Lea, Samuel
Regiment: King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
Rank: Colour Sergeant
Service No: 3041
Boer War service: 3 Mar 1900 to 9 May 1901
Date of enlistment: 3 Jun 1889
Date of discharge: 2 Jun 1910
Reason for discharge: Termination of 2nd period of Engagement
Other information: Severely wounded at Paardeburg 18 Feb 1900. Awarded Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. He was also mentioned in Lord Roberts’ dispatches 8 Feb 1901. Samuel went on to serve with the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry in WW1; more information can be found on our Great War site.
Born: 3 January 1871 in Whitchurch, Shropshire and baptised on 7 May the same year in St. Alkmund’s Parish Church, Whitchurch. He was also known as Samuel Humphreys.
Family: He was the second of eight children born to Isaiah Lea, a grocer, and Elizabeth Humphreys. He may also have had a step sister. He married Margaret Elizabeth Griffiths on 9 October 1901 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire; together they had three children.
Residence: At the time of his baptism, the family were living at 12 Yardington, Whitchurch; by 1891 they had moved to 4 Folly Lane, Whitchurch.
Employment: He declared his occupation as labourer when he enlisted.
Death: 2 April 1929 in Wem, Shropshire, aged 58.
Other information: