Samuel was born on 14th January 1891 in Bristol.   He was known to the family as Percy, not Samuel, although the reason for this is unclear.   Percy was the third child of Mary (nee Body) and George.   His parents were living in Swindon when he was born but Mary returned to her mother's house in Bristol for the birth.

Percy grew up in Swindon, attending the Methodist church and working as an apprentice at A.E. Smith & Sons, undertakers.   During the first World War Percy served in the medical corp as a stretcher bearer; this was an horrific experience but he never spoke about it.   After the war he worked first for Tydeman Brothers (the builders) and then the Great Western Railway in the workshops as a coach finisher.

During his childhood Percy's father had many jobs, including that of the proprieter of the Swindon Temparance Hotel (located near the railway station).   Percy's son (Harold) recalls his father telling him of the many occassions when his dinner was taken away from him just as he was about to start eating it so that an unexpected hotel guest could be given a hot meal!

On 2nd January 1918 Percy married Elsie Tydeman, in Swindon, Wiltshire, where they raised their two children.

We are told Percy had a terrific sense of humour.   Elsie was given a book in 1906 which her family and friends signed; Percy's entry (dated 1914) had a small envelope with 'For Men Only' written on it.   On the inside was written 'Ladies Are Nosey Parkers'.

Percy died on 26th May 1958; he was cremated and his ashes are at the Oxford Crematorium.