Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Childs a blacksmith, born 1854 in Bedford and his wife Caroline, born 1855 in Glamorgan, Wales. Samuel James was born in 1885 in Leicester, his siblings were, Albert Henry, born 1884 and William, born 1889, both his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at 6, Church Open, Bow Street, Leicester. In March 1901 Samuel was employed as a drug store stockroom assistant and was residing in the family home at 10, Coral Street, Leicester, together with his parents and siblings, Mary Ann, born 1881 in Leicester, Albert, William, Caroline, born 1893, Walter, born 1895, Sabina, born 1897 and John, born 1901, the latter four siblings were all born in Leicester. In April 1911 Samuel was employed as an insurance agent and was residing in the family home at 66, Leire Street, Leicester, together with his wife Florence Ellen a tailoress, born 1885 in Leicester and their daughter Constance Irene, born 1908 in Leicester.