Pte 17635 Samson Harry Lipton

• Age: 22
• From: Manhattan, New York
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 30th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.L.8

Sampson Lipman was born on the 07^th September 1893 in Manhattan, New York.  His parents Judah Joseph Lipman, born in Russian Poland, and Katie Soberman, born in London, married in Mile End, London in 1888.  Sampson was the fourth, and eldest son, of six children.  His siblings were Jessie, Leah, Beatrice, Betsey, and Frank.

In 1891 they are living at 227 Cable Street, St. George in the East, East End of London. (Cable Street became the focus for an infamous anti Fascist demostration on 04th October 1936). His father, Joseph, is aged 23, and is a tailor’s machinist, his mother, Kate, is aged 22; they have daughters Jessie 2, and Leah, 10 months.  

Shortly after the census daughter Leah died, and the parents, with daughter Jessie, sailed to New York, where their daughter Beatrice is born in April 1892.  Their first son, Sampson, is born there in 1893, and by 1895 they are back in England, in St. George’s in the East, where Betsey and Frank are born.   

In March 1898 Sampson, aged 4, and his sister Beatrice, aged 5, are living at 80 Buxton Street, enroll at Deal Street School, Tower Hamlets. After Deal Street School, Sampson attended Cowper Street Foundation (a school for middle class boys in Islington). 

On the 1901 Census the family have moved to 112 Duckett St, Mile End Old Town. His father, Joseph, is aged 35, a tailor, his mother, Kate, is aged 31, Jessie is aged 12, Beatrice is aged 10, Sampson is aged 8, Elizabeth is aged 6 and Frank is aged 4.  Also present is Jacob Soberman 20, a post office clerk. 

By 1914 the family has moved to Liverpool, living at 52 Saxony Road.  

On the 11th September 1914, he enlisted at Liverpool using the name Samson Lipton, joining the 19th Battalion (Pals) of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 17635 giving his age as 25 years and 4 months, born in London, his occupation was as a commercial traveller. He was described as being five feet eight inches tall, weighed 119lbs, with a 35" chest, a fresh complexion, dark eyes, and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Jewish and as his next of kin was his father, Joseph Lipton, of 52 Saxony Road, Liverpool, later 19 Church Road, Wavertree. 

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He shipped from Folkestone with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 7^th November 1915.  

His death was also announced in the Liverpool Echo on 19^th July 1916, under the heading:

“One of the Eager Ones” –

“Private Sampson H. Lipton (Lipman) of the “Pals”, whose home was at 52 Saxony Road, has been killed.  He was in commercial life prior to the war. A single man, he joined the forces in September 1914.  He was educated at Cowper Street Foundation, London.”

His death was also reported in the Jewish Chronicle:

LIPTON - On the 30th June in France, Pte. Sampson H Lipton (Lipman), Liverpool Pals, aged 22, eldest son of Mr and Mrs J Lipman, 52, Saxony Road, Liverpool. Deeply mourned by his heartbroken parents, sisters, brother's, relatives and a large circle of friends. God rest his dear soul. 

A few personal items were also returned:- 1 prayer book, 1 cap badge.   

On the 1921 Census at 17a Church Road, Wavertree, his father, Joseph, is aged 54, a tailor at 17 Canning Place, his mother, Kate, is aged 52, Jessie is aged 27, and a milliner, Beatrice is aged 24, and is a shop assistant.  

His father, died, aged 66, in 1934.   

Private S. H. Lipton is commemorated on the following Memorials

British Jewry Roll of Honour

Liverpool Hebrew School Roll of Honour. 

Stepney Jewish Lads Club.

We currently have no further information on Samson Harry Lipman. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.