9th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
20/09/1896
Died:
27/03/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
20
Summary
Samuel Garvin was the son of William and Sara Garvin. He was born in Castledawson on 20th September 1896. The family lived in Magherafelt up until 1899. By 1901 the family had moved to Belfast. Samuel’s father worked in a bar. Samuel attended Skegoneil School in Belfast. Samuel Garvin entered the Officer Training Corps (O.T.C.) at Queens University on 27 May 1913. The following year he attended Queens from 14 October 1914, studying Science. He was there for one year. Lieutenant Samuel Garvin was serving with the 9th Battalion, attached to the 1st/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers when he was killed in action in Gaza, Syria on 27 March 1917. He was 20 years old.
Further Information
Samuel Garvin was the son of William and Sara Garvin. William Garvin married Sara Graham on 19th July 1888 in Magherafelt.
Samuel Garvin was born in Castledawson on 20th September 1896.
Family: William Garvin, Sara Garvin, Elizabeth / Lily Garvin (born 3rd February 1889), James Garvin (born 17th December 1890), Helen Margaret Garvin (born 8th October 1892), George Garvin (born 10th August 1894), Samuel Garvin (born 20th September 1896), Thomas Garvin (born 4th May 1899), Robert Garvin 8 (born 6th June 1902).
The family lived in Magherafelt up until 1899, as Thomas Girvan was born there.
Samuel was the grandson of Mrs James Gavin, Tamnadace, Castledawson.
The 1901 census lists Samuel as age 4 living with the family at house 5 in Cavehill Road, Clifton Ward, Belfast. Samuel’s father worked in a bar.
The 1911 census lists Samuel as age 14 living with the family at house 9 in Landscape Terrace. Clifton, Belfast. Samuel was still at school.
Samuel attended Skegoneil School in Belfast.
Samuel Garvin entered the Officer Training Corps (O.T.C.) at Queens University on 27 May 1913. The following year he attended Queens from 14 October 1914, studying Science. He was there for one year.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 30th January 1915:
Mr Samuel Garvin, now of Belfast and formerly of Castledawson, has been gazetted to a second lieutenancy in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Lieutenant Samuel Garvin was serving with the 9th Battalion, attached to the 1st/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers when he was killed in action in Gaza, Syria on 27 March 1917. He was 20 years old.
On 26 March 1917, the 53rd (Welsh) Division bore the brunt of the First Battle of Gaza where the three brigades, along with the 161st (Essex) Brigade of the 54th (East Anglian) Division, had to advance across exposed ground, withstanding shrapnel, machine gun and rifle fire, to capture the Turkish fortifications. Despite gaining the advantage towards the end of the day, the British commander called off the attack so that the division's casualties, close to 3,500, were suffered in vain.
The Battalion Diary recorded that the 7th Battalion returned 9 officers killed - Captain Iros T Lloyd-Jones, Lieutenant V Gwynne James, 2nd Lieutenants H W Fletcher, S Garvin, O G Jones, R Parry (other names not given) and 36 other ranks; 7 officers wounded, and 220 other ranks; 15 other ranks missing.
Lieutenant Samuel Garvin is buried in Gaza War Cemetery.
In his Last Will and Testament, Samuel left behind effects to the value of £136.
Lieutenant Samuel Garvin is commemorated on Queen’s University War Memorial.
The CWGC record Lieutenant Samuel Garvin as the son of William and Sara Garvin of 16 Landscape Terrace, Belfast.
