Petty Officer George McKenzie Samson VC

P/O G M Samson, date of photo estimated as not given by IWM - Taken by © Karen Mitchell (WMR-86118) 24 Mar 2018

Report this image

Submit a new image

Reference WMO/283334

Address:

Samson Place

Carnoustie

DD7 7BR

Scotland

Open large map

Edit memorial name, location & address

Status: On original site

Type: Freestanding

Location: External

Setting: Roadside

Description: Board/Plaque/ Tablet

Materials:

Metal Metal (any)

Lettering: Incised

Conflicts:

First World War (1914-1918)

About the memorial: Street Sign: Named after Petty Officer George McKenzie SAMSON who served in the Royal Naval Reserve on HMS River Clyde during 1915 landing at Gallipoli . As the landing force struggled to establish a bridgehead , he spent the day tending to the large number of wounded and helping with the lines . His service was cut short after he was wounded by machine gun fire. Surgeons were only able to remove four of the suspected 19 bullets but he made a full recovery . There is apparently specific commemorative material in the street, not just a street name - 21 September 2020 commemorative material is no longer there, details added on street sign.

Edit memorial details

Report a concern with this memorial

Report a duplicate memorial record

Report an inappropriate record

Submit a condition update

Report this condition update

View more details

Grants to support the repair and conservation of war memorials are available from the charity War Memorials Trust if it has raised funds. Support is focused on war memorials in Very bad or Poor condition or where there is a serious Concern.

Before applying for a grant you should read the advice available on War Memorials Trust`s website. The What we can and cannot fund helpsheet explains what types of work the charity can fund.

If you believe your project is eligible for a grant you should complete the Pre-application enquiry form. You will need to be registered and logged in to complete this.

The Pre-application enquiry form is a series of questions to see if your project is eligible. If it is, you will need to provide further details and submit current colour photographs of the war memorial in either a png, gif, jpg or jpeg format.

You can save your Pre-application enquiry form as you go along. Once submitted War Memorials Trust will respond.

Please be aware that a summary of your enquiry, without your contact details, will appear on this page once submitted. This ensures others are aware that an enquiry has been made and can read the response to avoid duplicate enquiries. Information provided by you to us will be used for the purpose of managing the grant enquiry, for further details please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

pre-application

As a charity, War Memorials Trust relies on voluntary donations and every contribution, no matter how large or small, makes a really big difference to our work. Your donation will help protect and conserve war memorials for future generations so please support War Memorials Trust’s work.

donate here

Submit a new comment

Comments:

In the book " Scotland's Forgotten Valour " by Graham Ross ( 1995) it has on page 46 info on Samson VC. It was during the efforts to land these troops that the next Victoria Cross were won by 5 Sailors on board the "River Clyde ". They were acting Capt Edward Unwin, Midshipman George Drewry, Midshipman Wilfred Malleson, Able seaman William Williams , and CARNOUSTIE born SEAMAN GEORGE SAMSON . The Scot was one of the 4 sailors who helped Captain Unwin get the lighters from the ship to the shore. The Seaman of the Royal Naval Reserve worked on a lighter a small flat bottomed boat used for unloading vessels anchored at a distance from the wharf all day under very heavy and accurate fire attending to the wounded and getting lines out . During the day he carried out many daring rescues of wounded men until he himself was severely wounded by machine gun fire. When he was eventually treated he was found to have 19 wounds on his body. However he recovered to receive at Buckingham Palace on 5 October the first Victoria Cross to be awarded to a Royal Naval Reserve Rating and the second to a Scottish sailor .

Submitted by:

Submitted date:

Comments:

The Courier & Advertiser ( Angus & Mearns edition) Friday , 12 June 2009 : VC PLAQUE WILL BE COMING BACK : - by Philip Murray. Angus Council has reassured Carnoustie residents that the loss of a plaque commemorating one of the town's War Heroes is "only temporary." A number of angry residents got in touch with The Courier and local councillors yesterday after the Memorial to VICTORIA CROSS medal winner GEORGE SAMSON disappeared from the entrance to the street that bears his name . But the mystery behind the disappearance of the imposing plaque from its home on a wall in Samson Place has been answered , after council officials revealed it was being repaired and refurbished . The news will come as a welcome relief to the community , which is very proud of Samson's actions in the First World War . A seaman by trade he was serving on the HMS CLYDE during the ill fated Allied assault on Gallipoli in 1915 when he earned his medal for an outstanding act of bravery. His ship landed to release part of the invasion force but came under heavy fire, and many of the troops who stormed the beach were cut down. But despite the lethal volley of fire Samson braved the fusillade numerous times to ferry dozens of injured and dying men to safety. And even though he too was struck by 19 separate machine gun bullets during his selfless rescue missions , Samson continued in his efforts before eventually collapsing himself. Astonishingly surgeons saved his life , despite being unable to remove 13 of the bullets, and he untimately survived the war . He eventually died in 1923 from pneumonia , aged 34 . Councillor Helen Oswald yesterday confirmed that Samson's lasting memorial would return after she quizzed council officers . "I have been contacted by a number of concerned residents , as well as the chairman of the community council , all of whom were concerned at the removal of the commemorative plaque ," she said . "I investigated this and discovered that the council workmen were asked to remove this as the owner of the property felt it was unsafe. "I have been reassured by the head of housing that the plaque will be re-instated at an appropriate location in Samson Place in the near future . "It is my sincere hope that when this is done , the council , in conjunction with the local branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland , will manage to arrange a re - dedication . A council official has also confirmed that the Plaque will be " reinstated in due course ." "The local British Legion is to be contacted should they wish to organise a small ceremony marking the reinstatement ."

Submitted by:

Submitted date:

Submit a new link

Report this link

Edit information

Inscription:

[unknown]

Suggest information

Listing grade:

Information Required

Listing URL:

Information Required

Unique listing reference number:

Information Required

Conservation area:

Information Required

Local list / Historic environment record:

Information Required

Claim Custodianship

Custodian name:

Information Required

Custodian website:

Information Required