Serjeant 10697 Samuel Icke

Photograph courtesy of Peter Threlfall, Merseyside WFA.

Died of Wounds Mesopotamia on Sunday, 16th April 1916, age 21.
Buried in Grave VI. K. 3. at Basra War Cemetery, Basra, Iraq.

8th Bn., Cheshire Regiment. 40th Brigade of 13th Division.

Son of Mr William John and Mrs Sarah Ann Icke, of 21 Stanley Street, Lower Tranmere, Cheshire.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Birkenhead, Resident: Unknown.

First landed Balkans, 26th June 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial, but commemorated on the Mersey Ironworks Memorial, Ellesmere Port.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/510211/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Samuel Charles Icke registered September quarter 1894 at Dudley.

1901 Census
1 Court 2 House, Eagle Passage, Tipton, Staffs.
William J. Icke (37, General Labourer, born West Bromwich), his wife Sarah A. (37, born West Bromwich), and their 6 children: William J. (12, Butcher's Assistant, born Tipton), Thomas (10, born West Bromwich), Elizabeth (9, born West Bromwich), Samuel C. (6, born Tipton), Emmanuel (4, born Tipton), and Sidney (2, born Tipton).

1911 Census
131 Bridge Road, Tipton, Staffs.
William John Icke (46, Iron Sheet Cleaner, born Tipton), his wife Sarah A. (46, born West Bromwich), and 6 of their 7children: William John (22, Shearer, born Tipton), Elizabeth (19, born West Bromwich), Samuel Charles (16, Iron Works Labourer, born Tipton), Emmanuel (14, Shaping Machine Worker, born Tipton), Sidney (12, Newsboy and School, born Tipton), and Daisy (5, School, born Tipton).

Personal Data

The Icke family moved from Tipton to Birkenhead at some stage between the 1911 census and Samuel enlisting in Birkenhead in August 1914. It is likely that the family moved for work purposes as the Wolverhampton Corrugated Iron Company had moved its operations from Wolverhampton to Ellesmere Port around 1905, and renamed itself as the Mersey Ironworks. Samuel is commemorated on the Mersey Ironworks Memorial.

After Samuel's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £11/2/4d (11 pounds, 2 shillings and 4 pence), this was paid to his mother and sole legatee, Sarah Ann, in September 1916. His War Gratuity was £10/10/0d (10 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his mother in September 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Samuel had enlisted in approximately August 1914. Samuel's mother, Mrs Sarah Ann Icke, was granted a Dependant's Pension of £0/11/0d (11 shillings) per week in respect of her son, Samuel.

Action resulting in his death

The 8th Cheshires were part of 13th (Western) Division, one of the first six Kitchener Divisions raised in August 1914. In June 1915, the Division sailed to Alexandria, then on to Mudros. Between 6th-16th July 1915 they landed on Cape Helles and relieved the 29th Division. They returned to Mudros at the end of July, and then the entire Division landed at Anzac Cove between 3rd-5th August 1915. They then took part in the Battle of Sari Bair, 6th-10th August 1915, and the Battle of Hill 60, 27th-28th August.

In early January 1916, the Gallipoli peninsula was evacuated, and the 13th Division left Helles arriving in Port Said to man the Suez Canal defences. On 12th February 1916 they began to move to Mesopotamia, to strengthen the force being assembled for the relief of the besieged garrison at Kut al Amara. By 27th March, the Division had assembled near Sheikh Sa'ad and came under orders of the Tigris Corps. It then took part in the attempts to relieve Kut, in April 1916 including the Action at Sannaiyat and the Action of Bait Isa.

It is not known when or where Samuel received his wounds, but he died of wounds on 16th April 1916 at Basra No. 3 General Hospital, and is buried in Basra War Cemetery. Basra was the base for the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force with stationary hospitals, but the cemetery also received burials from other burial sites at a later stage.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.