Private Sam Metcalfe
18176 9th East Lancashire Regiment
Killed in Action 28th April 1917, aged 26
Lived at 4 Norman Street
Buried in Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece
Burnley Express 26th May 1917

Burnleys Great War Centenary

Sponsored by: Max Ardern

Sam Metcalfe was born in Burnley the son of George William and Mary Elizabeth Metcalfe of 4 Norman Street, Burnley. He enlisted at Nelson and served as Private 18176 in “D” Company of the 9th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in action aged 26 on Saturday 28th April 1917. He is buried at Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece in Grave E 973.

The Burnley Express of May 26 1917 reported : -
“Another Double Loss. Two Brothers Killed and One Wounded.
The Metcalfe family of 4, Norman Street, Burnley have been hard hit in this war and much sympathy will be felt for them under the circumstances. Last October Mr and Mrs Metcalfe lost their 26 year old son Fred. A sniper killing him as he was acting as a runner, and after he had performed several brave deeds. A few days later their son Herbert who was a bombardier in the R.F.A. was wounded in the neck and foot.. This week the parents have received the official news that their other son, Pte. (18176) Sam Metcalfe who was in the East Lancashire Regt., has been killed in an Eastern battle sphere the date given being April 28. Pte. Sam Metcalfe, who was aged 26 years and single, enlisted on December 31st 1914, and went out to France in August 1915. He left that country in November, 1915, and had been ever since in the country in which he was killed. The unfortunate soldier, who as formerly a weaver, attended Stoneyholme Weslyan Church, and was a member of the school cricket team. Bombardier Herbert Metcalfe has thoroughly recovered from his wounds and is again on duty in France.”

The 9th Battalion arrived in Salonika in 1915 and the War Diary reported later:-
“28th April 1917. Shelter Ravine. Enemy artillery active during the day. Shelling increased in intensity at 16.00hrs. Barrage signal put up by 8th Battalion Kings Own Royal Liverpool Regiment at 20.00hrs. Enenmy replied with 2 barrages. Our barrage stopped enemy infantry action if any were intended. Fire died down from 21.00hrs. Casualties 1 officer and 9 other Ranks killed 2 officers and 36 Other ranks wounded.”
The Officer killed was Acting Captain Walter Douglas Laidlaw Purves and Herbert Brown from Burnley was also killed and John Clancey from Burnley died of wounds.

The family had 3 sons killed in the war. Sam’s brothers Fred and Herbert were also killed.

Notes
The Burnley Express of November 25th 1916 has pictures of the brothers.