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Pte. Samuel Needham VC.
British Army 1/5th Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment
(d.4th Nov 1918)
Samuel Needham served with the 1/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and died on the 4th November 1918, Age: 33. He is buried in the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. He was the son of Septimus and Mary Needham, of Grimsby.
An extract from The London Gazette, No. 30982, dated 29th Oct., 1918, records the following:-
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative when with a strong patrol which was heavily attacked by the enemy and forced back in confusion. At this critical moment Pte. Needham ran back and fired rapidly at a body of the enemy at point-blank range. His action checked the enemy and enabled the patrol commander to reorganise his men. The patrol had many casualties, but successfully got back all their wounded, and it was due to the action of individuals, of which this is the most outstanding, that the entire patrol was not cut off. Pte. Needham's example was of the greatest value at a critical moment, and the bold and determined stand made by him did more than anything to inspire confidence, and undoubtedly saved a critical situation.
