SAMUEL JOHN LIVESLY WYATT
27 April 1896 - 23 April 1917
At School 1909 - 1911
2nd Lieut 18th Manchester Regt
Samuel was born in Manchester and in 1901, aged 4, was living at 52 Windsor Road, Levenshulme, with father Samuel, a Calico Printer's Engraver, mother Alice, elder brother Stanley and one domestic servant. Samuel attended Alma Park Council School until the age of 12 when he entered School in 1909. Samuel enjoyed sport and in 1911 was awarded a First XI football cap and 2nd XI cricket cap. He was described in The Hulmeian magazine as "Inside Left - a tricky forward, and a good shot: suffers from lack of weight." and " A punishing bat and a good fielder. Would make a splendid bowler with more confidence."
On the outbreak of war Samuel enlisted in the 16th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, a New Army Battalion formed in Llandudno in November 1914. After initial training in North Wales the Battalion moved to Winchester in August 1915. The Battalion was part of the 38th Welsh Division

and on 2 December 1915, proceeded to France, taking up positions to the south of Armentieres in this sector of the line. The Battalion remained in the line between Bethune and Armentieres until June 1916, however, on 7 May 1916 Samuel was discharged to commission and returned to England for Officer training. On 25 October 1916 Samuel was appointed temporary 2nd Lieutenant (on probation), attached to the Manchester Regiment.
It is likely that he joined the 19th Battalion in the field in November 1916 when drafts of 7 Officers and 184 men were received to replace the casualties of October. At this time the Battalion was alternating between reserve billets at Bailleulval and the front line east of Bretencourt a few miles south west of Arras. During December the Battalion was in trenches at Blairville and in Divisional Reserve billets at Bailleulval and Basseux. In January and February the Battalion was engaged in training then on March 21st marched to Agny to relieve the 20th Kings Liverpool's in the outpost line at Neuville-Vitasse, where the line was advanced 500 yards the following day. The men suffered from severe frosts, snow and heavy rain to which they were exposed without cover of any sort.

On 8 April the Battalion moved to trenches east of Ficheux and the following day were ordered to occupy the old outpost line south of Mercatel. Orders were received to move forward to the Hindenburg Line and undertake bombing operations to capture a portion of the enemy line. This proved successful and approximately 1,700 yards of trench were captured. The Battalion was relieved by the 20th Royal Fusiliers and marched to billets at Basseux. On 18 April the Battalion was back in the line in trenches north west of Neuville-Vitasse in preparation for an attack on the Hindenburg Line. At 11.00 p.m. on the 22nd they moved off to the assembly positions near Heninel, arriving at 3.00 a.m. The day was spent in taking over the section of the line .

At 4.40 p.m. the Battalion was ordered to attack and at 6.00 p.m. the advance began. The men followed closely behind a creeping barrage, but almost immediately were subjected to heavy machine gun fire from the front and both flanks. The advance faltered due to the number of Officer casualties, but after reorganisation, continued and reached their objective at 8.00 p.m. Fierce fighting continued until approximately 9.00 p.m. when, out of ammunition and depleted, the Battalion was forced to withdraw. It is probable that Samuel was an early casualty as he is not mentioned as one of only two remaining officers who reached the objective. His body was never found or identified and he is commemorated on Bay 7 of the Arras Memorial to the Missing.
Probate was granted on 18 January 1918 to Samuel Wyatt, engraver. Effects £233 9s. 3d.