Serjeant Samuel Webb Royal Garrison Artillery
1914-18 British War Medal (missing). Victory Medal.
The Man Samuel Webb was born during the last quarter of 1878 in New Milverton, Royal Leamington Spa, son of Samuel senior, a Labourer and Elizabeth. Samuel was one of nine children, Elizabeth born in 1874, Thomas 1877, Annie 1882, William 1885, Richard 1886, Rose 1890 and two siblings who died very young.
Samuel was Baptised at St Mark’s Church, Rugby Road, Leamington and their address given as Garden Court. The 1881 and 1891 censuses shows the family living at 7a Garden Place, Milverton, the latter with Samuel aged 12 and working as a Baker’s Assistant, presumably having finished his education. They were at the same address in 1901, although Samuel not present. Garden Place was demolished in the 1960s and flats built on the site.
By 1911 the family, except Samuel senior who had passed away, were living at 3 Woodbine Street, in Leamington Spa and Samuel now aged 32, still single was working as a Labourer for a Timber Merchant.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, Samuel was aged 35 and had already enlisted into the Special Reserve, Royal Garison Artillery with service number SR-1369, later 276369. (The Special Reserve. was created in 1908 and a part-time military service that provided a pool of trained reservists who were prepared to be called up in the event of a general mobilisation).
Samuel was promoted to Bombardier and on Saturday 2nd January 1915 in the Parish Church, married Martha Stein, a German lady from Brachbach, who was working as a cook for Dr. John Murray Moore at Priory House, Church Street, Leamington. Following their marriage they lived at Rossmore House, 8 Newbold Terrace - possibly Martha working in service – and they worshipped at St Luke’s Church in Hamilton Terrace.
Samuel was posted to the Western Front as part of the 25 (N) Heavy Battery SR 1369 RGA and later the 60th Siege Battery and promoted to Serjeant. On 26th April 1917 at 1100h he was severely wounded by shrapnel to his left thigh whilst manning No 2 Gun. He was invalided back to the UK and sent to the 1st Southern General Military Hospital, Temporary Military Branch in Grove Road, King’s Heath. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries 25 days later of Secondary Haemorrhage and passed away on Tuesday 22nd May aged just 38 with Martha at his side.
Samuel was afforded a full military funeral in Leamington Spa on Saturday 26th May. His cortege left his mothers house at 3 Woodbine Street at 1400h, proceeding to Milverton Cemetery, Albert Street, Leamington Spa accompanied by a military band from Budbrooke Barracks and a firing party commanded by Sergeant Major Fessey. He was buried with many mourner’s present including servants from Rossmore House and Reverend J W Dance, Pastor of St Lukes conducted the service.
Samuel was posthumously awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal and his name appears on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial.
Martha only lived a few more years, passing away on 24th June 1922 aged 47. She was buried alongside Samuel and their headstone reads:
In loving memory of Sjt Samuel Webb. RGA born Oct 8th 1878 died May 1917 from wounds received in France " The Path of Duty is the Way to Glory " Also Martha his wife died June 24th 1922.
Samuel was Baptised at St Mark’s Church, Rugby Road, Leamington and their address given as Garden Court. The 1881 and 1891 censuses shows the family living at 7a Garden Place, Milverton, the latter with Samuel aged 12 and working as a Baker’s Assistant, presumably having finished his education. They were at the same address in 1901, although Samuel not present. Garden Place was demolished in the 1960s and flats built on the site.
By 1911 the family, except Samuel senior who had passed away, were living at 3 Woodbine Street, in Leamington Spa and Samuel now aged 32, still single was working as a Labourer for a Timber Merchant.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, Samuel was aged 35 and had already enlisted into the Special Reserve, Royal Garison Artillery with service number SR-1369, later 276369. (The Special Reserve. was created in 1908 and a part-time military service that provided a pool of trained reservists who were prepared to be called up in the event of a general mobilisation).
Samuel was promoted to Bombardier and on Saturday 2nd January 1915 in the Parish Church, married Martha Stein, a German lady from Brachbach, who was working as a cook for Dr. John Murray Moore at Priory House, Church Street, Leamington. Following their marriage they lived at Rossmore House, 8 Newbold Terrace - possibly Martha working in service – and they worshipped at St Luke’s Church in Hamilton Terrace.
Samuel was posted to the Western Front as part of the 25 (N) Heavy Battery SR 1369 RGA and later the 60th Siege Battery and promoted to Serjeant. On 26th April 1917 at 1100h he was severely wounded by shrapnel to his left thigh whilst manning No 2 Gun. He was invalided back to the UK and sent to the 1st Southern General Military Hospital, Temporary Military Branch in Grove Road, King’s Heath. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries 25 days later of Secondary Haemorrhage and passed away on Tuesday 22nd May aged just 38 with Martha at his side.
Samuel was afforded a full military funeral in Leamington Spa on Saturday 26th May. His cortege left his mothers house at 3 Woodbine Street at 1400h, proceeding to Milverton Cemetery, Albert Street, Leamington Spa accompanied by a military band from Budbrooke Barracks and a firing party commanded by Sergeant Major Fessey. He was buried with many mourner’s present including servants from Rossmore House and Reverend J W Dance, Pastor of St Lukes conducted the service.
Samuel was posthumously awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal and his name appears on the Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial.
Martha only lived a few more years, passing away on 24th June 1922 aged 47. She was buried alongside Samuel and their headstone reads:
In loving memory of Sjt Samuel Webb. RGA born Oct 8th 1878 died May 1917 from wounds received in France " The Path of Duty is the Way to Glory " Also Martha his wife died June 24th 1922.
Samuel Webb's Medal Index Card
The Story The single Victory Medal awarded to Samuel Webb was acquired from E-Bay on 25th February 2025, whilst having a foot massage and pedicure in Thailand!
A cursory search was made on E-Bay for ‘Leamington Medals’ revealing the newly listed medal and the fact Samuel had died of wounds, having hailed from and buried in Leamington Spa. ‘Leamington Men’ being a sub-theme of his collection. An offer was made and the medal acquired before the end of the massage!
Samuel was buried in Milverton Cemetery, Leamington, the same as Herbert Henry Bennett, another soldier in this collection, not only a coincidence but interesting as it is only a small cemetery with only seven Commonwealth War Graves within it.
Ancestry and Newspaper Archives proved invaluable in helping to piece together Samuel’s brief biography. Also as is often the case with Leamington men, there were some interesting points of additional information. Firstly, Woodbine Street is where the recording studios were that recorded The Specials 1981 record Ghost Town, secondly, St Lukes Church, Hamilton Terrace was saved from demolition in the early 1990s by a member of the Planning Sub-Committee on Warwick District Council and now the custodian of Samuel’s medal.
His grave was visited in March 2025 and from the Commonwealth War Graves records is a private purchase.
Following the visit to Samuel’s grave an email was sent to the Commonwealth War Graves indicating that his inscription was not in good condition. Their reply indicated that it had recently been ‘blacked in’ by a member of their team and so long as it was readable they would at this time take no further action. It is also not CWG policy to repair any other family members details, thus poor Martha remained obscure.
In November 2025 Samuel’s grave was visited to lay a poppy cross, surprisingly it was found the CWG had in fact laid a new marble headstone in front of the original. A very moving and pleasing result and Samuel will now be remembered correctly, as indeed he should be.
A cursory search was made on E-Bay for ‘Leamington Medals’ revealing the newly listed medal and the fact Samuel had died of wounds, having hailed from and buried in Leamington Spa. ‘Leamington Men’ being a sub-theme of his collection. An offer was made and the medal acquired before the end of the massage!
Samuel was buried in Milverton Cemetery, Leamington, the same as Herbert Henry Bennett, another soldier in this collection, not only a coincidence but interesting as it is only a small cemetery with only seven Commonwealth War Graves within it.
Ancestry and Newspaper Archives proved invaluable in helping to piece together Samuel’s brief biography. Also as is often the case with Leamington men, there were some interesting points of additional information. Firstly, Woodbine Street is where the recording studios were that recorded The Specials 1981 record Ghost Town, secondly, St Lukes Church, Hamilton Terrace was saved from demolition in the early 1990s by a member of the Planning Sub-Committee on Warwick District Council and now the custodian of Samuel’s medal.
His grave was visited in March 2025 and from the Commonwealth War Graves records is a private purchase.
Following the visit to Samuel’s grave an email was sent to the Commonwealth War Graves indicating that his inscription was not in good condition. Their reply indicated that it had recently been ‘blacked in’ by a member of their team and so long as it was readable they would at this time take no further action. It is also not CWG policy to repair any other family members details, thus poor Martha remained obscure.
In November 2025 Samuel’s grave was visited to lay a poppy cross, surprisingly it was found the CWG had in fact laid a new marble headstone in front of the original. A very moving and pleasing result and Samuel will now be remembered correctly, as indeed he should be.
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Royal Leamington Spa War Memorial
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Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: Missing.
- Victory Medal: SR-1369. SJT.S.WEBB. R.A.
This page last updated 25 Jan 26
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