Samuel Eggenton (plain ‘Sam’ to everyone) was born on the 29th of September 1908 in Wollaston, Worcestershire.

The 1911 Census confirms that his dad, also named Sam, was a steel fork maker in a local foundry (most probably Yardley & Co., Stourbridge), whilst his mum, Emma Jane, looked after the family home at number 14 Firmstone Street, Wollaston.

Sam was the only boy in Sam Snr. and Emma’s six children; his ‘big’ sisters being: Ellen Elize (b. 1900), Caroline (b.1903), Sarah Anne (b. 1905) and Maggie (b.1907). His ‘little’ sister was Hilda (b.1911).

Sadly, his mum died in 1914 when Sam was just six years old.

It’s not known for certain when Sam moved from Wollaston to Kidderminster, but the reason for the move was most probably work-related. Before the war Sam worked in the mechanics department at one of Kidderminster’s largest carpet manufactories – Tomkinsons Ltd.

Sam was an extremely popular man, both at work and socially, where a great deal of his spare time was devoted to helping the Tomkinsons’ football team which played in the local ‘Kiddy’ League. He was of cheery disposition and made friends wherever he went.

It was either whist out socialising or perhaps even whilst at work, where he met his sweetheart Marion Iris Watkins.

Marion lived on Paradise Row in Kidderminster and like everyone else in her family, she worked in the carpet industry, she was a carpet weaver, which in one respect was not surprising; at one time Paradise Row was the very centre of Kidderminster’s Bombazine-weaving trade (Bombazine was a fine cloth made of silk and wool, most of the weaving was carried out in the weaver’s own house). The Bombazine trade had died out however and it’s very probable that Marion, like Sam, worked at Tomkinsons Ltd. in the Churchfields/Mount Pleasant district of town.

However they met, love blossomed and Sam and Marion were married in 1936, with the 1939 Register confirming that they'd moved into number 25 Hurcott Road, a five minute walk from the Tomkinsons’ weaving mills for Marion.

Sam however was otherwise engaged – in 1939 he was serving with the Royal Army Ordinance Corps (RAOC); he’d answered the country's call and had joined the army.

Sam’s regiment was responsible for both supply and repair within the British Army.

With regards to supply, it had responsibility for weapons, armoured vehicles and other military equipment such as ammunition and clothing - in terms of repair, in the early years of the war the RAOC was responsible for the maintenance and repair of army equipment (this responsibility was later passed to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, in 1942).

This is where Sam’s previous experience in the field of mechanics would have come into play. Tomkinsons Ltd. had a large fleet of varying types of vehicles and before signing-up, Sam would have held responsibility for ensuring their ongoing good order. His work with the RAOC would have been similar, but with a greater level of discipline no doubt!

In 1939, not long after Sam had enlisted, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) set off for France. The BEF was a highly mechanised force and the support provided by the RAOC was essential in order to keep the various contingent-units within the BEF moving.

So Sam and his RAOC oppos' were off to France too!

The story of the German’s lightening attack through the Ardennes and their drive northwest to the English Channel, thereby trapping the BEF in a pocket on the northern coast of France, is well known. So too is the ‘miracle of Dunkirk’ when some 368,000 British troops were lifted off the beaches…

…one of whom was Private Sam Eggenton. 

What is possibly less well known, is the amount of ordinance that was left in France because the space was not available to load the kit onto the rescuing Royal Navy vessels. It’s thought that around 700 tanks, 20,000 motor bikes, 45,000 cars and lorries, 880 field guns, 500 anti-aircraft guns, 850 anti-tank guns, 6,400 anti-tank rifles and some 11,000 machine guns were left in France.

The order most commonly heard amongst the retreating British forces was “drain the sump and let her run…” thus seizing the engines and consequently denying the use of any captured vehicles to the enemy.

This would have been a task that kept Sam extremely busy whilst constantly under fire from the pursuing Germans. As a mechanic, this would have broken Sam’s heart – having previously spent all of his time ensuring that the lorries, tanks, carriers and cars were in tip-top condition.

What would have had an even bigger impact upon Sam, was the loss of friends and compatriots.

The BEF lost 66,426 men throughout the retreat to Dunkirk; 11,000 of whom were killed or who died from their wounds. 14,000 men were wounded and around 41,000 were reported missing or captured.

The fact that Sam managed to get back to Blighty was a miracle in itself.

Sam returned from France in June 1940 and was posted to a depot in the north of England. The actual location of the depot isn’t known, but his workload at this time must have been huge, with the need to replenish the losses from Dunkirk uppermost in the mind of High Command, especially with the threat of invasion growing daily.

Twelve months later, with invasion now less of a concern due to the RAF’s victory in the Battle of Britain, Sam was still stationed up north.

Looking forward to some leave back in Kidderminster, Sam would have been making plans with Marion; maybe a picknick in Habberley Valley or a trip over to Wollaston for a drink with his old mate ‘Thommo’ in the Britannia Inn?

Sam’s plans would never come to fruition however. As reported in the local newspaper, the Kidderminster Shuttle:

“To the grief of his wife and a large circle of friends, Private Sam Eggenton (beloved husband of Mrs. Marion Eggenton of 25, Hurcott Road) passed away the day before he was due for leave, following an accident at his depot “somewhere in the North of England.” It was at once realised that his injuries were most serious, and the Commanding Officer at once wired for Mrs. Eggenton to come to the depot.”

Marion rushed north at once, arriving in time to speak with a conscious but rapidly fading Sam. Soon after her arrival, Sam passed away. Marion returned to Kidderminster, followed two days later by her husband in a coffin draped with a Union Jack.

Sam’s interment took place at Kidderminster Cemetery, with the service conducted by Reverend Gwynfor John. Sam’s burial plot in the old part of the cemetery, commanded the best view of Kidderminster’s mills and weaving sheds.

The bearers of Sam’s coffin included five of his brother’s in law and the secretary of Tomkinsons’ Football Club. The chief mourners were his loving wife Marion, his dad Sam Snr. and his five sisters. Also in attendance was Mr. E Price, the mechanics foreman from Tomkinsons, and four of Sam’s oppos’ from the RAOC.

Wreaths were sent from his pals at the Blue Bell Inn (his local in Hurcott Road, Kidderminster), The Plough Inn (in Anchorfields, Kidderminster) and the Brittania Inn at Wollaston. There were also very many relatives, neighbours, workmates and team mates – Sam truly was a very popular and well regarded man whose loss was felt by many.

Today Sam rests under a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone in Kidderminster Cemetery. The words on the foot of his headstone read:

“IN LIFE ONE OF THE FINEST ~ IN DEATH ONE OF THE BRAVE”

Although the vista from Sam’s grave has changed over the years, it still looks out proudly from the old section of the cemetery.

Sam is commemorated on the Kidderminster War Memorial which is situated to the front of St. Mary and All Saints Church; a five minute walk from the home in Hurcott Road that he shared with his beloved Marion.

Below the names of the fallen on the Kidderminster War Memorial, the following epitaph is inscribed:

“THESE DIED THE NOBLEST DEATH A MAN MAY DIE ~ FIGHTING FOR GOOD AND RIGHT AND LIBERTY ~ AND SUCH A DEATH IS IMMORTALITY”

Sam is also commemorated on the Stourbridge War Memorial which now stands in Mary Stevens Park (it was originally sited outside the public library in Stourbridge town centre). Albeit his name is misspelt 'Eggington' on this memorial.

Sam is commemorated on the Wollaston St. James Church War Memorial too, in the village of his birth.

Rest In Peace Sam Eggenton ~ Your bravery will never be forgotten ~ Your sacrifice will be remembered For Evermore.

Acknowledgments: Sam's story could not have been told were it not for the wonderful team at Kidderminster Museum of Carpets, particularly Geoff, Jean and Jill. Thank you all.     www.museumofcarpet.org.uk