Date of birth: c. 1895

Place of birth: Victoria

Link to Wagga: Home town – The Rock

Date of enlistment: September 3, 1915

Age at enlistment: 20 years 6 months

Occupation: Farmer

Religion: Church of England

Next of kin: Father, Samuel Sly, French Park (via The Rock)

Battalion or Regiment: 20th Battalion, 9th Reinforcements

Battlefields: France

Outcome: Died of wounds, August 27, 1916, 3rd A.C.C. Station, France

SAMUEL Arthur Sly was born in Victoria, the youngest son of English-born Samuel and Margaret (née Stewart), who was Victorian by birth.

Samuel (Senior) was born in Devonshire in 1852, and migrated to Australia with his brothers at the age of 18, in about 1870.

He was a gold miner at Clunes, Victoria, before settling in the Rochester district for 38 years.

in 1910, Samuel purchased the southern portion of ‘Bullenbong’ Station, and took up residence there in 1911.

he was a Councillor on the Lockhart Shire Council (1914-1921 and 1928-1930).

Samuel (Senior) retired to Wagga in 1930 and lived there until his death in 1941.

Samuel (Junior) had five siblings – brothers Edmond George, Leslie William and Henry Herbert, and sisters Maggie and Ellen (known as ‘Nell’).

He embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT A54 ‘Runic’ on jANUARY 20, 1916 and disembarked from the ship at Alexandria, where was taken on strength into the 20^th Battalion on the Ides of March (March 15, 1916).

Just three days later, he sailed for the battlefields of France, disembarking at Marseilles on the March 25.

The men of the 20th entered the trenches of the Western Front for the first time in April, 1916, and in May, had the dubious honour of being the first Australian battalion to be raided by the Germans.

They took part in their first major offensive around Pozieres between late July and the end of August, 1916.

It was during this time that Samuel was wounded in action.

He suffered a shell wound which penetrated his thorax (chest area).

He was admitted for treatment at the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, but died of his wounds the following day.

Samuel was buried at Puchevillers British Cemetery (12 kilometres from Doullens), where he still lies today.

When stationed at Steenbecque in Northern France on  April 4, 1916, Samuel wrote his last will and testament.

Within it, he stated: “In the event of my death I desire to leave my Bible to my sister Ellen E. Sly, French Park, New South Wales, my school attendance certificate to my brother Leslie W. Sly, French Park, New South Wales, and my presentation wristlet watch to my brother H.H. Sly, French Park, N.S.W. and now I believe in H.M.S. Forces. Any monies I possess I leave to my two sisters, Miss Ellen E. Sly (Address above) and Mrs Maggie Fulton, Carag Carag via Elmore, Victoria, Australia. Any property or money bequeathed to me in case of the death of my parents only I leave equally divided between any of my brothers and sisters living.”

Samuel’s father, as his next of kin, received two packages of his son’s belongings that were sent from the front separately on two ships, the ‘Seang Choon’ and the ‘Medic’.

The first package included three military books, a writing pad, book of postcards and a novel.

The second package held Samuel’s ID disc, a metal ring, fountain pen, wrist watch (metal), clasp knife, purse, four pocket books, wallet, nine coins, cards, photos and letters.

In December, 1919, Samuel’s father (then a councillor on Lockhart Council) chaired the final reception for soldiers who had enlisted from the Milbrulong area.

Among others, a medal was presented to Samuel’s elder brother Herbert, who had served as a Lance Corporal with the 46th Battalion.

Samuel’s parents, and the relatives of two other fallen soldiers, were given memorial addresses in remembrance of their sons who would never be coming home.