MASON Sam

Sam Mason was amongst the first wave of volunteers leaving Harvington on the 2nd September 1914 just after the outbreak of war. He joined the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, which became part of the 7th Brigade 3rd Division. He first arrived in France on the 20th January 1915. Throughout the winter and spring of 1915 the 3rd battalion was involved in the fighting along the front. On the evening of the 5th June the battalion moved into trenches just outside Hooge near Ypres but was relieved on the 9th June in preparation for an attack on 16th June near Lake Bellewaerde three miles east of Ypres. The attack began at 0250hrs and during a day of ferocious fighting the German front line was captured and the second line reached, but although a German counter-attack was initially repulsed it proved impossible to hold and British forces withdrew to the old German front line with the intention of resuming the attack later. The Worcesters attacked at 1550 hrs. but were unable to make much headway and at 1800hrs the order was given that the attack be discontinued although because of heavy enemy fire the men were not able to be relieved until 2300hrs. It is surprising that any survived, for at one time observers were estimating 90 shells a minute were landing on the British positions of about 1000 yards square.

Sam Mason was posted missing on the 16th June 1915. On one website he is described as a Private but in the Evesham Standard as a Corporal. It was reported in the Evesham Standard of the 20th May 1916 that his mother Mrs Mason, Alcester Road, Harvington had been informed that he was now presumed to have been killed on the 16th June 1915. His name is recorded on the Menin Gate at Ypres. A memorial service was held at Harvington on the 21st May 1916. He was 23 years old.

In an interesting postscript to this story, Olive Mason, Sam’s sister took up a post as nursery maid-governess at Posen, Germany two weeks before the war broke out. With the outbreak of war, she was held as a prisoner in reportedly poor health for nearly twelve months. She was eventually repatriated with the help of the American Consul via Holland on the 3rd August 1915.

A photograph of Lance Corporal S. Mason of Harvington can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 10th June 1916, available at Worcestershire Archives.

Samuel Mason has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.