Samuel Brickell

Story:
Samuel Brickell was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1881 and was baptised at St. James' Church on 9 Oct 1881 the son of George Brickell and Sarah Brickell (nee Dennis).   He spent his early life in St. James Street, Shaftesbury, until by 1911 he had moved to Bermondsey, London, and was boarding with his brother and working as a Railway Porter.  He enlisted on the 8 Nov 1915 and joined the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment as a Private (Service No. G/10824).  He served some time in Tipperary, Ireland, where he was recovering from diptheria. He married Alice Louisa Ball (nee Barnett), the widow of John James Ball who had died in 1912, at St. Thomas Church, Lambeth, London, on 23 Apr 1916.  He was posted to France and Flanders on 13 Mar 1918 and joined the 7th Reserve Battalion and was promoted to Corporal.  He was reported missing in action on 21 Mar 1918 whilst the 5th Brigade was being involved during a retreat in the Somme area.  He was officially presumed killed in action on 28 Mar 1918.  His wife had to write from her home in Kennington, London, on 26 Jun 1918 asking for news of him.  The Red Cross had also made enquiries as late as 20 Nov 1918 (after the Armistice).  There had obviously been a considerable failure to advise his wife of the situation on the part of the Military authorities.  Samuel was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and his name appears on the Pozieres Memorial in the Pozieres British Military Cemetery, Pozieres, Ovillers-la-Boisselle, France, (Panels 58 & 59).  His name was also on the Roll of Honour published in the Parish Magazine of Nov 1918 by St. James' Church, Shaftesbury.  Charles' brothers, Thomas Dennis Brickell and Charles Brickell, also served in the conflict and survived.