Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of David Pawlett, a slater, born 1857 on Oakham, Rutland, and his wife Emma Pawlett (nee Dexter, married in the 4th quarter of 1879 in the Uppingham, Rutland district), born 1857 in North Luffenham, Rutland. Samuel was born in the 1st quarter of 1890 in Burley on the Hill, Rutland and was baptised on the 9th February 1890 in Burley on the Hill, his siblings were, Frances Rachel, a schoolgirl, born 1880 and baptised on the 13th June 1880 in Oakham, Elizabeth Ann, a schoolgirl, born 1881 and baptised on the 1st January 1882 in Oakham, Ethel Esther, a schoolgirl, born 1883 and John Thomas, born 14th May 1887 and was baptised on the 19th September 1898 in Hambleton, Rutland, all his siblings were born in Oakham, in April 1891 the family home was at Burley on the Hill. In March 1901 Samuel was residing in the family home at Hambleton, together with his father, a slater and plasterer, his mother, a domestic washer woman, and siblings, John Thomas, a farm labourer and Frederick, born 1891 in Burley on the Hill and baptised on the 11th October 1891 in Burley on the Hill. In 1905 Samuel’s father died aged 48, he was buried in Hambleton on the 9th June 1905. In April 1911 Samuel was absent from the family home at Upper Hambleton, residing there was his widowed mother and siblings, John Thomas, a farm labourer and Frederick a farm labourer, Samuel was employed as a domestic gardener and was residing at Rufford Gardens, Rufford, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire. Samuel was officially recorded at birth with the surname spelling of Pawlett, however the surname has variously been recorded as Paulette and Powlette. Relating to Samuel’s military career it will be noted that he enlisted into the Rifle Brigade under his true family name, but having deserted in October 1914, he then appears to have taken the alias of Arthur Sidney Pawlett and re-enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, where he first entered the theatre of war on the 16th December 1915 in France, being killed in action on the 14th July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. His brother John died of wounds in December 1917. His sister Ethel Esther Chandler (nee Pawlett) was officially recorded as Samuel’s (Arthur Sidney’s) sole legatee.
Samuel attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) on the 5th October 1914 in Winchester. He gave his place of birth as Burley on the Hill, Oakham, Rutland, his age as 25 years and 270 days and his trade or calling as gardener. He confirmed that he was unmarried. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Rifle Brigade at Winchester as a Private, service number 4899 on the 5/10/14. Posted to the 13th Battalion Rifle Brigade on the 8/10/14. Deserted on the 7/10/14.
The Police Gazette dated Tuesday November 17th, 1914, published a list of Deserters and Absentees from His Majesty’s Service recorded:- Office Number, 304. Name, Pawlett, S. Regimental Number, 4899. Corps, 13th Battalion Rifle Brigade. Age, 25¾. Height 5 foot 10 inches. Complexion, fresh. Hair colour, brown. Eyes, blue. Trade, gardener. Date of enlistment, 5th October 1914. Place of enlistment, Winchester. Parish and County in which born, Burley on the Hill, Rutland. Desertion or absence date of, 7th October. Desertion or absence place of, en route. Marks and remarks, scar base of left thumb. * to Halton Cp.
Arthur Sidney enlisted into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) on the 2nd August 1915 in Lambeth, he gave his place of birth as Oakham, Rutland, his age as 23 years and 6 months and his trade or calling as game keeper. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 10½ inches in height, weighed 132 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 36½ and 39½ inches. His physical development was described as good. He was allocated the service number of 20679 and posted as a Private to the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment.
The War Diary records: 14 Jul-16 - MAMETZ WOOD. ATTACK ON BAZENTIN LE PETIT WOOD and village by the 110th Brigade. The Battalion was drawn up for the assault in four lines. The first three lines were in front of MAMETZ WOOD and were to move forward in succession at ZERO, the first line to take, clear and hold the German first line, the remainder to push on to capture and consolidate the FOREST TRENCH (enemy support line). The fourth line were drawn up behind the north edge of MAMETZ WOOD to move forward half an hour after ZERO, and push forward through FOREST TRENCH ready to assault the German third line. By 2.55 am all dispositions were made, each platoon being on its correct adjustment. A number of casualties were suffered during this operation, one platoon of “C” Company losing almost half its number. The men behaved admirably under trying conditions. At ZERO 3.25 am when the barrage lifted our first line trench was hardly close enough to it to rush the first line before the enemy could man it, as a result the advance was rather ragged. The right (“A”) Company in conjunction with the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT had little difficulty in entering the trench. The left (“D”) Company were momentarily held up by machine gun fire but managed to keep up close to the parapet and rush the line. The two centre (“B” and “C”) Companies were held up for about 20 minutes by machine guns. The pressure was relieved by parties from the right working down a flank. The centre Companies were then able to rush the trench. The second and third lines coming on, swept the remainder of the first line then, and made for the second line (FOREST TRENCH). By this time of the officers of “B” Company only 2nd Lieutenant EVANS was left, in “C” Company only 2nd Lieutenant REED, while in “D” Company all the officers were out of action. The enemy in the first line trench at first made some resistance but many were caught in their dug outs, and the rest seeing that they could not stop our rush retreated into the WOOD and made no resistance in the FOREST TRENCH. By 4.00 am our whole line was in occupation of FOREST TRENCH and the work of consolidation was begun. Captain A. A. CLARKE taking command. 2nd Lieutenant EVANS then sent back Company Sergeant Major GEARY to ensure that the German first line was cleared of the enemy. This N.C.O. with his party found a number of the enemy who had been passed over in the rush. In the meantime the left Company (“D”) after pushing on too eagerly under our barrage and being forced to retire, turned towards the flank and established connection with the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT At 4.25 am Captain A. A. CLARKE, leaving 2nd Lieutenant EVANS in charge of the first trench, went forward in charge of the party to capture the third objective. No resistance was met with on the right, but on the left considerable trouble was caused by a machine gun and by snipers and close by the observation post in the tree both Captain CLARKE and Lieutenant WAKEFORD were hit. This left the assaulting line without an officer, but Sergeant WALKER (“A” Company) and Lance Sergeant SHERLOCK (“C” Company) rallied their men and made good this line. There was no German trench in this position and in some cases the men again pressed forward and came under fire from our own barrage. Meanwhile the left (“D” Company) being checked by the machine gun on the crest of the wood and being unable to make headway were rallied by Lance Corporal BUSH, and an attempt was made to get round the position on the right, with the result that this party lost direction in the wood and finally found itself among the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT Lance Corporal BUSH then placed himself under the orders of an officer of that Battalion. Almost before the barrage lifted, the party under Sergeant WALKER rushed the German trench on the north side of the wood. The enemy made no resistance here and being caught between the barrage of shell fire and our advancing line gave themselves up. By 6.45 am we were established in the line on North edge of the wood. Subsequently officers of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT bringing up supports took over command of this sector. About 7.15 am Captain GWYTHER was commanding the Battalion, ordered 2nd Lieutenant EVANS to push forward from FOREST TRENCH in support of the front line, on reaching the position selected for the strong point on the RAILWAY, this party came under machine gun fire from the north west corner of the wood, 2nd Lieutenant EVANS took up the line covering the strong point and prepared for reconnaissance. The position therefore at 8.00 am was:- Northern edge of the wood held by us. Possession of the North West corner doubtful. Line of RAILWAY and strong point secured by us. Throughout the morning the enemy kept up an intermittent bombardment with 150mm Howitzers and a few 77mm’s, which grew in intensity about midday and during the afternoon. About 1.00 pm it was believed that the Germans were still holding the entire edge of the wood at the North Western corner and an assaulting party of the 7th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT was organised to clear them out. The bushes and trees were very thick round this point which necessarily made progress slow, the enemy evacuating and manning a trench about 30 yards from the wood, before our men could get through we suffered several casualties from a machine gun in the above mentioned trench. An attempt was made about 9 o clock to reorganise the Battalion, as they were considerably mixed up, most of the officers becoming casualties. Lieutenant Colonel DRYSDALE was wounded whilst the Battalion was marching to its position in front of MAMETZ WOOD, Captain and Adjutant A. A. ALDWORTH taking command. Captain’s WRIGHT, GIFFORD, Lieutenant’s. BURNETT, HOLLIS, ABBOTT and 2nd Lieutenant’s NEWTON, GUTTERIDGE and BAIN being all killed before our troops reached the first line. 2nd Lieutenant PICKERING-CLARKE, SIMPSON and REID also Lieutenant WAKEFORD were killed in the wood. The wounded officers were Captain A. A. CLARKE, Lieutenant HOUGHTON and 2nd Lieutenant’s THOMPSON, WEBB and ORRIT-NICHOL. Our total casualties were 18 officers and 535 men killed and wounded. Our men along with the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT manned the trenches at the edge of the wood and remained there until next morning. The night was quick.