Also Served: Samuel Strettle - Samuel STRETTLE
43 Houghton Street, Prescot Sapper 8966 (later 428591), 139 Company, Royal Engineers 
Picture kindly provided by the Strettle family
One of four brothers who served and returned:- James, Joseph, Samuel and William Strettle.
Samuel Strettle was born on 8th December 1896, the son of James and Mary Strettle. The family lived at 15, Ackers Street at the time of the 1901 census. By 1911 they had moved to 43, Houghton Street. Samuel was by now one of 8 children, and aged 14, he was recorded as a Bricklayers Apprentice. His siblings were James (19), Elizabeth (16), William (12), Martha (9), John (7), Jane (5) and Alice (1). The census showed that there were 9 children in the family, so presumably one had left home.
On 30th November 1915 at the age of 18, Samuel enlisted with the Royal Engineers in St Helens. At the time, he was a Bricklayer in the employment of Mr Lucas, of Eccleston Street, Prescot. Part of his training was undertaken in Bangor, North Wales, and it was there on 6th April 1916 that he was found guilty of having dirty boots on parade, for which he was sentenced to two days defaulter's drill.
He left the UK, bound for Egypt, in November 1915 (specific date unknown). After a few weeks in Egypt, he then sailed from Alexandria on 11th January 1917, arriving in Salonika on the 15th. He served here for a further 2 and a half years.
In September of 1917 he was treated at 40 Casualty Clearing Station whilst suffering from Malaria, and had several relapse over the coming months. His later discharge papers showed that whilst in Prescot, his doctor was Dr Howett of Warrington Road.
After the war, Samuel was examined in Constantinople on 1st March 1919 when he claimed for a pension due to his malaria. Although the illness was found to be quiescent, it was determined that Samuel was liable to relapse, having suffered 20 attacks between September 1917 and mid-1918. He was awarded a 40% pension.
Samuel was finally demobilised on 8th May 1919 at Chatham. He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, receiving these in March 1922.
Later in 1919 he married Margaret Chadwick in Prescot and they went on to have seven children. Samuel was a part time fire-fighter in Prescot, while continuing to work as a Bricklayer. He passed away in Prescot in 1964, aged 67.Ref. No.:
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