More about Alex Samson

Alex has no known grave but is remembered on the Helles Memorial.

Alexander Samson   CZ/634   Collingwood Bn   R.N.D.

Missing, assumed killed in action 4th June 1915.  Reported killed by Clyde Z/303 AB C. McRae & Clyde Z/387 AB L. Hood; Body reported found 12th July 1915; Born 19th May 1896. A Law Clerk.  At the time of his enlistment he was living with his father, George, at 16 Jedburgh Road, Dundee, Forfarshire.

R.N.D. Data Base

Alexander Samson   CZ/634   Collingwood Bn Royal Naval Division

DUNDEE R.N.D. MAN KILLED.

A.B. Alexander Samson, Collingwood Battalion, Royal Naval Division, who after being posted as missing since June 4, is now officially reported killed.

A.B. Samson is a son of Mr George Samson, 9 Blackness Avenue, Dundee.  Prior to enlistment shortly after the outbreak of war he was employed in the office of Messrs Simpson & Laverock, solicitors, Bank Street, Dundee.  He went out to the Dardanelles in May of last year to the Collingwood Battalion, and had only taken part in the fighting for about two weeks when he was reported missing.

Dundee Evening Telegraph 6th March 1916

YOUNG DUNDEE NAVYMAN

IS KILLED IN ACTION.

Official intimation has been received by Mr George Samson, 9 Blackness Avenue, Dundee, that his son A.B. Alexander Samson, Collingwood Battalion, Royal Naval Division, who had been missing since 4th June, was killed in action.

A smart lad of much promise, A.B. Samson, was a law apprentice in the office of Messrs Simpson & Laverock, solicitors, Bank Street, Dundee, and enlisted in the Royal Naval Division shortly after the outbreak of war. He went out to the Dardanelles in May of last year with the Collingwood Battalion, and had only taken part in the fighting for about two weeks when he was reported missing.

Another son of Mr Samson, A.B. James C. Samson is serving in the Royal Naval Division.  He enlisted about the same time as his brother, and was sent to the Drake Battalion, which took part in the fighting at Gallipoli.  He was invalided home suffering from dysentery in October, but has been able to rejoin his battalion.

Dundee Courier 6th March 1916

Alexander Samson was the son of Mr George Samson of 19 Blackness Avenue, Dundee and was a Law Apprentice with Simpson Laverock of Bank Street, Dundee. In October 1914 he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial Naval Training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was sent to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training. On completion, in February 1915, he was drafted to the Second Platoon of B Company of the Collingwood Battalion, then being formed at Blandford. The Collingwood Battalion landed in Gallipoli in late May 1915 and took part in the Third Battle of Krithia on 4 June 1915. This was their first and last action because, as they advanced towards the enemy line, they were caught in heavy Turkish artillery and machinegun fire. The number of dead and wounded was very high and the Battalion was disbanded two days later. Alexander Samson was listed as Missing and his death took some time to be confirmed as the survivors were distributed to the other RND battalions to replace their losses. Able Seamen Charles McRae and Levi Hood were interviewed in December 1915 and confirmed that he had been killed on 4 June 1915. Alexander Samson is named on the Helles Memorial on Gallipoli as his body was not found and also on the Harris Academy Roll of Honour under the surname Sampson.