Samuel Hill Covell
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Samuel Hill Covell was the son of Samuel and Jane Covell (née Cartwright). He had at least eight siblings: William, May, Eliza, Charles, Annie, Nellie, James and Florrie. His family was living in Beeston at the time of the 1891 and 1901 Census although in 1901 his mother was listed as head of household. However, Samuel named his father as his next of kin when he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in July 1901 (father's address Beeston, street name unclear). Samuel was given a free discharge from the RMLI in 1902; his home address was then 44 Chapel Street, Beeston. He married Sarah Ann Truswell (b. 15 July 1884) in 1906 (J/A/S Nottingham) and they had four children: Samuel Hill b. Beeston 26 March 1907, Charles Hill b. Beeston 1 September 1908, Lilian Hill b. Beeston 5 January 1911 and Ivy Hill b. Preston 13 July 1914. In 1911 they lived at 15 Salisbury Street Beeston Nottingham. Samuel was an iron foundry labourer. The family had moved to Preston, Lancashire, by 1914 when their fourth child, Ivy, was born. They were living at 45 Croft Street, Preston, at the time of Samuel's death in 1916. This was also his widow's address on the later CWGC record. However, Sarah Ann, later returned to Nottingham as she is recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register at 33 Middleton Street, Nottingham: 'Sarah Ann Covell b. 15 July 1884, widow.' She died in 1969 (A/M/J Nottingham).
Samuel Hill Covell enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry (Portsmouth Division) on 24 July 1901 (11749 Private). He gave his date of birth as 30 August 1882 ie age 18, not 1883 as the registration of his birth. Samuel was given a free discharge on 26 October 1902; he was discharged to 44 Chapel Street, Beeston. Samuel enlisted in Preston, Lancashire, in 1914 and at the time of his death was serving as company sergeant major in the 8th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment). The 8th (Service) Battalion formed at Lancaster in October 1914 under the command of 76th Brigade, 25th Division. The Battalion landed in France on 17 September the following year and the Brigade transferred to the 3rd Division on 15 October 1915. The 8th Battalion served on the Western Front throughout the war. Samuel was awarded the Military Medal in 1916 (gazetted 6 June 1916). He was killed in action the following month on 16 August 1916 during the battalion's attack on Lonely Trench, 16-18 August. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 5 D and 12 B). He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Samuel is also commemorated on the Preston Roll of Honour in the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston: 'SH Covell CSM' Preston Herald, 8 April 1916: ‘Preston Sergt. Recommended for Honours. Four Officers Draw Attention to his Conduct. Of the many deeds of valour performed in the war, none could be more interesting than that by Sergt. S Covell of Croft-street, Preston, who for distinguished conduct on the field has been recommended for military honours by the major-general commanding the 3rd Division of the Expeditionary Force. Sergt. Covell has been recommended by no less than four officers, a record probably rarely reached, and his commanding officer states that he has brought the gallant sergeant’s conduct to the notice of the authorities. He has been home for a few days’ furlough, and returned to the front on Thursday night. He modestly declines to say anything about himself, and pleads that the only thing to be done at present is to ‘wait and see,’ ‘(www.britishnewspaperachive.co.uk) Preston Herald, 17 June 1916, article with photograph: ‘Awarded Military Cross. Sergt. S Covell, of Croft-street, Preston, who has been granted the Military Cross for distinguished conduct in the field on the special recommendation of the Major-General commanding the 3rd Division of the Expeditionary Force. Sergt. Covell was recommended by no less than four officers on different occasions.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Preston Guardian, 23 September 1916. Article with photograph: ‘Company Sergt-Major SH Covell. News has been received of the death in action of Company Sergeant-Major Samuel Hill Covell, of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. He joined as a private in October 1914, and in March 1915 was recommended for the Military Medal. In a letter to his widow the chaplain says: ‘He was a true man and a brave soldier – keen, reliable, absolutely fearless, devoted to his duty, and popular with all. His death is a real and heavy loss to the battalion, for we can ill spare such men. But his life is not wasted; he has given it in the sacred cause of righteousness and justice; he has died that England might live free from foreign lust and domination.' In civil life Sergeant-Major Covell was employed by Messrs. Dilworth and Carr, Bow-lane, Preston, and his home was at 45, Croft-street. He leaves a widow and four children.’ (www.flickr.com) This article was also published in the Preston Herald, 23 September 1916 Nottingham Evening Post, ' In Memoriam', 17 September 1917: 'Covell. In loving memory of my dear husband CSM S H Covell killed in action August 17th (sic) 1916. We miss him more than words can tell. - From his wife and children.' His widow, Sarah Ann, was awarded a weekly pension of 24/6 (24 shillings and 6 pence) for herself and her four children on 1 March 1917, pension payable from 5 March. The allowances for her children were payable until their 16th birthdays: Samuel 26 March 1923, Charles 1 September 1924, Lilian 5 January 1927 and Ivy 13 July 1930. The Pension Ledger has the family's address as 45 Croft Road, Preston. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: The date of death on this record is given as 16-18 August 1916. His widow Sarah Ann was his sole legatee. WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: Widow Sarah Ann Hill (b. 15 July 1884) and four children; Samuel b. 26 March 1907 (payment date of expiry 26 March 1923), Charles b. 1 September 1908 (expiry 1 September 1924), Lilian b. 5 January 1911 (expiry 5 January 1927) and Joy b. 13 July 1914 (expiry 13 July 1930). Home address 45 Croft Street, Preston. Pension of 24/6 [24shillings and 6pence] awarded 1 March 1917 and payable from 5 March 1917.
