Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Sturman, a brewer, born 1854 in Oundle, Northamptonshire and his wife Hannah Sturman (nee Moore, married in the 3rd quarter of 1876 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1855 in Belgrave, Leicester. Samuel was a schoolboy and was born in the 3rd quarter of 1881 in Anstey, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Fanny Elizabeth, a shoe trade worker, born 1877, William Richard, a schoolboy, born 1879, Sarah Ann, a schoolgirl, born 1883, Thomas, a schoolboy, born 1886, Jack, born 1888 and Alice, born 1890, all his siblings were born in Anstey, in April 1891 the family home was at Main Street, Anstey. In March 1901 Samuel was employed as a general labourer and was residing in the family home at Forest Gate, Anstey, Leics., together with his father, a brewer’s carter, his mother and siblings, William, a stone quarryman, Sarah a shoe trade fitter, Tom, a shoe trade finisher, Jack, Alice and Charley, born 1894 in Anstey. In April 1911 Samuel was employed as a labourer and was residing at Edward Street, Anstey, this being the family home of his brother Thomas and his wife Elizabeth Ann, born 1886 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire, and their children, Nellie, born 1908 in Thurmaston, Alice, born 1910 and Gertrude, born 1911, the latter two children were both born in Anstey, also residing in the family home were his brother John, a shoe trade finisher and his sister Alice, a stock room girl.
Samuel attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War.) on the 26th October 1915 in Leicester. He gave his present home address as Church Lane, Anstey, his age as 34 years and 81 days and his trade or calling as General Labourer. He stated that he was unmarried. He gave his brother William Sturman of Markfield, Leicestershire as his next of kin.
The following declaration was signed by Samuel at the time of his attestation.
(17th R.D.) Town Hall, Leicester
Army Service Corps.
Declaration to be signed by a recruit and filed with his attestation.
I, Samuel Sturman T/4/173482 understand that I am being enlisted for the duration of the war for General Service in the Army Service Corps, with a view to being trained as a Motor Transport Driver, and that my pay will be 1s.2d. (One shilling and two-pence) per diem until such time as I am passed by the Military Authorities as a qualified motor driver, from which date I am to receive in addition, Corps Pay at 1s.2d. (One shilling and two-pence) per diem, making a total of 2s.4d. (Two shillings and four-pence) per diem, exclusive of any separation or other allowances to which I may be entitled under Army Regulations.
I also understand that, in the event of my not qualifying as a motor driver within a reasonable time (such time to be fixed by the Military Authorities) that I may be posted to some other branch of the Army Service Corps, and that my pay will then continue to be 1s.2d. (One shilling and two-pence) per diem, and in addition such rate of Corps Pay as may be authorised.
Signed: S. Sturman, Leicester, 26.10.15.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6 inches in height, weighed 136 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches. His physical development was described as good. It was noted that he had a loss of movement of the middle finger of his right hand. He gave his place of birth as Anstey, Leicestershire. He was considered unfit for the infantry. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Army Service Corps at Osterley Park as a Private, service number 134947 on the 6/10/15. Rejected from the M.T. on the 11/1/16. Transferred under Authority O.R. 29345/O.M./89 of 15/3/16 further service on the 23/3/16. Transferred to M.T. Depot at Bulford and allotted the service number T/4/1734820 on the 29/4/16. Embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 5/6/16. Disembarked at Rouen on the 6/6/16. Died of bronchial pneumonia in the 4th Casualty Clearing Station in France on the 24/1/17. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 26/10/15 – 4/6/16, 223 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 5/6/16 – 24/1/17, 233 days. Total service 1 year 91 days. Samuel was awarded the British War and Victory medals. A report submitted by Captain J. Copeland, on the 10/2/17 gave the following account: Admitted to the 4 CCS on 22/1/17 in a critical state from acute Bronchitis and acute Bronchus Pneumonia Dyspnea and Cyanosis were very marked and collapse was such that his temperature at highest reached only 98.6˚ F. He was able to state that he got ill seven days before and had -?- in a frozen meat lorry – being unwilling to report sick as he wished to do his job. There were no signs of recovery - expectoration being impossible – and he died on the morning of the 24/1/17. His illness was due to exposure while on duty. The following information was provided by Samuel’s brother William Sturman on the 14th July 1919, and was witnessed and signed by J. R. Chambers M.A., Rector of Markfield Rectory, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, dead. Mother of soldier, dead. Full blood brothers of soldier, William Sturman, age 40 of Markfield, Leicestershire. Thomas Sturman, age 34 of Church Lane, Anstey, Leicestershire. John Sturman, age 32 of Church Lane, Anstey, Leicestershire. Charles Sturman, age 26 of Church Lane, Anstey, Leicestershire. Full blood sisters of soldier, Fanny Poole (Dead) of Desford, Leicestershire. Sarah Poole, age 36 of Desford, Leicestershire. Alice Gillett, age 30 of Church Lane, Anstey, Leicestershire. Grandparents of soldier, none. Nephews and Nieces of soldier, Lily Poole, age 22 of Desford, Leicestershire. Rose Poole, age 20 of Desford, Leicestershire. Alice Poole, age 18 of Desford, Leicestershire. Samuel’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
On Saturday February 10th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR” - (A photograph accompanied the article). Pte. S. Sturman, A.S.C., died of pneumonia in France. His friends live in Anstey.