Samuel's Story.
Samuel Acton was born in Birkenhead, on 10th April 1884, the son of Alfred E. Acton and Elizabeth Acton. His father had also been born in Birkenhead, in 1859, and his mother had been born in the same town in 1863. In 1901, Alfred and Elizabeth Acton were living at 114, Paterson Street, Birkenhead, with their then 7 children: Samuel (15); Edith (13/ born in Birkenhead, in 1886); Mabel (10/ born in Seacombe in 1891); Jane (8/ born in Seacombe in 1893); Lucy (6/ born in Birkenhead, in 1895); Edward (4/ born in Birkenhead, in 1897); and Alfred E. (2/ born in Birkenhead in 1899). Also staying with them was their neice, Jane Williams (27/ born in Birkenhead, in 1874), who was a self employed Dressmaker. Alfred E. Acton (Snr.) was then employed as a Ship’s Cook. Samuel Acton was employed as a Messenger for a bottling store. Like his father, he became a Ship’s Cook, serving for many years with the Blue Funnel Line. On 6th August 1906, he married Miss Edith Clarke, of 31, Wesbourne Road, Birkenhead, and at this time his family home address was at 13, Raffles Road, Tranmere, Birkenhead. The couple had a son – Samuel Alfred Acton. Samuel Acton had also previously served in the Regular Army, in the Royal Scots, and by August 1914, was a Reservist.
On 7th September 1914, Samuel Acton re-enlisted into the Regular Army, and was posted back to his old regiment – The Royal Scots (No.7831). Accounts varey as to which battalion he was posted to. The Medal Roll’s listing him as serving with 2nd Bn Royal Scots; the Commonwealth War Graves Commission record him serving with the 1st Bn Royal Scots; H.M.S. Publication Soldiers Died In The Great War have him as serving with the 2nd Bn; and the application form to have his name recorded on the Birkenhead war memorial also has him recorded as being with the 1st Bn Royal Scots. For the purpose of this biography, I have gone with the Private Acton serving with the 2nd Bn,as this battalion had been serving in France since August 1914, and had been in action on the date he was seriously wounded.
Private Acton was sent to France on 28th August 1914, and later joined 2nd Bn Royal Scots. On 27th November 1914, 2nd Bn Royal Scots were in positions in the Wulverghem Sector, near the village church. A shell landed, killing 4 men, and wounding 5 men. Private Acton was one of these men, sustaining wounds to his abdomen and legs. He was evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul, where he succumbed to his wounds on 10th December 1914. Private Acton is buried in Plot 1, Row A, Grave 23, Bailleul Communal Cemetery, France.
His widow later re-married, and became Mrs Edith Hill, and his brother, Edward Acton served in the Great War with the 1st/6th Bn King’s (Liverpool) Regiment.
Medal entitlement: Memorial Plaque, 1914 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal. 
Family application form requesting Samuel to be added to the Birkenhead War Memorial. 
Samuel Acton is also commemorated on the Christchurch War Memorial, Oxton, Birkenhead.
Researched and compiled by Peter Threlfall.
The Birkenhead News reported the news of Samuel's death.
Birkenhead News 13 January 1915
Killed by Bursting Shell
CHINA LINE CHEF’S DEATH IN FRANCE
Birkenhead loses another of its gallant sons in Private Samuel Acton, of the Royal Scots, who died from the effect of wounds on Thursday 10th December 1914. He was wounded in action on the 22nd of November, in France, in the abdomen and legs by a bursting shell. He was removed by the field ambulance. An operation was made, but he did not recover. His family knew that he had been wounded, but they did not know that it was seriously so, and were therefore expecting him to be invalided home.
Private Acton lived at 9, Penrith Street, and leaves a widow and one child. He was an army reservist, and was called up at the outbreak of hostilities. For many years past he had been a chef on the China boats. He has a brother, Edward Acton, in the 6th King’s Liverpool Rifles, now in training at Blackpool.
The picture of Samuel and the newspaper article by Chris Booth.