BORN LIMBER, LINCS, 16/08/1885. HE WAS LIVING WITH HIS SISTER, MRS BARON, AT 6 ASTLEY STREET, ALBERT AVENUE, HULL, WHEN WAR BEGAN. HE WAS THE SON OF THE LATE SEPTIMUS NEEDHAM (1859-1896) AND MARY QUICKFALL (1861-1896), OF GRIMSBY. BEFORE THE WAR HE WORKED ON FARM STABLES, AS A HORSEMAN LIKE HIS FATHER. HE ORIGINALLY JOINED THE ARMY SERVICE CORPS HORSE TRANSPORT (TS/5023). WENT TO FRANCE ON 13/01/1915 AND WAS WOUNDED. RETURNED TO ENGLAND AND TRANSFERRED TO THE BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT, IN EGYPT.
SAM NEEDHAM WAS AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS (VC), ON 29/10/1918, FOR HOLDING BACK A SUDDEN TURKISH ATTACK AND ALLOWING THE WOUNDED TO BE EVACUATED. HE WAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED BY A GUNSHOT DAYS BEFORE THE WAR ENDED. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS FOUR SISTERS, FLORENCE BACON, ELIZABETH SOWERBY, DORA BETTS, AND ELSIE JAMIESON. HE IS BURIED AT KANTARA WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, EGYPT.
HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS, “SAVIOUR IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONE SLEEPING”.
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.”
