Samuel Frickleton
Biography
Lance Corporal Samuel Frickleton (1891-1971) was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the attack on Messines, Belgium, on 7 June 1917.
Born in Slamannan on 2 April 1891, Samuel Frickleton emigrated to New Zealand in 1913 and enlisted in the New Zealand army in 1915. Samuel Frickleton (reg No. 430) was a Lance-Corporal in the 3rd Battalion 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade. N Z E F. London.
Digest of Citation for the Victoria Cross reads:" On 7th June 1917 at Messines, Belgium, Lance-Corporal Frickleton, although slightly wounded, dashed forward at the head of his section, pushed into our barrage and personally destroyed with bombs an enemy machine gun and crew which was causing heavy casualties. He then attacked a second gun killing all the crew of 12. By the destruction of these two guns he undoubtedly saved his own and other units from very severe casualties. During the consolidation of this position he received a second severe wound."
Frickleton was promoted to Sergeant and later to 2nd Lieutenant and was gazetted on 2nd August 1917. He remained in the army until 1927 when he retired on medical grounds. He then worked as a clerk and farmed at Waikanae in New Zealand. He died in September 1971, and is buried in the Taita Servicemen’s Cemetery.
He died on 1st September, 1971 at Wellington, New Zealand. There are memorials to him at Taita Servicemen's Cemetery, Naenae, New Zealand and at the headquarters of Dunedin RSA, New Zealand.
Born in Slamannan on 2 April 1891, Samuel Frickleton emigrated to New Zealand in 1913 and enlisted in the New Zealand army in 1915. Samuel Frickleton (reg No. 430) was a Lance-Corporal in the 3rd Battalion 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade. N Z E F. London.
Digest of Citation for the Victoria Cross reads:" On 7th June 1917 at Messines, Belgium, Lance-Corporal Frickleton, although slightly wounded, dashed forward at the head of his section, pushed into our barrage and personally destroyed with bombs an enemy machine gun and crew which was causing heavy casualties. He then attacked a second gun killing all the crew of 12. By the destruction of these two guns he undoubtedly saved his own and other units from very severe casualties. During the consolidation of this position he received a second severe wound."
Frickleton was promoted to Sergeant and later to 2nd Lieutenant and was gazetted on 2nd August 1917. He remained in the army until 1927 when he retired on medical grounds. He then worked as a clerk and farmed at Waikanae in New Zealand. He died in September 1971, and is buried in the Taita Servicemen’s Cemetery.
He died on 1st September, 1971 at Wellington, New Zealand. There are memorials to him at Taita Servicemen's Cemetery, Naenae, New Zealand and at the headquarters of Dunedin RSA, New Zealand.