Orders, Decorations and Medals

1914 Star (8295 Pte. S. Feeney, 1/Linc. R.) very fine £50-70

Samuel Feeney was born in Hull, Yorkshire. In 1904 he joined the East Yorkshire Regiment, but on his discharge moved to Grimsby in Lincolnshire where he worked as a Dock Labourer in the Port. In August 1914 he was recalled to the Colours and was posted to the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, which had just returned from Bermuda and was stationed in Winchester.
Private Samuel Feeney landed in France with his Battalion on 8 November 1914.

As part of the 25th Brigade 8th Division, the 2nd Lincolns were immediately engaged in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and in December lost 4 men killed and 17 wounded.

The next battle of Aubers Ridge was one of the most famous but tragic battles of the Lincolnshire Regiment. At 2 am on 9 May 1916 were formed up in assembly trenches near the Rue Fromelles Road. The width of no-mans land opposite the 25th Brigade averaged only 100 yards from the front British trench to the German wire. The right assault was 2nd Rifle Brigade and the 1st Royal Irish Rifles with 2nd Berkshires and 2nd Lincolns in the follow up. At 5 am the artillery barrage began and at 5.40 the guns lifted. The assault began with the Royal Irish in front followed closely by the 2nd Lincolns.

The leading companies of both regiments reached the German trenches but as the Germans recovered from the effects of the British bombardment, the rifle and machine gun fire from the flanks became intense. Such was the German fire that it became impossible to support the forward troops. ”Many acts of gallantry took place during that day of hard fighting”. Corporal Charles Sharp of the 2nd Lincolns earned a Victoria Cross “ He was the first to reach the enemy’s position and using bombs with great determination he himself cleared a trench fifty yards long.” Another notable incident was when the Brigade Commander stood up on the parapet to urge his troops forward and was shot and killed. Major Cox of the 2nd Lincolns then took command of the Brigade.

By the end of the day the Royal Irish had suffered 477 casualties, the 2nd Rifle Brigade 592 and in the 2nd Lincolns there were 313 killed, wounded and missing. One of those badly wounded was Private Samuel Feeney. He was carried back and died from his wounds on 22 July 1915. He was buried in the White City Cemetery, Bois-Grenier. With copied attestation paper, m.i.c. and other research together with a modern photograph of his headstone.