Pte 16517 Samuel Arthur Dicks

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 13th KLR 18th Btn
• Died on Thursday 17th August 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B&8C

Samuel Arthur Dicks was born in Liverpool in early November 1891. His parents Benjamin Dicks, born in Caio, Carmarthenshire, and Hannah Roberts, born in Bryncoes, Caernarvon, married in West Derby Register Office in 1890.  In 1891 they live at 23 Taylor Street, Liverpool, where Benjamin is a builder’s merchant. Samuel was born later that year. In 1893 a daughter, Margaret Ann, was born, but lived only 9 months. His father died, aged 44, in 1893, just before Samuel turned 2. 

His father originally married Margaret Jones in 1878 in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, and they were living at 17 Vanguard Street, Everton on the 1881 Census.   

His father died, aged 44, on the 30th October 1893. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Friday 03 November 1893: 

DlCKS—October 30. at 23, Taylor street, Benjamin Dicks, builder merchant. The funeral will take place at Anfield Cemetery, 2.20 p.m., to-day (Friday). 

Probate 1893:- 

DICKS Benjamin of Taylor Street Liverpool builder’s merchant died 30 October 1893 Probate Liverpool 29 December to Hannah Dicks widow. Effects £767 2s 6d. 

In 1901, widowed Hannah aged 33 and Samuel, 9, are living with her parents, Robert, a blacksmith and farmer, and Margaret Roberts, in Meyllteryn, Caenarvon.  Also in the home are their son William, grandson Samuel Roberts, and a servant/smith, Evan Jones.

In 1911 Samuel is 19, a shop assistant at Allanson’s, resident on their premises at 92-96 Grange Road, Birkenhead.  (Allanson’s was a well-known drapery store which had been in business since the 1860s). He served an apprenticeship with Frisby, Dyke & Co. (draper’s) 58-66 Lord Street, Liverpool, which expired in 1914.

Samuel enlisted in Liverpool on 2^nd September 1914, as Private 16517, 18^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 22 years and 300 days, and his occupation as a draper.  He was described as being 5’5” tall, weighing 113 lbs, with a 34" chest, blue eyes and fair hair. He stated his religion as Methodist and gives his residence as Dolgam, Caenarvon (the address of his mother, his next of kin). 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07^th November 1915.

Whilst the battalion is in the lines near Maricourt, at the Somme, on 24^th May 1916 Samuel was confined to barracks for 10 days, deprived of 10 days’ pay and forfeited leave for ‘neglecting to obey an order’.  In mid-June the battalion is released for training at Fourdrinoy and Vaux sur Somme for the ‘Big Push’. Samuel survived the first week of battle, but on 08^th July 1916, he was wounded in action, a gun shot wound to the fingers, and was admitted to 13^th casualty clearing post . He rejoined his unit from the 24^th Infantry Brigade Depot in Etaples on 14^th July and on 22nd July was posted to the 13^th Bn K.L.R. who were then assisting in the attack on Delville Wood.  After some time in billets at Ville-Sur-Ancre, the battalion bivouacked at Sandpits on 11^th August, and arrived in the front line trenches at 1.00 a.m. on 15^th August.  On 16^th August, zero hour 5.30 p.m., the battalion attacks the German front line south of Guillemont.  The battalion War Diary reports ‘Casualties heavy’. 

Private Samuel Dicks was one of those lost that night. He was 24 years of age.

His body was not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, in France.  

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 30th August 1916:

The death is also announced of Samuel Dicks of Dolgam, Pontllyfni

Also in the Merioneth News and Herald on Friday 01 September 1916:  

Pontllyfni Soldier Killed. 

News was received in Pontllyfni on Thursday that Private Samuel A. Dicks, son Mrs Dicks Roberts, Ddolgam, Pontllyfni, Ciynnog, and of the late Mr Benjamin Dicks, Taylor Street, Liverpool, had been killed in France. Private Dicks, who belonged to the Liverpool “Pals,“ was the first soldier from Pontllyfni to fall in the war. 

His death was also reported, belatedly, in the Caernarvon and Denbigh Herald on 02nd February 1917:

Clynnog

KILLED IN FRANCE - News has been received that Private Samuel A. Dicks, only son of Mrs Dicks Roberts, Ddolgam, Pontllyfni, has been killed in action in France. Private Dicks was born in Liverpool 25 years ago, and then his father, the late Mr Benjamin Dicks carried on a successful business as builders merchant. He received his elementary education at the Mellteryn school, and from that school he obtained an entrance scholarship to the Botwnnog County School. Subsequently he left for Birkenhead where he was apprenticed to a well-known business firm. In September 1914 he joined the 18th Batt. King's Pals in Liverpool, and went to France in October 1915. He took part in the battle of Mametz Wood, where he was wounded. He was admitted into hospital but soon recovered and was again fit for active service. On the 16th of August 1916, he was shot in the head by a sniper and was killed almost instantly. Private Dicks was held in high esteem by all his soldier pals. Heartfelt sympathy is felt for the bereaved family. 

Samuel earned his three medals.  

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Hannah Dicks Roberts

His mother, then signing herself Hannah Dicks Roberts, and living at Dolgam, Pontllyfni, LLanwnda, Carnarvon, was notified on 08^th February 1917 that there were no personal effects to be sent.  

His only living relatives were his mother, two uncles in Pwllheli, and a half sister Doris.

His mother, Hannah, died, aged 86, in 1952 still in Caernarvonshire. 

Samuel is commemorated in Sarn Meyllteryn Memorial Hall, Gwynedd.

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