’s action enabled them to get away, otherwise they would have all been surrounded and cut off. Had this happened the valuable information that Captain Yarde brought back would not have been available for further operations. It should be noted that Captain Yarde himself won a bar to his MC on this occasion.' (See here for information on Captain Yarde, MC and Bar).

 

With an irony that so often befalls the tallest of hero's, Samuel survived all the war could throw at him but died within a week of it’s ending. According to a privately printed pamphlet detailing the life of Samuel, he was born in Brocklesby near Grimsby and died on 4th November 1918 from a gunshot wound to his head received whilst at No. 1 Base Depot in Kantara. Samuel’s Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry reads:

 

Name: NEEDHAM, SAMUEL Initials: S Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment: Bedfordshire Regiment Unit Text: 1st/5th Bn. Age: 33 Date of Death: 04/11/1918 Service No: 203329 Awards: VC Additional information: Son of Septimus and Mary Needham, of Grimsby. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: E. 181. Cemetery: KANTARA WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY

 

 

Chris Bailey was kind enough to send me the below article from the Hull Times. Given the time between him winning his V.C., the award being granted, it appearing in the papers and his death, the article must have been only a matter of days or perhaps weeks before his sister was to learn of his death.