Name: William Joseph Samin

Birth: 1881

Birthplace: Richmond River NSW Australia

Occupation: Farmer

Spouse: Mary Samin

Death: 22nd April 1964 Kyogle Australia

Battle: World War 1

Branch: Army

Rank: Private

Service Start Date: 9th August 1915

Service End Date: 16th January 1919

Service Number: 3210

Regiment: 25 Infantry Battalion – 7th Reinforcement

Vessel: HMAT Itonus A50

Embarked: Sydney Australia 30th of December 1915

Disembarked: Marseilles France 27th of March 1916

Return to Australia

Vessel: Demosthenes

Ship Disembarked: March 1919

William Joseph Samin was born and raised in Goonellabah, New South Wales, Australia in the year 1881 to parents Henry Samin and Agnes Roberts nee. He married Mary York in 1901 and they shared three children, Agnes, Eleanor and William.

William Samin enlisted his services in August 1915 at Murwillumbah Queensland. He was sent to Ennoggera Barracks where he joined the 25th Battalion, 7th Reinforcements.

Henry Joseph Samin left Australian shores on the ship HMAT Itonus A50 from Sydney Australia 30th of December 1915. His first destination was Egypt where he completed a few weeks in training. He then journeyed on to Marseilles France 27th of March 1916 and was listed as “taken on strength” in Armentieres on the 2nd May 1915.

William and his Comrades went into battle in Ypres France, followed by further action in Somme. Documentation offers a long trail of the places he travelled and provided service to. These locations are listed as follows;

Egypt
Marseilles France
Armentieres France
Ypres France
Somme France
Etaples France
Longbridge Deverill England
Harefield England
Hurdcott England
Cosham Hampshire England

William was hospitalized with Bronchitis and Dysentery on numerous occasions. It is documented that William was gassed in Armentieres France. As a result he was sent to England where he was medically stated as “wounded and invalided” after 4 years of dedicated service.

It was on the 16th of September 1916 when he returned to Australia on the ship Demosthenes. William’s Termination Period of Enlistment (T.P.E) finalised on the 20th of April 1919. He went on to become a Sergeant at Codford Camp, Salisbury Plains, New South Wales, Australia.

Henry Joseph Samin 3210 is memorialized and indexed in the Australia’s Fighting Sons collaboration. William was awarded with the following medals;

Star Medal 1914/15
British War Medal
Victory Medal