Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Wilbur, a hosiery trade worker, born 1861 in Burbage, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Wilbur (nee Payne, married in the 2nd quarter of 1882 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district)), a hosiery trade worker, born 1864 in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Samuel was born in the 1st quarter of 1884 in Hinckley, his siblings were, Florence Ellen, born 1884 and Arthur, born 1887, both his siblings were born in Hinckley, in April 1891 the family home was at Upper Bond Street, Hinckley. In March 1901 Samuel was employed as a needle maker and was residing in the family home at 5, Manor Street, Hinckley, together with his father, a hosiery trade worker, his mother and siblings, Polly, a hosiery trade worker, Arthur, Albert, born 1893, Nellie, born 1898 and Hilda, born 1900, the latter three siblings were all born in Hinckley. In April 1911 Samuel was employed as a London and North Western Railway Company railway shed worker, and was residing in the family home at 1, Canning Street, Hinckley, together with his step father William Brindley, a hosiery trade trimmer, born 1867 in Hinckley, his mother and siblings, Arthur, a hosiery trade worker, Albert, a hosiery trade worker, Hilda, a schoolgirl and Thomas, a schoolboy, born 1902 in Hinckley, also residing in the family home were his step siblings, Annie Brindley, a hosiery trade worker, born 1893 and Hilda Brindley, a hosiery trade worker, born 1895, the latter two siblings were both born in Hinckley. Samuel married Mary Hill on the 10th December 1911 in the Baptist Chapel, Spring Gardens, Hinckley, the officiating Minister was J. A. Hudgett and the witnesses were, Joseph Hill and Lilian Goodman. Samuel was officially recorded at birth with the surname spelling of Wilbur, however he and his family are also variously recorded as Wildbork, Wildbur and Wilebore.
Samuel attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 18th October 1901 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as St. Mary’s, Hinckley, Leicestershire, his age as 18 years and 1 month and his trade or calling as hosiery hand. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He stated that he was presently serving with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia). He gave his father, Thomas Wilbur, his mother Elizabeth Wilbur, both of 5, Manor Street, Hinckley, his brother’s Arthur Wilbur and Albert Wilbur, his sister’s Florrie Wilbur, Nellie Wilbur and Hilda Wilbur as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4 inches in height, weighed 123 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, he had fair hair and grey eyes. His physical development was described as good. It was noted that he had a small scar over the back of his left armpit. He gave his religion as Wesleyan. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 18th October 1901 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 6244 on the 18/10/01. Admitted to hospital in Leicester suffering from a sprain on the 16/11/01. Discharged from hospital on the 20/11/01. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 12/5/02. Embarked aboard SS Rameses on the 12/5/02. Arrived Alexandria on the 26/5/02. Granted Messing Allowance on the 18/9/02. Embarked aboard SS -?- on the 13/12/02. Disembarked England on the 15/12/02. -?- on the 4/7/03. Granted 1st Good Conduct Pay on the 18/10/03. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 27/1/04. Embarked aboard HMT Soudan on the 27/1/04. Permitted to extend his service so as to complete 8 years with the colours on the 17/5/04. -?- on the -?-. Passed the Army Certificate of Education 3rd Class on the 27/4/05. Posted to Belgaum, India on the 15/8/05. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 16/10/06. Restored 2nd Good Conduct Badge (Without Pay) on the 26/3/08. Embarked aboard SS Rolulla on the 14/10/09. Transferred to Section “B” Army Reserve on the 5/11/09. Section “A” Army Reserve, Enabled on the 3/5/10. Section “B” Army Reserve Continued on the 5/11/10. Section “D” Army Reserve Re-engaged on the 6/8/13. Mobilized at Leicester on the 25/8/14. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the ?/8/14. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 18/12/14. Killed in action, place not stated on the 7/8/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 18/10/01 – 11/5/02, 206 days. Egypt, 12/5/02 – 13/12/02, 216 days. Home Service, 14/12/02 – 27/1/04, 1 year 45 days. India, 28/1/04 – 3/11/09, 5 years 280 days. Home Service, 4/11/09 – 17/12/14, 5 years 44 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 18/12/14 – 7/8/15, 233 days. Total service, 13 years and 294 days. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. His widow was awarded a weekly pension of 10 shillings to commence on the 21st February 1916. Samuel’s surviving service documents are in a very 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.
The War Diary records: 6-7 Aug-15 - RAMPARTS, YPRES. Dug assembly trenches for the YORK & LANCASTER REGT. and supplied usual carrying parties. Casualties on the (6th) 2nd Lieutenant P. R. WILSON wounded, (7th) Lieutenant BROWN wounded, 6 killed, 21 wounded.