Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred Ernest Samuels was 35 years of age when he enlisted, at the same time as his brother Robert ‘Rol’ Oswald Samuels, who was 29. They were both in the 1st Battalion but transferred to the 54th Battalion in Egypt during February 1916.

During their first battle on the Western Front at Fromelles, Alfred was killed in action and ‘Rol’ survived unwounded. Lieutenant Robert Oswald Samuels was later in the war killed in action 9 August 1918, back serving with the 1st Battalion.

Alfred was seen to be wounded at Fromelles and it was stated by a witness that his paybook was handed to his brother. At least, his body was witnessed to be buried in the Rue-Du-Bois Military Cemetery.

They were the sons of Joseph George and Elizabeth Samuels, of Narromine NSW, but both gave their native place as Dubbo, NSW.

‘Rol’ Samuels wrote the following letter to his parents regarding his brother’s death, which was published in the Dubbo Advocate,

‘Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Samuels have received a letter from their son, Private ''Rol'' Samuels, relative to the death of his brother, Lance-Corporal Alfred Samuels, who was killed in action in France,

He says:— "I don't know what to say, nor how to write to spare your feelings; but you must be brave and do your best to bear up, and think of the thousands of other fathers and mothers who have the same trouble, and even worse. They have lost their homes and all their families, I know it is hard, but when God chooses then we must go. I sent a cable telling you about poor old Alf. Yes, he was killed while fighting for the cause which we all set out to fight for. It was a big battle, and out of the old Dubbo boys only Joe Roberts and I came out of it. Alf. was wounded early in the evening in the charge over to the German trenches. He was hit by a piece of shrapnel in the left arm, but he would insist in staying with the boys all night and working and helping us with his remaining good arm. We tried to make him go back, but he would insist on staying with us until daybreak next morning. Then, he said, he would go back and get his arm dressed. He left the German trenches and started to go back to our line.

But, oh God! it was almost impossible to live in such a heavy fire. It was then that poor old Alf. was killed — not alone, but amongst very many others. We lost heavily, and I do not know how we got through. The last words of Alf were: 'If I do not pull through tell mother and dad to be brave and not to cry. I have done my best and I am happy.' That was his message. He told me to say goodbye to the girl; whatever he meant by that I do not know. Perhaps you may know what girl he meant. Dr. Burkitt, Joe Roberts, Morley, myself and a few others buried him in a military cemetery called Rue Du Bois, and Chaplain Williams read the service.

So there, dear father and mother, we buried him in this pretty little cemetery, surrounded by tall pine trees, with all kinds of pretty flowers in abundance. It is a military cemetery, and none but the brave are buried there. And there we left him beside many others who had died just the same as he did, fighting for his country. The authorities took his personal belongings from his pockets — the little Bible you gave him, his pocket book and knife — and handed them to me. I am sending them on to you when I got a chance, as I know you would like to have them. That is all I can do. We made a little headstone and put it on his grave. Poor boy, he died very happy, and dear father and mother do be brave, and try not to cry, as it was God's will that he should go, and we must not complain. Joe Roberts or I did not get a hit at all, but our nerves were very much racked. On the whole we are well, but the rest of the Dubbo boys were either killed or wounded. I hope I have never to experience a time like that again. I don't think we shall. Don't worry about me, as I am alright. Good-bye and God bless you all.’