George Samson
George McKenzie Samson VC (7 January 1889 – 28 February 1923) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, for his actions during the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War. Samson was from Carnoustie in Angus, 26 years old, and a seaman in the Royal Naval Reserve when he was awarded the VC.
George Samson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 7 January 1889 Carnoustie, Forfarshire, Scotland |
| Died | 28 February 1923 Aboard the SS Strombus |
| Buried | Methodist Cemetery, St. George's, Bermuda |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Rank | Petty officer |
| Unit | HMS Hussar SS River Clyde |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Médaille militaire (France) |
| Other work | Merchant seaman |
On 25 April 1915 during the landing at V Beach on Cape Helles, Seaman Samson, along with three other men (George Leslie Drewry, Wilfred St. Aubyn Malleson, and William Charles Williams) was assisting the commander (Edward Unwin) of their ship HMS River Clyde, at the work of securing the lighters. He worked all day under very heavy fire, attending wounded and getting out lines. He was eventually dangerously wounded by Maxim fire.[1]
While dressed in civilian clothes and on his way to a public reception in his honour, Samson was given a white feather.[2]
He later achieved the rank of petty officer and rejoined the Merchant Navy after the war, ultimately dying of pneumonia. He is buried in the new St. George's Military Cemetery off Secretary Lane in St. George's, Bermuda. His VC is in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum in London.
Freemasonry
He was a Scottish Freemason, having been Initiated in Lodge Charleston of Aboyne, No.281, (Aboyne, Aberdeenshire) on 17 March, Passed on 2 July and Raised on 19 July 1916. His membership registration reads: 'George McKenzie Samson, V.C., Petty Officer, aged 27.'[3]
See also
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
- VCs of the First World War (Stephen Snelling, 1995 Ed. – Gallipoli)
- VCs of the First World War (Stephen Snelling, 2002 Ed. – Naval)
References
- "No. 29264". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 August 1915. p. 8132.
- John Glanfield, Bravest of the Brave (2005), pg. 110-12, Sutton Publishing, ISBN 0-7509-3695-9
- Famous Scottish Freemasons. The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland. 2010. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-9560933-8-7