Samuel Arnold Bodsworth AM

b. 23/02/1894 Sheffield, Yorkshire.  d. 19/06/1962 Sheffield, Yorkshire.

DATE OF AM ACTION: 10/04/1917 Havre Roads, France.

Samuel was born in Sheffield on 23rd February 1894, one of six children born to Harry and Fanny Bodsworth. His siblings were Harry, Fanny, Mam, John and Winifred. On leaving school, Samuel became a house painter. On the outbreak of WWI, he enlisted with Royal Army Medical Corps. After the War, he returned to his previous occupation. He married Lilian Edwards (in 1920)  and they had two daughters Jean and Winifred.

 

AM CITATION:

On the 10th April, 1917, His Majesty’s Hospital Ship “.Salta” was sunk in Havre Roads. His Majesty’s Ship ” Druid ” proceeded to render assistance and got alongside a swamped boat of the ” Salta.” All the occupants of the boat were rescued except a Hospital Sister and Private Bodsworth. The former was so exhausted that she was unable to hold the ropes thrown to her, and eventually became unconscious. Although he might have been rescued, Private Bodsworth persisted in remaining in the boat with the ‘Sister and, after she had fallen overboard and been hauled back again, he finally succeeded in placing a line round her body, by means of which she was hauled aboard the ” Druid.” Very considerable risk was incurred by Private Bodsworth in rendering the service on account of the rough sea which prevailed at the time.

 

BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.